Drama enhances reading comprehension! Goodwood classes see a direct correlation between drama and academic work
In studies around the world it has been shown that active involvement in the performance arts can enhance overall academic achievement at school. This is one of the reasons why parents at the Goodwood studio send their children to the international drama classes of the Helen O'Grady Drama Academy.
Children in the Academy start to learn and interpret script from the age of 9 all the way through to eighteen. Later on Shakespeare and other famous literary texts are studied for performance, enhancing the children's overall experience and understanding of drama and literature. At the younger levels research has shown that drama activities such as acting out a story or improvisation in class contribute hugely to the understanding of literature and language.
The results of studies have shown the following:
Children in the Academy start to learn and interpret script from the age of 9 all the way through to eighteen. Later on Shakespeare and other famous literary texts are studied for performance, enhancing the children's overall experience and understanding of drama and literature. At the younger levels research has shown that drama activities such as acting out a story or improvisation in class contribute hugely to the understanding of literature and language.
The results of studies have shown the following:
- A series of studies on the arts and education revealed a consistent causal link between performing texts in the classroom and the improvement of a variety of verbal skills, including especially significant increases in story recall and understanding of written material.
- Performance of Shakespeare texts helps to improve students’ understanding of other complex texts including science and math material.
- Drama can improve reading skills and comprehension better than other activities, including discussion.
(Evidence taken from : Sandra S. Ruppert and the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies, Critical Evidence: How the Arts Benefit Student Achievement (Washington, DC: National Assembly of State Arts Agencies and the Arts Education Partnership, 2006)
The Helen O'Grady Drama Academy's programme runs at the Goodwood Library on Thursday afternoons with our amazing teacher, Dana Pesskin.
Classes are as follows
Grade 1-6 Primary classes 4-5 pm
Grade 7-12 Youth Theatre 5-6 pm
For more information, or to see our other classes around Cape Town contact us on 021 6747478
Like our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/helenogradycapetown
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