The Georgia Wolf Trap Project 2005 2008 Georgia

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The Georgia Wolf Trap Project 2005 -2008 & Georgia Wolf Trap for English Language

The Georgia Wolf Trap Project 2005 -2008 & Georgia Wolf Trap for English Language Learners 2008 -2012

A collaboration of Alliance Theatre, Fulton County Schools, and Georgia State University Funded (2005

A collaboration of Alliance Theatre, Fulton County Schools, and Georgia State University Funded (2005 -2012) by the U. S. Department of Education Arts Education Model Development and Dissemination Program (AEMDD)

AEMDD Criteria n Discipline-specific arts instruction and n Enhancement of academic achievement n Low-income

AEMDD Criteria n Discipline-specific arts instruction and n Enhancement of academic achievement n Low-income children

Context of the Intervention n Language development in early childhood predicts school performance. n

Context of the Intervention n Language development in early childhood predicts school performance. n The “achievement gap” begins before the child’s first day of school. n Low-income children begin Kindergarten with less than half the vocabulary of high-income students, challenging literacy development.

Premises of the Intervention n Social and communicative experiences that support the development of

Premises of the Intervention n Social and communicative experiences that support the development of symbolic functioning are essential in early childhood. n Pretend play, the developmental foundation of drama, is the child’s “first language. ” n Joint pretense and story sharing can unpack language. Drama engages children’s emotions and intellect, transcending culture and class.

1 st Project – 2005 -8 n All Kindergarten classes in 6 schools n

1 st Project – 2005 -8 n All Kindergarten classes in 6 schools n Random assignment of low-income schools to conditions; pre-intervention/post-intervention n Professional learning opportunities for Kindergarten teachers in summer and fall; artists and teachers collaboratively infuse drama into language lessons in January and February

Sample Characteristics n N= 545 students n 36% special needs n 71% qualified for

Sample Characteristics n N= 545 students n 36% special needs n 71% qualified for free or reduced lunch n 94% African American

Sample Starting Point

Sample Starting Point

Hypotheses n Intervention students will show more improvement than control students in n Language

Hypotheses n Intervention students will show more improvement than control students in n Language Development n Writing (near transfer) n Academic Achievement (far transfer)

Language Development: Syntax

Language Development: Syntax

Writing: Quantity Vocabulary Sentences

Writing: Quantity Vocabulary Sentences

Writing: Quality Percentage of Students with Improvement over Time

Writing: Quality Percentage of Students with Improvement over Time

Report Card Grades First Grade (Cohorts 1& 2) Special Needs

Report Card Grades First Grade (Cohorts 1& 2) Special Needs

CRCT Scores First Grade (Cohorts 1& 2) Special Needs

CRCT Scores First Grade (Cohorts 1& 2) Special Needs

Contributions n Drama = Developmental Appropriateness n Helping children find their voice—childcentered education supports

Contributions n Drama = Developmental Appropriateness n Helping children find their voice—childcentered education supports symbolic development n Authentic, meaningful activity in a languagerich and emotionally engaging context n Usefulness of this approach for development and learning

Next? Georgia Wolf Trap for English Language Learners

Next? Georgia Wolf Trap for English Language Learners

Context n In 2008 Latino students were the largest minority in American schools -

Context n In 2008 Latino students were the largest minority in American schools - 11 Million or 22% n Facing an educational crisis: Less likely to be enrolled in pre-K programs n Twice as likely to be retained n Highest dropout rates— 18. 3 % in 2008 (compared to the total rate of 8%). n

White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics October 19, 2010

White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics October 19, 2010

n White House Initiative advocates enhanced pre. K preparation and K-12 educational reforms for

n White House Initiative advocates enhanced pre. K preparation and K-12 educational reforms for Latino students n Fulton County was the third most populous Latino community in GA; over 20% living in poverty; many students with limited English proficiency n FC schools are English only n Pull out/push in services in K=45 minutes/day

n n Achievement gap in 2008 n 70% of Fulton County ELL K students

n n Achievement gap in 2008 n 70% of Fulton County ELL K students finished the year with low English proficiency n 33%were below academic expectations after 1 st grade n only 39% passed all areas of GA high school graduation test Language minority and low income status = double risk for academic failure

n Background: Quantity of exposure to English in class does not predict acquisition; quality

n Background: Quantity of exposure to English in class does not predict acquisition; quality of engagement with English does (Snow et al. , 1998). n Hypothesis: an emphasis on meaningful communication experiences will support acquisition. n Professional development for teachers as before —teaching artists as coaches, November-March n Drama activities—“improvised guided enactment”—can disambiguate language

n Story sharing; analyzing and enacting; retelling and reflecting n Elements in common with

n Story sharing; analyzing and enacting; retelling and reflecting n Elements in common with ESOL strategies language embedded in meaningful contexts n using the senses, props, facial expressions n physicalization, repetition n incorporating students’ ideas n

Design n Paired Cluster/random assignment of schools to conditions (6 schools; all K classrooms)

Design n Paired Cluster/random assignment of schools to conditions (6 schools; all K classrooms) n Random selection of research participants (all ELL) n Schools range from 39 -68% ELL

Participants n 514 Kindergartners over three years 200912 n All qualified as ELL, all

Participants n 514 Kindergartners over three years 200912 n All qualified as ELL, all speak Spanish at home n 97% qualified for free or reduced lunch n All regular education students

Measures n District ESOL Screening Measures - English n n WAPT-L/S - at registration

Measures n District ESOL Screening Measures - English n n WAPT-L/S - at registration Kindergarten ACCESS for ELLs - January/February n WMLS-R - two languages - pre (Sept & Oct) and post (April & May) n Story Writing - English only - pre and post n G-KIDS - first grade readiness test - English only

Significance Testing: Treatment Received n All three years of professional learning (N=12 teachers) n

Significance Testing: Treatment Received n All three years of professional learning (N=12 teachers) n Control group (N=31 teachers)

Total Oral English 468 466 464 462 460 Control Intervention

Total Oral English 468 466 464 462 460 Control Intervention

Story Writing - Fluency

Story Writing - Fluency

Story Writing - Quality

Story Writing - Quality

Academic Achievement GKIDS 70 Control Intervention 60 50 40 30 Language Arts

Academic Achievement GKIDS 70 Control Intervention 60 50 40 30 Language Arts

Academic Achievement GKIDS

Academic Achievement GKIDS

What We Learned n n n Drama = links among emotion, meaning, words Brief

What We Learned n n n Drama = links among emotion, meaning, words Brief intervention —> noteworthy effects in language and mathematics Enhanced language engagement (versus exposure or drill)

What is driving all this? Professional Learning

What is driving all this? Professional Learning

Professional Learning Key to Positive student outcomes and true reform

Professional Learning Key to Positive student outcomes and true reform

PL Process n PL is most effective when teachers are taught as they would

PL Process n PL is most effective when teachers are taught as they would teach n n Workshops employed Wolf Trap strategies PL takes time n n n Summer study Opportunities throughout year to observe, coteach Three years duration

Evaluation Sources n Teachers’ evaluations n Teaching artists’ evaluations n Focus groups n Classroom

Evaluation Sources n Teachers’ evaluations n Teaching artists’ evaluations n Focus groups n Classroom observations n Teachers’ self-assessment surveys

Performance Measures n 100% developed lessons integrating drama during the residencies n 95% employed

Performance Measures n 100% developed lessons integrating drama during the residencies n 95% employed drama management techniques n 95% used Best Practices in Drama during the residencies n 90% indicated they would develop lessons using Best Practices in Drama after the residencies ended

What Did You Learn? n “I learned to put down my guard and try

What Did You Learn? n “I learned to put down my guard and try new things ‘dramatically’ with the students. ” n “I learned how to effectively use my body and my voice to tell a story. ” n “I learned how to build drama into my literacy instruction. ” n “I learned how to incorporate Wolf Trap ideas in other areas of teaching. ”

PL Conclusions n Teachers recognize the learning taking place in their students – socially,

PL Conclusions n Teachers recognize the learning taking place in their students – socially, emotionally, linguistically, and cognitively. n Teachers applaud the PL model used, especially the Teaching Artist as coach in the classroom. n Over time, teachers increasingly used the strategies throughout their teaching.

It Makes a Difference Oral Language Story Writing: Fluency Story Writing: Quality

It Makes a Difference Oral Language Story Writing: Fluency Story Writing: Quality

Acknowledgements n Fulton County Schools n Alliance Theatre Education Department n Jackie Gray, Carol

Acknowledgements n Fulton County Schools n Alliance Theatre Education Department n Jackie Gray, Carol Jones, Michele Mummert, Denise Jennings, Jes Booth n GSU: Audrey Ambrosino, Brooke Bays, Judy Orton, Lynda Kapsch, Heather Smith, Nicole Lorenzetti, Carol Ashong, Josephine Lindsley, Callie Reeves, Daniel Medina, Kareema Spells, Peter Samuelson, Elizabeth Mc. Garragh, Macy Strickland, Lisa Quick, Joanna Sherwood, Beatrice Moreno, Araceli Santa Cruz, Inez Mc. Daniel, Renzo Gobea, Brandi Harper, Kathryn Taylor, Meghann Griffin, Rachael Kaplan, Emily White, Billy Thompson

Thank you!

Thank you!