The Georgia Wolf Trap Project & Georgia Wolf Trap for English Language Learners

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

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

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

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

1 st Project – All Kindergarten classes in 6 schools All Kindergarten classes in 6 schools Random assignment of low-income schools to conditions; pre-intervention/post-intervention Random assignment of low-income schools to conditions; pre-intervention/post-intervention Professional learning opportunities for Kindergarten teachers in summer and fall; artists and teachers collaboratively infuse drama into language lessons in January and February 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= 545 students 36% special needs 71% qualified for free or reduced lunch 94% African American

Sample Starting Point

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

Language Development: Syntax

Writing: Quantity Vocabulary Sentences

Writing: Quality Percentage of Students with Improvement over Time

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

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

Contributions Drama = Developmental Appropriateness Drama = Developmental Appropriateness Helping children find their voice—child- centered education supports symbolic development Helping children find their voice—child- centered education supports symbolic development Authentic, meaningful activity in a language- rich and emotionally engaging context Authentic, meaningful activity in a language- rich and emotionally engaging context Usefulness of this approach for development and learning Usefulness of this approach for development and learning

Next? Georgia Wolf Trap for English Language Learners

Context In 2008 Latino students were the largest minority in American schools - 11 Million or 22% Facing an educational crisis: Less likely to be enrolled in pre-K programs Twice as likely to be retained Highest dropout rates—18.3 % in 2008 (compared to the total rate of 8%).

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Total Oral English

Story Writing - Fluency

Story Writing - Quality

Academic Achievement GKIDS

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

What is driving all this? Professional Learning

Professional Learning Key to Positive student outcomes and true reform

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

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

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

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

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

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

Acknowledgements Fulton County Schools Fulton County Schools Alliance Theatre Education Department Alliance Theatre Education Department Jackie Gray, Carol Jones, Michele Mummert, Denise Jennings, Jes Booth Jackie Gray, Carol Jones, Michele Mummert, Denise Jennings, Jes Booth 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 McGarragh, Macy Strickland, Lisa Quick, Joanna Sherwood, Beatrice Moreno, Araceli Santa Cruz, Inez McDaniel, Renzo Gobea, Brandi Harper, Kathryn Taylor, Meghann Griffin, Rachael Kaplan, Emily White, Billy Thompson 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 McGarragh, Macy Strickland, Lisa Quick, Joanna Sherwood, Beatrice Moreno, Araceli Santa Cruz, Inez McDaniel, Renzo Gobea, Brandi Harper, Kathryn Taylor, Meghann Griffin, Rachael Kaplan, Emily White, Billy Thompson

Thank you!