The Playmaking Way: Using Dramatic Arts to Support Young Readers and Writers

The Playmaking Way is a practical and enjoyable guide for grade K through 3 educators that illustrates ways to integrate dramatic arts into the daily curriculum, while strengthening hard-to-teach skills that are essential to the mastery of reading and writing. Her methodology seamlessly combines constructivist education theory with real life applications in challenging school settings. A complement to any language arts curriculum, The Playmaking Way promotes critical thinking, engages a diverse range of students (including children with special needs, gifted-and-talented students, and English language learners), and makes learning fun. "The Playmaking Way is a useful guide for educators who seek ways to promote literacy and higher order thinking through active, hands-on learning. Nickens understands schools and children, and educators will find her insights invaluable." --Pedro A. Noguera, Ph. D., New York University; Executive Director, Metropolitan Center for Urban Education "This small book reminds us that there are overlooked possibilities for bringing joy to urban classrooms. Joy that is purposeful, useful, and personal. If only playmaking were to replace worksheet doing, everyone would be happier and more literate. This book has profoundly practical activities to engage young minds and that is what school is supposed to be about." --Richard L. Allington, Ph. D., University of Tennessee; former president of the International Reading Association; co-author of Classrooms That Work: They Can All Read and Write ¿Playmaking gives teachers all the tools they need to create plays with their students. The book is well-written, very user friendly, keeps the kids in mind, and generates excitement and potential for teaching in creative ways.¿ - Karina Otoya-Knapp, Ph. D., Bank Street College of Education Rabin Nickens, M.S. Ed., is a dynamic New York City-based educator with over 15 years of experience as a classroom teacher, dramatic arts instructor, performing artist, and advocate for children. When she is not in the classroom, Rabin conducts professional development trainings and presentations on topics in education and cross-cultural competency, and travels internationally studying world cultures and the arts.