Few national studies have been conducted on students' receipt of arts instruction, particularly in the early grades. To address this gap in the literature, this Issue Brief provides a descriptive look at the prevalence of arts instruction received by first and third grade public school students in their schools. Using spring 2000 and spring 2002…

The scientific study of the visual communication media arts must be based on both general theories regarding these media and specific theories developed for each medium. Although it is possible that the delay in the development of vigorous scientific studies and empirical research findings in the visual communication media of television has caused…

One of the primary principles of Readers Theater is to "dramatize" literature in classroom performance and to provide a visual and oral stimulus to students who are unaccustomed to using imagination to appreciate literary texts. Readers Theater may be used to enhance the critical study of language; to explore author meaning or point of view; to…

The Focus on NAEP series briefly summarizes information about the ongoing development and implementation of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). Each of the five issues in this collection provides an overview of an aspect of NAEP assessment related to the arts. The issues are: (1) "The NAEP 1997 Arts Education Assessment:…

The use of creative drama in a multicultural classroom can allow a teacher to establish a student-focused base for experiential learning and can allow students from various cultures to use drama as a way of expressing their individual cultural differences. Using literature about various ethnic groups in creative drama can contribute to the…

This performance guide is designed for teachers to use with students before and after a performance of "Sundiata: Lion King of Mali," adapted by Kim Hines and featuring Griot Alhaji Papa Susso. The guide, called a "Cuesheet," contains seven activity sheets for use in class, addressing: (1) Sundiata: Man & Myth (discusses…

A sociodrama workshop was used to address diversity issues on a residential college campus experiencing problems with prejudice and the acceptance of diversity. Fifteen members of the community participated and a survey was used to determine the problems. A sociodrama exercise helped members understand what it was like to be discriminated against.…

Mexican American theatre is described in terms of intercultural dramatic studies. The Chicano Theatre Festival is centered upon. (CH)

The New Black Theatre dramatizes the values it seeks to reaffirm from play to play: ritual is here achieved through the repetition of patterns, symbols and values from drama to drama, using the six literary devices of allegory, symbol, characterization, recurring themes, language styles, and repetition. (Author/JM)

Describes nine books available from various publishers which are recommended for the reference library of a stagecraft teacher. (RD)

Results of a three-year study of development of talent are presented, with emphasis on the special qualities of Olympic swimmers, pianists, and research mathematicians who attained "world class" status in their fields prior to the age of 35. (Author)

Maynard Mack, Emeritus Sterling Professor of English at Yale, discusses his pioneering work with the oral interpretation of literature in the graduate and undergraduate English classroom, making the point that such oral techniques need not be limited to the drama or speech departments. (Author/SJL)