TEACHER'S NIGHT OUT

Shakespeare for a New Generation Grant Award

The Shake-It-Up program teaches literacy skills to students using theater games and drama techniques. This program addresses the educational needs of low-performing students in fun and creative ways, helping the students develop a positive relationship with complex reading materials.

Our approach includes:

• Free drama programs at schools and community centers for academically low-performing youth.
• Teacher development workshops that train instructors in methods of making complex literature accessible to disadvantaged students.
• Professional performances (by the AASC) at schools to enhance students' comprehension of complex literature.
• A summer youth troupe using high school students to stage and perform plays at various park and recreation programs.

While Shake-It-Up might not solve the issue of academic underachievement in minority children, it has the capacity to spark change that will resonate throughout their lives: a simple memory of an extraordinary experience can be the catalyst for a child to start believing in themselves.