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In this resource, we will look at the components of SEL, suggest some activities and reflection questions, and go step-by-step through a Defining Ensemble Activity that you can use as a template. Finally, there’s a SEL Worksheet to take activities you use, apply SEL components and make connections: What specifically about the activity connects to the SEL component?

A common unit to start the year has teachers and students setting classroom expectations, identifying procedures and at the same time establishing community through ensemble-building exercises. The two concepts go hand-in-hand if you want a smooth running classroom. This also makes it the perfect unit to introduce inclusivity. This section includes suggestions for discussions around respect with regard to classroom expectations, and ensemble building exercises with a focus on “Who am I?” and “Who are We?” This section also includes a document on creating an Anti-Slur Policy.

Improv sketches are often based on heteronormativity. From characters, to audience suggestions, to scenarios, it’s easy to slip away from anything inclusive. This section includes questions you can ask yourself and discussions you can have with students about current Improvisation guidelines; the use of character names and pronouns; being aware of using accents and affectations for a joke or punchline; occupations without gender and character/relationships.

The study of design is visual and the internet can be a valuable resource for examples. To that end, for an inclusive design unit, include LGBTQ+ individuals working in the different theatrical fields. In this section we will mainly focus on LGBTQ+ theatre professionals Set Design, Lighting Design, Sound Design, and Costume Design. There are lesson plans, activities, and resource documents that you can use to supplement your various design units.

This section focuses on some of the fundamental skills involved in acting, movement, voice, and character development, through the lens of LGBTQ+ students. There are also trans and non-binary actor interview links, lesson plans with an LGBTQ+ actor focus, and scenes that feature either LGBTQ+ characters or “any gender” characters.

This section offers a variety of lesson plans, activities and resource documents to allow students to analyze, infer and synthesize within the context of LGBTQ+ inclusivity in the world of theatre.

Inspirational quotes for a new school year. Printable calendar to customize for any school year.

Teaching students the act of effective discussion, either as a full class or in a small group, is teaching students a lifelong skill. The ability to listen and engage and learn in conversation is something that will serve them way after they leave your classroom. Effective discussion may not come naturally for a great many of your students. This resource shares best practices for setting up effective discussions in your classroom.

The purpose of this resource is to offer opportunities through discussion, exercises, activities, unit add-ons, research links, and lesson plans to visibly support LGBTQ+ students in your classroom.

Use this journal to take some quick notes in the moment for your lessons. What worked? What didn’t? How did your time management on paper work in real time with students? This way when you’re ready to assess your curriculum in full, you’ll have a good picture of the individual pieces and where changes need to be made.

It’s important to keep track of your own personal journey as you step into the classroom for the first time. This way, you have a document you can use to review and reflect on at the end of the year. You don’t have to write volumes every day. Just enough to jog your brain and help you take steps to continue doing something or change something for the next school year. There are two months worth of daily journal pages and weekly reflection pages in this journal. Save/copy a blank one so you can continue recording your personal journey!

This journal was created as an accompaniment to Steven Stack's DTA course: Playwriting Outside the Lines. It can also be used as a stand alone resource, as a writing tool and a path for creation. The journal is divided into 5 sections: Creative Sandbox, Play/Scene Development, Random Thoughts and Lines, Home of the Rough Drafts, and Notes from Others.

A set of 5 posters to inspire in the drama classroom. Part of the Playwriting Outside the Lines PD course in the DTA.

This classroom movie study guide looks specifically at the 2007 movie version of the musical Hairspray. The film is based on the 2002 Broadway musical of the same name, which in turn was based on John Waters’ 1988 comedy film of the same name. The study guide provides the following: pre-viewing questions, viewing questions, and post-viewing activities.

The study guide provides the following: pre-viewing questions, viewing questions, and post-viewing activities.

This classroom movie study guide looks specifically at the 2013 filmed version of the live musical Shrek. The musical is based on the 2001 movie of the same name. The study guide provides the following: pre-viewing questions, viewing questions, and post-viewing activities.

The study guide provides the following: pre-viewing questions, viewing questions, and post-viewing activities.

Inspirational quotes for a new school year, all quotes credited to Steven Stack, from a variety of DTA professional development courses. Printable calendar to customize for any school year.

Based on the quotes from the 2024-2025 DTA School Year Calendar, a set of 12 posters with quotes by Steven Stack, from a range of the PD courses he instructs in the Drama Teacher Academy.

Gai Jones, long time theatre educator, a member of many educational theatre associations, and an advocate of theatre competitions with sound educational theatre values, has developed this resource. Competitions are opportunities for students to succeed. Competitions encourage students to work toward a standard and goals. Evaluation can take the form of both formative and summative assessments. Competitions provide learning beyond the classroom as students are exposed to many types of performances and take part in receiving evaluations. This resource was created to help drama teachers consider these goals when taking students to competition (or not): • Celebrating growth and student success. • Learning how to evaluate judges’ comments. • Helping students develop strategies for competition stress. • Providing learning experiences beyond the classroom.