Imagine the power of putting a handful of kids together in a class to tell their stories in their own words—and earn credits in the process.
This school year, Learn4Life’s Innovation High School (IHS) San Diego – Lakeside is offering a spoken word poetry course titled “Dramatic Literature”. The course engages youth in classic works of literature and empowers teens to take charge of their own futures and unearth their potential.
Annabelle Reyes, a Drama Lit student, told how beneficial the curriculum has been for her. “I think it is very helpful because now I’m getting these [English] credits done in a fast, fun way,” she said. “I find it to be the highlight of my week.”
As part of the course, the Drama Lit students will perform at the California Charter Schools Conference in San Diego on March 27th and the Get Lit Classic Slam in Los Angeles April 26th - 28th.
“The course is an experiential learning program that seeks to teach the whole student. This includes the academic side of learning, as well as social and emotional aspects including relationship building,” said IHS Drama Lit Instructor Mr. Tsalyuk. “The students are practicing skills that are going to help them grow as a person.”
Additionally, the course helps students become more confident with public speaking. “[The class is] taught through the lens of spoken word poetry, but the skills learned can be applied to so many other things, like public speaking, applying for jobs, and doing interviews,” Mr. Tsalyuk added.
Pictured, left to right: Innovation High Drama Lit students Samantha Higgins, Minnie Mitchell, Cyann DeRieux, Sebastian Ferreira, Laua Sum-Soto, Cinny Bays, Anabelle Reyes, Gunnar Waymire, and instructor Mr. Tsalyuk.
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