My Questions ?????

Whilst working in a special needs school in Berkhamsted I have become extremely interested about Occupational Therapy, otherwise known as O.T. The development process within these children with special needs and sometimes just Dyslexia or Dyspraxia can be phenominal and I would really like to do some work on making it more globalised. With that in mind I don't just mean Special needs schools.

I think Occupational therapy could work vey closely with Drama, using it for frustration and anxiety before a play or performance to try and focus their minds.


I would think about asking such questions like:

• Have you ever undertaken an Occupational Therapy 'Research Project' before?
• Would it be feasible to work on the children's development in close detail?
• How benificial is the work for the children and does that depend on each child?
• Would I be able to use Occupational therapy before a performance to try and focus thier minds?
• Are there any books that would be helpful to be looking at in this process?
• Do you have any thoughts and ideas on the sorts of ways that we can work with special needs children using drama?

Thanks for taking a look and any feedback is welcome.

Any ideas?

Hello everyone,

I'm really looking forward to this next module but I'm having a bit of difficulty thinking about sufficiant questions to ask an Occupational Therapist? This is what I am thinking about using for my Research Project because whilst watching thier development in their lessons it is visible that they are using Drama in these special needs areas.

Does anyone have any ideas that could could help me to get going?

Thanks, and I look forward to your responce

MY NETWORKING

Relationships at school

• Time with Head teacher 

 
 University tutor

• Making time to talk
• Taking notes and listening to advice

 
Communicating with friends

• Acknowledging their ideas for your work placement

 
 

Work within school

• Learning from other teachers around you
• Being sensible and firm with the children
• Journal

 

University friends

• Blogs

 
Work with The Drama Gym

• Organisation with the boss
• Journal

 
Chickenshed work

• Being a group leader
• Relationships with children
• Managing performances with everything else
• Journal

Talking to Teachers and Teaching Assistants

• Gaining a bond
• Understanding their way of teaching
• Attending staff meetings
• Being proactive with Head of department

Working in the professional way

When involved in the Christmas performances this year, I have been given the opportunity to be group leader of seventeen children. This means that you have to take care of your group and make sure they are prepared every time they go for a standby. This year I have been able to get to know my group quite well and they have grown to trust me throughout the whole of the Christmas period.
At one time I was told a secret which I didn't know how to deal with and I have found it quite difficult. I had to dig deep to find the correct way to deal with this.

'In Britain, we are going backwards'

Another article that I found from The Daily Telegraph was by Alex Hope saying "Today's computing classes teach passive software usage, not essential programming skills. " So what are we trying to about this? He goes on to say
"Britain has a heritage of technological ingenuity and creative flair, which goes hand in hand with our innate skill with computers. Which in turn, depends on knowing how computers work."

There is so much more that could be seen being done at school just like Alex Hope says
"First to engage young people with the excitement and potential of computer programming. One hopeful sign is the development by David Braben and his colleagues of Raspberry Pi, a whole computer on a tiny circuit board that its makers intend will be simple and cheap enough for schoolchildren to break and fix for themselves."

Computers offer a vast range of exciting possibilities, both to individuals, especially to the next generation, and to this country. There is so much room for growth, if only we can get the right people.

I really enjoy working with the children who are involved with The Drama Gym and working with a range of ages around seven - twelve is very interesting; watching the different development stages between them can be very worthwhile

Professional CV

 Alice Chambers graduated from Middlesex University last year, having completed her Foundation Degree in Inclusive Theatre at Chickenshed Theatre Company. Alice has always loved going to the theatre, being involved in plays, and in general the atmosphere of stage life. However Alice's passion for drama and performance really started when she completed her Drama GCSE in 1 year; she then went on to do ALevel Performance Studies, expanding her knowledge and experience throughout the 2 years. 
Since then Alice has been at Chickenshed doing her Foundation Degree and working with children some of whom are disabled, which she has found to have been a life changing experience and has been the reason why she is working with children in school and thinking of a career as a drama teacher. 


Whilst being at Chickenshed she has performed in many shows including Gameism, the End of term show that her year devised themselves, 'Pinocchio', 'A Midsummer Night's Dream', 'Badjelly's Bad Christmas', 'The King's Web' and 'Cinderella'. She has also been involved in the Gala at The Royal Albert Hall to celebrate 35 years of Chickenshed and she has performed at 'The Hard Rock Cafe' in London to fundraise for the charity.


In her free time Alice really enjoys tennis, skiing, squash and often finds this the best way for her to relax but she also loves to work for an organisation called The Drama Gym leading workshops and acting sessions for children starting to gain an interest in the theatre; she loves watching them face the challenge of working towards a play each term!

Alice has been really enthusiatic with her work as a Teaching Assistant and finds it interesting working in a school  known for its work with special needs. She finds it really fascinating seeing the progression of the children, some of which have speech and language deficits and for whom reading is a real struggle. She really enjoys being around the students. Alice looks forward to widening her experience whilst working at this school so that she might be able to fulfil her ambition of becoming a teacher.