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New calendar feature

You may have noticed a new feature on the Mantle of the Expert website. We now have a calendar of events which can be accessed from the top ribbon on each page.

The calendar will show key events happening around NZ related to Mantle of the Expert and Dramatic Inquiry, including cluster groups, workshops and meetings of the Dramatic Inquiry Trust – many of which are open to any interested members of our community.

The website was set up over ten years ago as a way to facilitate networks and keep teachers around the country in touch – we really hope this new feature will help with this goal by giving a picture of what’s going on around Aotearoa and what you can be part of.

If you have an event to add to the calendar (e.g. a local cluster meeting or an ‘open day’ where colleagues can visit your classroom) please email mantleoftheexpertnz@gmail.com to notify. Include a contact email so people can get in touch.

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Podcast series with Tim Taylor, Viv Aitken & Whakarongo Tauranga

Very excited to announce this PLD opportunity which runs 16th July – 19th August and can be accessed by teachers from all over Aotearoa.

Tim Taylor, Viv Aitken and Whakarongo Tauranga are producing a five-part podcast series exploring different aspects of Mantle of the Expert.

CLICK HERE to read more about the presenters

The weekly podcasts are available on subscription. Each will be supported by reading material, an interactive google doc, and a live zoom discussion (dates as below). Participants will be encouraged to try out new strategies in their classroom, with an opportunity to reflect and ask questions within a supportive environment of the zoom hui. We’re really excited about this format. It’s not a ‘course’ – there are no ‘assignments’ – just lots of invitations to dialogue, reflect and try new things. You can take part as little or as much as you wish.

The podcast series has something for everyone. For beginners, there’s a once-off introductory session with a follow up zoom hui ($20+GST), while more experienced practitioners can sign up to an additional four podcasts and zoom hui to look at specific teaching tools in more detail ($100+GST). Special price for school groups of 6-10 teachers ($500+GST).

For further information about how it all works, have a listen to this short audio clip:

Here’s the link to the enrolment form: https://forms.gle/pQ8u6xUsJUAHdE8w5

And here’s the email address if you have any other questions mantleoftheexpertnz@gmail.com


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DNZ Workshops – on zoom

Coming up VERY SOON, Drama New Zealand is offering two FREE workshops for primary and intermediate teachers looking at dramatic inquiry for home learning / distance learning. These will be held over ZOOM and facilitated by Viv Aitken and Renee Downey. Further information below (including full flier and facilitator biographies)

There has already been a lot of interest in these workshops, and they are almost full, so please contact Drama NZ to register your interest (links are shown below). Depending on demand, we may repeat the workshops again in the near future.

https://forms.gle/4PbNyhn7KiBGYyTG9LIVE LINK TO FORM
LIVE LINK TO FORM: https://forms.gle/aa59gVUUfYVo18GQ7
Workshop flierDownload

About the facilitatorsDownload
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Tim Taylor’s tour cancelled

This message was written on 24th March 2019 – reposted here 30th March

Kia ora colleagues
My thoughts are with you all as you scramble to sort through the realities of our country moving into lockdown. I hope you’re doing OK in these stressful days.
I just need to let you know that given the situation with Covid-19 and the uncertainties of the months ahead, Tim Taylor’s tour which was planned for July – August of this year is cancelled. 
Huge thanks to the host schools, the team involved in organising and to everyone who had enrolled so far. We had a really good response: even with four months to go and minimal promotion, the winter school and two of the workshops were fully subscribed. Tu meke!
Those who had already paid you will of course receive a full refund of your enrolment fee. It may take some time to process these, so your patience is appreciated. 
None of us know what the world will look like the other side of this difficult time, but be assured we are determined to host Tim in future and conversations are already underway for creating some kind of digital offering in July. I’ll be in touch with more information as that clarifies.
Thank you for your passion for what matters in teaching. We will all hold fast to that as we work out what education looks like through this pandemic, and beyond.
All the very best. Stay well and don’t hesitate to contact me if I can support you in any way.
Kia kaha
Viv Aitken

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Role conventions – in colour

This is still one of the most useful resources anyone ever gave me! It’s from Allana Taylor’s workshop at the 2009 Weaving our Stories Conference, and it’s a version of Heathcote’s 33 role conventions. Heathcote’s list is well known. Simply put, it helps teachers see some of the many different ways we can put ourselves and our participants into role during a classroom drama experience (the list is not exhaustive – for example it doesn’t include digital possibilities for evoking roles – but it’s an amazing start)

What’s special about this handout is that Allana has colour coded the conventions in line with Jerome Bruner’s theory that learning occurs through ICONIC, SYMBOLIC & ENACTIVE / EXPRESSIVE forms of representation. The colour coding puts the different roles into these three categories. The green ones are ENACTIVE (physical representations made through the body). The red ones are where the role is ICONIC (evoked through artefacts, symbols, images or drawings). The blue ones are SYMBOLIC (where writing or other forms of language are used). Bearing these different categories in mind can really help the teacher choose what kind of learning experience to offer – and how to move between all three during different episodes.

When planning to teach in role, or put participants in role, it’s well worth having an explore through this list to see which role convention feels right for your purpose. As a rule of thumb, the more abstract the convention, the more distance it provides. So, if we are wanting to engage with something important, such as an atua, or a real figure from history, we are more likely to choose an abstract role convention (red or blue) for this.

Thanks Allana, for a wonderful tool that has stood the test of time

Heathcote’s role conventions – in colour.
Allana Taylor, Weaving our Stories conference, 2009
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Winter school 2020

You may have seen a recent post advertising Tim Taylor’s workshop tour in July – August 2020. In conjunction with this, we are also offering a three day Winter School.

This is designed for more experienced Mantle of the Expert practitioners, especially those in leadership roles in schools.

Enrolment is by invitation with limited places available. PLEASE CLICK HERE to fill in an expression of interest form. Or email for more information.

Winter School 2020 will be co-facilitated by Tim Taylor and Viv Aitken.

Flier for winter schoolDownload
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Tim Taylor workshop tour July – August 2020

Enrolments are now open for the one-day workshops in Northland 22nd July, Auckland 24th July, Hamilton 27th July, Hawkes Bay 29th July, Wellington  31st July and Christchurch 3rd August. CLICK HERE to go straight to the enrolment form.

Tim-Taylor-workshop-flier 2020Download

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Auckland Theatre Company – Storyworlds project

Auckland theatre company has a long history of creating quality theatre for adults and young people. Now it’s developing a brand new programme for young children from years 1-3 called ‘Storyworlds.’ In this approach, children are taken on a creative adventure by actor-teachers, who use a range of dramatic inquiry strategies (including teacher in role, drama conventions, storytelling and significant artefacts) to bring storybooks to life. Children are involved as active participants in the adventure; helping to solve problems and decide the direction for the story to take.

A really exciting thing about the programme is that it is tailored for each school and also involves professional development in dramatic inquiry. Teachers are involved in the planning – which is different for every setting. They are also given opportunities to co-teach in the dramatic inquiry aspects of the programme and are supported to continue to use the strategies and conventions of drama after the project has finished. That’s such a rich and unique model, bringing together expertise in theatre-making and education for the benefit of children and teachers.

Here’s a short video about Storyworlds. If you’d be interested in finding out more or hosting a Storyworlds adventure in your school, please email lynne at Auckland Theatre Company: lynne@atc.co.nz

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Tim Taylor is coming in 2020 – save the dates!

We’re delighted to let you know that Tim Taylor (author of Beginner’s Guide to Mantle of the Expert) will be visiting Aotearoa in July – August 2020, with a series of one-day professional development workshops in Mantle of the Expert around the country.

Tim will also be collaborating with Viv Aitken to offer a Winter School for experienced practitioners. This will be 17-19th July at Bayswater school in Auckland.

Anyone who has worked with Tim will tell you it’s a great experience: he’s an inspiring practitioner and a warm and encouraging mentor with an absolute wealth of knowledge and skills in Mantle of the Expert. Whether you are an absolute beginner or an experienced practitioner you will take away so much from his sessions.

Detailed information about both the winter school and the workshops will be circulated really soon – but here are the workshop dates so you can save them in your diary. Most schools are booking up their PLD now, so make sure you don’t miss out on this one! Costs to be confirmed, but will be around $150 per person for a full day including catered lunch.

NORTHLAND – Otaika Valley School, 22nd July

AUCKLAND – Bayswater School, 24th July

HAMILTON – Knighton School, 27th July

HAWKES BAY – venue tbc, 29th July

WELLINGTON – Island Bay school, 31st July

CHRISTCHURCH – Waitakiri school, 3rd August

For further information on the workshops or to express interest in the winter school please email mantleoftheexpertnz@gmail.com

These workshops are offered as not-for-profit events: any funds raised will be invested in future courses and professional development in New Zealand. Many thanks to the host schools for support.

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Drama from a picture book – Taniwha

Here’s the planning for a simple process drama based on Robyn Kahukiwa’s beautiful picture book Taniwha. This drama was shared at the Literacy conference and the TRCC course in October 2019, with participants coming up with some really thoughtful responses.

Treasures… process drama 2019Download

Robyn Kahukiwa’s gorgeous book has enormous potential for rich exploration across the arts and the short lesson offered here only skims the surface of the deeper meanings that could be explored through the text. However, I think it’s a good example of how effective process drama can be created fairly easily using a picture book as pretext.

Here also is the planning framework that was used to create the drama. This handout has been shared on this site before using a different book. It’s amazing how these simple steps can be used to create unique dramas from just about any picture book. Check it out and have a go at writing your own!

Creating drama from a picture book 2019Download