• Textbook Information

    There is no student textbook for Theatre. Any required reading will be provided in print, a link or file. 

    Attendance

    Students are required to be in class and engage daily in the lessons, complete and turn in assignments on time, interact with the teacher, and show progress in the learning.  

    Daily attendance will be taken, and compulsory attendance will be followed. The normal truancy process will be followed (TEC, §25.092). Students must be present for 90% of the required days of learning to be promoted to the next grade level. Notes for absences will be required by the office.

    Grading/Assessment/Feedback

    The grading system for this course is as follows: 

    • Grade averaged 60% Major 40% Minor
    • Major grades – tests (including six weeks assessments, projects, presentations, and performances); minimum three per six weeks
    • Minor grades – warm-ups, quizzes, daily participation assignments, journals; minimum four per six weeks
    • A letter system (S, N, U) is used to report a student’s conduct based on proper/responsive conduct and citizenship; however, one of the Theatre TEKS, 5(A), states,  “Student will learn to apply proper audience etiquette at all performances.” Audience Etiquette means classroom behavior during all instruction, presentations, and performances and, therefore, will be a daily grade each week.
    • Per Board Policy EIA (LOCAL), “The District shall permit a student who meets the criteria detailed in the grading guidelines a reasonable opportunity to redo an assignment or retake a test for which the student received a failing grade. This policy applies only to initial identified major grades and does not apply to daily assignments, quizzes, six-week test, and semester final examinations. Upon reteach and retest, the new test, project, etc. recorded will be a high score of 70%.

    Course Syllabus

    Theatre Arts 

     Mr. Perry Daniell, M.A.

    Email: pdaniell@ems-isd.net

    Theatre Class Times:

     

    Period 1-8:20-9:07 - 6th Grade

    Period 2-9:11-10:00- 8th Grade

    Period 3-10:04-10:51- 6th Grade

    Period 4-10:55-11:42- 8th Grade

    Period 6-1:11-1:58- 7th Grade

    Period 7-2:02-2:49- Select Theatre

    Period 8-2:53-3:40- 7th Grade

    Conference Period/Office Hours:  11:42-12:28

    Tutoring Opportunities: Before/After school: M-Th 7:45-8:15, Th 3:40-4:00 or by appointment.

    Class Materials:  

    • Binder
    • Blue Planner
    • Pens/Pencils
    • Paper
    • Canvas and Office365 will be utilized for assignments

    Access to Canvas and Office365 tools is available to students through our Single Sign-on Portal (SSO). Students receive their SSO login during enrollment.

    Course Description:

    Designed as a performance-based course, students learn skills in speaking, acting, directing, production, design and technical theatre. Through studying theatre, students are provided opportunities to: (1) perform in large and small group casts; (2) interact with other students and develop teamwork skills; (3) develop and increase personal and academic discipline; and (4) develop a positive self-image.

    Course Goals:

    Students who complete this course successfully will: 

    1. be able to explore realities, relationships, and ideas through creative expression.
    2. develop cognitive functioning and critical thinking.
    3. improve communication and collaboration skills.
    4. foster a broad cultural awareness and acceptance.
    5. be better prepared for college, career opportunities, and workplace environments.

    Student Evaluation: 

    The grading system for this course is stated above. Students will be evaluated on their participation in class activities.

    Assignments, exams, expectations outside of the classroom: 

    Most of the work in Theatre happens during class time; however, memorization assignments such as monologues, scene work and play scripts will have to be rehearsed at home as well. Unlike traditional classes, Theatre does require attendance to scheduled activities outside of regular school hours. The Texas Education Agency’s policy states that music [Fine Arts] classes may require attendance to activities that meet outside of regular class time, and that grades may be given for these events per Commissioner’s Rule 19 TAC 76.1001. It is important for parents and students alike to understand the time commitment for classes such as athletics and fine arts.

    Attendance/Tardy Policy/Make-Up Work:

    Attendance 

    Regular school attendance is essential for a student to make the most of his or her education––to benefit from teacher led and school activities, to build each day’s learning on the previous day’s, and to grow as an individual. Absences from class may result in serious disruption of a student’s mastery of the instructional materials; therefore, the student and parent should make every effort to avoid unnecessary absences.

    Students are required to engage daily in the lessons, complete and turn in assignments on time, interact with the teacher, and show progress in the learning.  A student will be considered absent if the student is not in class for at least half of the class period. 

    Daily attendance will be taken, and compulsory attendance will be followed. Students must be present for 90% of the required days of learning to be promoted to the next grade level. Notes for absences will be required by the office.

    Tardy Policy

    Because tardiness disrupts the classroom and negatively affects the learning environment, students should arrive punctually to each of their classes. Students have an adequate passing period to travel from one class to the next. Tardies will be addressed by Mr. Daniell and campus administration in the following manner:

    1. Warning from Mr. Daniell
    2. Parent Contact (Email or Phone Call)
    3. Detention (Parent Contact)
    4. Office Referral (Parent Contact)

    Make-Up Work

    Students shall have time equal to days absent from class plus one day to complete all missed assignments. A student will be permitted to make up tests and to turn in projects due that were missed because of absence; however, a late penalty may be assessed on any long-term project in accordance with time lines approved by the principal and previously communicated to students. To be clear, this means that missing days (absences) during a long-term project, whether excused or unexcused, will not extend the due date of the project. In addition, an absence on the due date of a long-term project will mean that the project is due upon the student’s return to class. The student will be responsible for communicating with Mr. Daniell to obtain, schedule, and complete tests or work missed upon his return to class. A student who does not make up assigned work within the time allotted will receive a grade of zero for the assignment.  

    Classroom Expectations:

    “You never make yourself look good by making someone else look bad.”—Mr. Daniell

    1. Listen and Follow Instructions
    2. Raise your hand for help or to leave your seat.
    3. Respect your classmates and your teacher
    4. Be kind-Keep your hands, feet, objects, and comments to yourself
    5. No food or phones during class.

    Parents, please send your communications with your student through the main office phone at Wayside. Thank you. 

    Preliminary Schedule of Topics, Readings, and Assignments

    • Discovering Self/Ensemble
    • Terms and Anatomy of Theatre spaces
    • Pantomime
    • Improvisation
    • Characterization
    • Acting Techniques and Styles
    • Play production
    • Technical Theatre, including lights, sound, costumes, makeup, publicity
    • Theatre History
    • Auditioning 

    Academic Integrity: 

    Academic integrity values the work of individuals regardless if it is another student’s work, a researcher, or author.  The pursuit of learning requires each student to be responsible for his or her academic work.  Academic dishonesty is not tolerated in our schools.  Academic dishonesty, includes cheating, copying the work of another student, plagiarism, and unauthorized communication between students during an examination.  The determination that a student has engaged in academic dishonesty shall be based on the judgment of the classroom teacher or other supervising professional employee and considers written materials, observation, or information from students.  Students found to have engaged in academic dishonesty shall be subject to disciplinary and/or academic penalties.  The teacher and campus administrator shall jointly determine such action.