Review: Let's Play CPD Creating an Immersive Primary Classroom

This course was like a breath of fresh air! We were led through a variety of activities that championed the concrete, practical and sensory approach to learning. The clever blend of movement and drama activities alongside the use of art materials drew us in immediately. I appreciated the way Kate and Del modelled teacher language in drama activities (for those teachers who were new to drama) yet spoke to us as equals when analysing the merits and outcomes of particular approaches. Their approach to teaching was both inspirational and practical; they understood the challenges and reality of life in the classroom.

Using the topic ‘Plants’ we built wall collages from a variety of materials, labelling them with post-it notes. Smell pots and soundscapes were introduced which transported us out of the classroom. This tactile approach to vocabulary and phrase building was so much more powerful and something I would definitely take back to the classroom for all ages. Del showed us how to deconstruct a shower puff (my favourite trick) and fill them with tissue paper to create vines and Kate used blank leaves as writing paper to transform our descriptive phrases into poems that dangled from the vines. This immersion in the setting was immediate and such a contrast from the blank rehearsal space or classroom in the morning.

The immersive book corner creation session really demonstrated the importance of children's ownership of their classroom space. We designed book corners around fiction books that would develop children's love of reading and writing. Just like a class, we built one design together, with hidden lairs, cosy hammocks, book review trees, secret diaries and so much more. We all saw how working with our classes to build these immersive spaces was a much better use of everyone's time and more child centred.

Incredibly, the National Theatre offers these courses for free for state-school teachers! One teacher said it was the best training she had attended because it was so relevant and practical. I'm on a mission now to share these immersive techniques to all teachers I meet, not just Early Years. Just because children get older, it doesn't mean they don't have the right to act, create and touch to build their confidence, oracy and literacy skills and understanding of the world. Magical stuff!

nationaltheatre.org.uk/learn-explore/schools/teacher-cpd