Gentile, Noelle
Noelle Gentile
Drama Teacher
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Where she lives: Park Slope
Teaching since: 2000
At P.S. 8 since: 2004
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"Being the Drama teacher at P.S.8 lets me meld two different passions," says Noelle Gentile, who created the position together with the principal in 2007. Ms. Gentile has studied at the New York State Theatre Institute and with Suny Fredonia's BFA Musical Theatre Program. While working as a teaching artist for the Brooklyn Arts Exchange, she developed a passion for educating young children.
Ms. Gentile sees 1st - 5th graders once a week, incorporating the performing art of theatre into their classroom curricula, while strongly cooperating with the classroom teachers to support social growth. "Drama is an art form that allows you to express yourself," she says, speaking of the importance of her work. "The kids learn to form community and find their independent voice simultaneously."
Depending on the grade level, Ms. Gentile builds the children's enthusiasm with improvisation and dramatic interpretation of text, putting poetry into movement as well as scene study. In the lower grades she does a lot of voice and body exercises to increase body awareness. They read simple poems by poets like Shel Silverstein, which they interpret as a group, deciding who should play which role, who should direct, and so forth. Another example are the fourth graders, with whom she reads authentic Native American poetry (a part of the curriculum). She then has them interpret the text and create a performance piece from the work. This way they develop creativity and imagination, with a strong emphasis on teamwork.
As part of the Drama programs the 4th graders went on a field trip to a Broadway show, allowing them to get a behind-the-scenes-view of the Lion King. In the spring Ms. Gentile plans on producing a play in an after-school initiative that brings together children of all grades. "We are following the philosophy of Renzulli, where the focus is on special individual talents that are explored in extracurricular activities. Imagine a team of costume designers, set designers, actors and directors working together," she explains.
Ms. Gentile is very proud of her contribution to the development of the whole child at P.S.8: She says, "Together we are building confidence and creating public speakers!"
Ms. Gentile taught in the 3rd grade Collaborative Team Teaching classroom with Jonathan Garbar before she took on the Drama Position. She taught social studies through drama at P.S. 115 before coming to P.S. 8 in the fall of 2004 to student-teach in Ms. Jerry's class.
Posted on: December 19, 2005
