How Does Theater Impact Students?

Research spanning three decades, by the International Journal of Education & the Arts, has found positive effects of drama-based teaching on K-12 literacy outcomes. Through performing, students can practice reading comprehension, develop vocabulary, and engage with language in an interactive way.

  The Language Arts, National Council of Teachers of English released a study that found students in arts-integrated instruction had 77% higher odds of passing a state language arts assessment and 42% higher odds of passing a mathematics assessment than students in comparison classrooms.  

By working as a cast, students can build strong communication skills by learning to express their own ideas and listen to others. It also builds empathy because it allows students to analyze situations through the perspective of their own characters. 

Participating in theater gives students opportunities to express themselves, speak in front of others, and contribute to a shared project. These experiences can support confidence in communication and help students recognize the values of their own ideas.