Curriculum, Teacher Training, and Products
for Arts Integration and Literacy
in Pre-K, K-12, and College

California Textbook Adoption

Aligned With the 2019 California Theatre Standards PK-12
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Curriculum for Creative Drama, Theatre, Literacy, and Arts Integration
Ideal for PK-12 Theatre or English, and PK-5 Classroom or Music Teachers

Program Components (Digital and Print)

  • home-dw-online
    Drama Works! Online
    • The entire curriculum in digital format
    • Access DW from computer, tablet, or phone
    • Read, project, or print digital content
    • Alignment with AL theatre standards K-12
    Learn More
  • home-comp-book
    Companion Book of Lesson Plans
    • 150 lesson plans, 65 indexes, and glossary
    • Work offline to quickly find and lead lessons
    • Save time and cost of printing from DW
    • Custom plastic binding/covers/tabs/pocket
    Learn More

  • Creativity Cards
    • 500 cards from DW in 10 color-coded sets
    • Instant ideas and story starters for acting,
    arts integration, and vocabulary development
    • 3x5” size, wild cards, tabs, booklet, and box
    Learn More

  • Vocabulary Cards
    • 300 cards from DW in 4 color-coded sets
    • Standards-based theatre and literary terms
    with definitions, examples, and bonus content
    • 3x5” size, durable tabs, booklet, and box
    Learn More

Adoption Information for California Schools and Districts

Textbook Adoption Powerpoint | Price List  | Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) | License Agreement

Drama Works! Teaching System: adoption overview

Drama Works! Online now includes a detailed alignment to the new California Arts Standards for theatre in all grades PK-12 (adopted by California Department of Education in 2019).  Drama Works! was previously reviewed and approved by the Texas State Board of Education as the new textbook in creative drama and theatre arts for the state of Texas (details).  We chose not to participate in the California state review process for textbooks in 2021 because they require student textbooks to be offered separately from a teacher edition, which we do not offer, making it much easier and far less cost to adopt Drama Works! than traditional textbooks.  In fact, after the CDE review process was completed, there are no state-approved textbooks for theatre in California.  However, districts are allowed to select any textbook or resource materials to adopt for drama/theatre, and we would like to show you how Drama Works! can help your teachers and students.

Drama Works! is created from and aligned with state and national standards in arts and literacy, including the NCCAS national arts standards, Common Core ELA, California Arts Standards, and Texas TEKS for theatre. It is a non-traditional textbook in that you do not need to purchase books for every student, just one set per teacher. Ours is a dynamic teaching system that combines digital and print components to reach visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learning styles.  Drama Works! has been adopted in dozens of districts and we have trained thousands of teachers how to get the most out of the digital and print components (theatre K-12, elementary generalists for arts integration, and elementary music teachers). We can offer you free consultations to take advantage of our experience and help you put together a package of licensing and PD teacher training services.

Drama Works! adoption choices for California schools/districts

California school districts may choose any textbook to adopt for theatre arts. The adoption process can occur at any time, and is not limited to the year after the adoption of new theatre standards. Instructional Materials Allotment (IMA) funds from the state can be used to purchase theatre arts textbooks. Drama Works! Teaching System is an ideal textbook or supplemental teaching resource for theatre, English, or arts integration in the elementary classroom. Adopting Drama Works! represents a substantial savings over traditional textbooks because you do not have to pay for books for every student or purchase class sets. Our pricing is per teacher and each Single Teacher License includes use by all of that teacher's students at no extra cost. In addition, each district-purchased license can be reassigned to a new teacher taking over for an outgoing licensed teacher at no extra charge (by changing the user information and password). To simplify the process, we offer 3 package choices. Pricing is per teacher (see Price List).

1. Digital Only: includes Drama Works! Online digital access for each teacher
2. Digital/Print Package: includes Drama Works! Online and the Companion Book of Lesson Plans for each teacher
3. Complete System: includes Drama Works! Online, the Companion Book of Lesson Plans, the Creativity Cards, and the Vocabulary Cards for each teacher
Explore the tours and samples of the digital and print components available on our website to decide which package suits you best.
All 3 choices include an extended digital access option that lasts through school year 2028-2029.

Benefits of purchasing the extended digital access option
- Each license will be valid for the full adoption cycle through school year 2023-2024 (no need to pay for annual subscription renewals).
- Each license can be transferred to a newly hired teacher replacing a previously licensed teacher at no extra charge
- Save money and time compared to the cost of renewing licenses each year

Scheduling a free virtual presentation (for textbook review committee or administration)

Contact us to schedule a free virtual presentation with your textbook adoption committee or administration if considering licensing Drama Works! to multiple teachers. We connect with you from Los Angeles via Zoom, Skype, Google, or Teams, then take you on a virtual tour of the curriculum, adoption packages, and PD teacher training options. We can answer questions and show you more than is publicly viewable on the website.

Funding sources

- Instructional Materials Allotment (IMA) funds
- District budgets: Fine Arts, Gifted and Talented, Technology, School Site, Classroom
- Prop 28 arts education annual funding from CA Department of Education
- Title I and Title II funds to support underprivileged, ESL, or struggling learners through arts integration
- Grants: arts integration, differentiated learning, STEM to STEAM
(e.g., California Arts Council, Arts Education CollectiveNEA, private foundations)

Who do I contact in my district for help with funding and ordering?
Best options are a Fine Arts Director or VAPA Coordinator, Curriculum & Instruction administrator, Textbooks Coordinator, or your principal.

Ordering instructions and process

School or district volume orders, textbook adoptions, and extended digital access options for California adoption are not available online and we do not accept credit card payments for such orders.  We do accept purchase orders. Shipping/handling will be based on quantity and weight. We are required to charge tax for California orders as we are located in Los Angeles.

Step 1: Get an official price quote from us that includes all products, licenses, shipping, and PD teacher training services.
Step 2: Have your office or purchasing department send us all required paperwork to become a vendor for your school district.
Step 3: Send us your official purchase order with correct totals (PD services may require a separate PO and contract).
Step 4: We ship you print components and you choose a Login Administrator to oversee the teacher login credentials.
Step 5: We setup login credentials and send them to the Login Administrator who distributes them to each licensed teacher.
Step 6: We send you the invoice for payment due and you send us the check for payment.
Step 7: We work together to schedule any agreed upon teacher training services.

Drama Works! alignment with California's PK-12 theatre standards

Drama Works! Online includes a section for Standards Alignments that is only available to licensed users after login. We have added a detailed alignment to the California theatre standards for grades PK-12. Note that the Standards Alignment is only available in the digital component (Drama Works! Online) and not the print components (Companion Book of Lesson Plans, Creativity Cards, and Vocabulary Cards). Below are sample views of Drama Works! user-friendly California standards alignment pages, which are located under Standards Alignments after logging into Drama Works! Online. The screenshot sample shows a basic view of the layout, and the complete alignment PDF shows the full layout for all standards and grade levels (links and navigation anchors will not function in these samples, but do work for licensed users when logged in to Drama Works! Online).

 

Teacher Training PD Services

Take advantage of our Staff Development services to help teachers learn how to use Drama Works! Teaching System to meet the California theatre standards and enhance learning across the curriculum with arts integration. Learn directly from Mr. Jonas Basom, the author and creator of Drama Works! and award-winning teacher, professor, and arts education consultant.  Contact us for a free consultation to help you design an effective PD plan for teachers in your school/district. Our website statistics show that teachers who participate in our PD trainings are 5x more likely to login to Drama Works! Online than teachers who received materials but no PD training.

PD Evaluations
Elementary Teachers
Integrating Drama Across the Curriculum
Implementing Drama Works!
Model Demonstration Lessons
Secondary Teachers
Theatre Specialists (6-12)
English Teachers (grades 6-10)
Skype for Theatre Specialists (6-12)

Testimonials

School District Administrator Letters
Administrator Letters
Walter Smith, Houston ISD
George Faber, Tyler ISD
Nancy Jo Humfeld, past president of TETA
Christina Desiderio, Stevenson Elementary
Drama Works! Teaching System
"The best curriculum I have seen in 35 years teaching high school drama! It is an amazing synthesis of a lifetime of top-quality theatre training, performing, teaching, and research. Ideal for beginning and veteran drama teachers of middle school and high school."

Ruben Van Kempen
Roosevelt High School
Named one of America's top ten theatre programs

“This program has replaced McCaslin as our required text for Creative Drama because it is more practical, has more features, and is directly tied to our state theatre arts standards. It makes my job easier and the students love the program! I know they will use it in their classrooms for years to come. I love the free support provided and contact with the author. An amazing tool!”

Nancy Jo Humfeld
Chair, Theatre Dept., Howard Payne University
TETA Past President

"This outstanding program is one of the best I have seen in 30 years teaching theatre at all grade levels. The integration ideas make it easy to adapt the game to lesson plans tied to the TEKS. Non-theatre teachers can succeed with the great ideas for classroom management and coaching."

Beverly (Burnside) Johnson
TETA K-8 Teacher of the Year recipient

"I am not at all computer literate, but this program is so easy to use.  I love how each game is written so clearly with everything I need to know from set up to evaluation.  Great connections to arts standards, multiple intelligences, and all school subjects."

Pam Fletcher Hill
Middle School Theatre

"Great for English Learners, Special Ed., and gifted students. This program improves all students' vocabulary, fluency, reading, and writing."

Esther Kim
Elementary Principal

"Great for busy teachers with little planning time. I have used the games to motivate my students to read and write, develop comprehension skills, and teach science concepts."

Kay Strenio
1st grade teacher

"Empowering! I am instantly connected to a wealth of simple, creative, and effective ideas. A tremendous addition to the curriculum!"

Kiffen Madden-Lunsford
3rd grade teacher

"My students gained confidence and improved their English language abilities. The games create a fun atmosphere for learning. They captivate and motivate students of all academic levels to experience success in the classroom!"

Edie Lynn
5th grade teacher

"I love the refrigerator dance!"

Alexander
1st grade student

Staff Development Trainings
"The games and techniques on this program meet the TEKS and challenge students to the highest levels of creativity, language development, and thinking. Jonas is an engaging and inspiring presenter who has helped 120 of our generalist teachers gain skill and confidence using drama across the curriculum. These wonderful materials and dynamic teacher training workshops are perfect for meeting Senate Bill 815."

Troy Tinney
Director of Fine Arts (former)
Waco ISD

"We purchased the complete kit for one elementary teacher at every grade level throughout the district. Jonas' professional development in-service trainings for our teachers received overwhelming appreciation. By the end of the day, he had changed teachers from nervous and inexperienced observers to excited and confident participants asking for more!"

Tim Jones
Theatre Arts Advisor
Brownsville ISD

"We purchased the complete kit and full-day workshop for all of our theatre teachers, K-12. Our teachers absolutely loved the hands-on training!"

Martha Fair
Fine Arts Specialist
Corpus Christi ISD

"The best staff development we have ever had! Mr. Basom inspired 45 teachers with wonderful games that are easy to use in the classroom with different learning styles. His strategies for second language learners are some of the best I have ever seen. He is a master of his craft!"

Susy Oh
Elementary Principal

"Through his dynamic and interactive presentation, our teachers learned more effective strategies to implement the English Language Arts standards. A must see."

Luis Rojas
Elementary Assistant Principal

"Jonas is a very engaging speaker. His PD training is grounded in his experience as an actor and teacher. Great strategies for managing a large group through routines and procedures. Energetic, fun, and practical!"

Kay Bliss
High School Theatre

"Clearly demonstrated how we can combine the creative art of drama with an intellectually rigorous educational pedagogy that addresses language arts skills, multiple intelligences, and social skills. It was also great fun and I can apply the activities immediately to my classroom."

Jason Buchalter
2nd grade teacher

"Educational, applicable, interesting, fun, useful, and motivating!"

Michael Zito
4th grade teacher