The lists below were published as an appendix – but only in English – by Teacher’s Discovery although I included it in 3 languages in the final draft for them (below). So what is below could help people who are using the book on the Invisibles – A Natural Approach to Stories. It I have to say that these cues are very effective and can generate lots of fun once you get the hang of how to use them. They are be used either during the creation of an Invisibles story or during the Reading from the Back of the Room (#6 of the Reading Options) strategy.
How to use the Director’s Cues? Let’s assume Jason’s line from the story was, “You’re red! Leave now!” At this point you tell Jason, just like the director of a play would, to say his line in different ways—angrily, quickly, holding one hand out, in a quiet voice, as per the lists below.
After a student speaks a line, you can invite the class to see if anyone else can say the line with more gusto, more romantically, more quietly, more to the left, more to the right, more with one foot off the ground. Even the shiest kids want in on this and it can be marvelously entertaining.
So what if it takes a half hour to do one scene, with multiple kids getting in on the acting? So what if everyone gets a chance to show off and it takes a lot of time? Our work is about mental health and fun and community first, and language gains, in my view, represent a distant second since I only have a fraction (my guess is 5%) of the instructional minutes I need to get my kids to mastery of the language anyway. Moreover, when we work with the Director’s Cues, we are piling on repetitions of language in a way that everyone wants to listen to.
ENGLISH
with gusto
romantically
lip-synched
like a Munchkin
to the left
to the right
above, up there
below, down there
laughingly
nodding
modestly
with one foot in the air
with head forward
with head back
with arms in the air
while whispering
loudly
in a quiet voice
in a high pitched voice
in a low pitched voice
with big teeth
with eyes closed
pinching your nose
severely
suddenlyfast
slowly
while eating
while drinking
while turning around
hands on hips
hands on head
hands on shoulders
like a king
like a queen
like a clown
like a robot
running your words together
separating your words
six times, fifteen times, etc.
while touching yellow, etc.
while running in place
fearfully
proudly
with relief
victoriously
bowing with hand in air
embarrassed
thankfully
grumpy
itchy
mysteriously
exhausted
tired
while falling asleep
upset
calmly
in a silly fashion
sweetly
cuddly
with tiny hands
with small mouth ?like a bunny, cow, snake, etc.
FRENCH
avec enthousiasme
d’une façon romantique
en play-back
comme un Munchkin
à gauche
à droite
en haut
en bas
en riant
en hochant la tête
avec pudeur
un pied dans l’air
la tête en avant
la tête en arrière
les bras dans l’air
en chuchotant
à haute voix
à voix basse
dans une voix élevée
dans une voix profonde
avec de grandes dents
les yeux fermés
le nez fermé
d’un ton sévère
tout à coup
rapidement
lentement
en mangeant
en buvant
en se tournant
les mains sur les hanches
les mains sur la tête
les mains sur les épaules
comme un roi
comme une reine
en faisant le clown
comme un robot
legato
staccato
six fois, quinze fois, etc.
en touchant la couleur jaune, etc.
en courant sur place
avec peur
fier
soulagé
victorieux
saluant la main dans l’air
d’une façon embarrassée
avec remerciements
grincheux
qui gratte
d’une façon mystérieuse
épuisé
fatigué
en train de s’endormir
vexé
avec du calme
marrant
avec douceur
câlin
avec de petites mains
à petite bouche
comme un lapin, une vache, un serpent, etc.
SPANISH
con entusiasmo
románticamente
hacer playback
como un Munchkin
a la izquierda
a la derecha
mirando hacia arriba
mirando hacia abajo
riéndose
asintiendo la cabeza
recatadamente
con un pie levantado
con la cabeza adelantada
con la cabeza hacia atrás
con los brazos levantados
en voz alta
voz baja
con una voz chillona
en voz grave
con dientes grandes
con los ojos cerrados
tapando la nariz
duramente
de repente
rapidemente
despacio
mientras comes, o comiendo
mientras tomas o tomando
dando vueltas
con las manos en las caderas
con las manos en la cabeza
con las manos en los hombros
como un rey
como una reina
haciendo payasadas
como un robot
seis veces, quince veces
tocando amarillo etc.
mientras corran en sus puestos
corrrriendo en marcha
con miedo?con orgullo
con alivio
triunfalmente
inclinarte con la mano en el aire
con vergüenza
agradecidamente
gruñón
que da picazón
misteriosamente
agobiado
cansado
mientras se dormía