The Playmaking Way

About the Author

Rabin Nickens is a dynamic New York City-based educator with over 15 years of experience as a classroom teacher, dramatic arts instructor, performing artist, and advocate for children. In her mission to “help young people empower themselves through education and the arts,” she has worked with thousands of kindergarten through 12th grade children of diverse backgrounds, helping them discover the talents and aptitudes within them.

Rabin earned her Master of Science degree in early childhood and elementary education from Bank Street College. Her theatre training includes study at Baruch College, Black Spectrum Theatre, Joy of Performing Theatre Ensemble, and the New Federal Theatre Workshops where she worked with master thespians such as Ruby Dee and Dr. Barbara Ann Teer. Her advocacy work began with appointment to the Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council, where she advised former New York City mayor David N. Dinkins and other high-ranking city officials on issues affecting youth. She went on to recruit and lead other teams of youth who were awarded the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Peace Keeper Award for non-violent community action.

She is the recipient of numerous honors including the Friars Foundation Scholarship for Excellence in Theatre Arts, a curriculum-writing grant from Columbia University's Teachers College, and the Theadore Roosevelt Association Medal for Public Speaking. When she is not in the classroom, Rabin travels internationally studying world cultures, and conducts professional development trainings and presentations on topics in education and cross-cultural competency for organizations such as The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), Kappa Delta Pi International Honor Society in Education, NAFSA: Association of International Educators, and The Student Conservation Association (SCA).



About the Book

Rabin Nickens' The Playmaking Way: Using Dramatic Arts to Support Young Readers and Writers is a guide for educators that will show you how to:

- help your K-3rd grade students plan, write, set-design, and perform their own plays

- fit dramatic arts into your busy daily curriculum

- develop and reinforce often hard-to-teach reading and writing skills

- make education culturally and socially relevant to your students' lives

- engage a diverse range of learners, including children with special needs, gifted-and-talented students, and English language learners

"The Playmaking Way" is the perfect compliment to your existing language arts curriculum. It actually makes learning FUN - for YOU and your STUDENTS!

More about Rabin Nickens:
www.rabinnickens.blogspot.com