In scene 1, a student approaches a teacher about working on a project together but is unable to provide specifics. In scene 2, the student proposes a slideshow project on Elizabethan clothing that the teacher rejects as not relevant to the class topic. In scene 3, the student proposes a library visit about 19th century British authors that the teacher approves pending the GenYES teacher's approval. In scene 4, the student misses a scheduled meeting with the teacher, causing frustration. In scene 5, a student criticizes another student's project idea but provides no constructive suggestions for improvement.

1. Role Play Script
Scene 1
Teacher: Please sit down. This working together sounds like a great idea. I
hear you know a lot about computers and the Internet and that
kind of thing. I know very little about them. So, how should we get
started? What kind of project did you have in mind?
Student: Well, I didn't have anything specific in mind. I just came to talk
about it.
Teacher: OK, go ahead. How did you want to talk about it?
Student: You know, kind of . . . well, just in general and see how we could sort
of work together.
Teacher: All right. Go ahead.
Student: (long pause, embarrassed silence) Well, like what kinds of things
would you want to make your teaching better.
Teacher: Exactly what do you mean by that?
Scene 2
Teacher: You say you have this really great idea for a project? Let's hear it.
Student: Well, on the Web I found these pictures of ways people dressed in
England way back around 1600-when Elizabeth was queen and
Shakespeare was putting on plays. We're allowed to copy those off
the Web and put them together as a slideshow for your class. That
would be great for teaching English literature.
Teacher: I see. Well, that might be fine if we were studying Elizabethan
literature, but we're not. We're in the 19th century. We need
something about Wordsworth or Shelley or the Brownings.
Student: Yeah, but these pictures are so cool! I know your class would go for
them. And they could compare those clothes with the ones they
wear today. We can get pictures of today's styles off the Web, too.
That's what the project should be—a slideshow.
© 2008 Generation YES Corp. Teacher-Student Role Play - HS

2. Scene 3
Student: This could be the project. My mother saw in the newspaper about
this big exhibit at the public library. They have these pictures from
the lives of British novelists from the 19th century, and copies of their
original books-like Charles Dickens and Sir Walter Scott and Robert
Lewis Stevenson.
Teacher: Well, that fits into what we're studying all right. How would it work as
a project?
Student: I could go to the library and make arrangements for your literature
class to visit. And maybe the library has pamphlets for the exhibit. I
could maybe get enough so students each could have one. And I
could go along on the trip to help.
Teacher: OK, let's do it. But first, you'd better check it out with your GenYES
teacher.
Scene 4
Teacher: Well, I'm surprised to see you. Where were you yesterday? You were
supposed to be here at 3:15. I waited till after 4:30.
Student: I couldn't make it. I had a lot of things to do.
Teacher: Couldn't you have let me know ahead of time?
Student: Well, I figured you stay around after school anyway, so it'd be no
big deal.
Teacher: Oh? Actually, it did cause a problem because I could have taken
my car to be serviced if I'd known you wouldn't show up. That
means I have to do it today, so we can't meet now.
Student: But this is the only time I can meet. My GenYES teacher says we
have to hand in our completed project plan in final form two days
from now. If you don't help me today, I'll really be in trouble.
Teacher: You're already in trouble with me. I imagine being in trouble with
one more teacher won't make much difference.
© 2008 Generation YES Corp. Teacher-Student Role Play - HS

3. Scene 5
Student: (facing class) I hate to say it, but Stacy's project sounds kind of
dumb. Kids aren't going to take it seriously. They're just going to
laugh.
Teacher: Why do you think they won't take it seriously? Exactly what's wrong
with Stacy's plan?
Student: It's silly.
Teacher: But specifically, what would you suggest to make it acceptable?
Student: I'd dump it. Forget it and start over. It's stupid the way it is now.
© 2008 Generation YES Corp. Teacher-Student Role Play - HS