Building Confidence & Communication Skills Through Improv with The Naples Players

Educational Pathways Academy’s Doris Frey Campus, a private school for dyslexia and learning disabilities in Florida, participated in a truly unique learning experience through an improv workshop in collaboration with The Naples Players (TNP). This engaging experience was made possible through the support of a Champions For Learning classroom grant.

During the workshop, Craig Price, TNP’s Director of Community Enrichment, guided students through interactive games that reinforced acceptance, teamwork, and peer support. Taking risks was encouraged, and mistakes were reframed as opportunities for learning and growth. This experience was especially helpful for students with language-based learning differences, as it provided a dynamic space to build confidence and strengthen communication skills by encouraging students to listen closely, think on their feet, and respond to others in real time.

A key focus of the experience was the improv principle of “Yes, and,” which encouraged students to accept ideas from their peers and build upon them. This simple but powerful approach helped students practice collaboration, flexibility, and positive peer interaction in a supportive and low-pressure setting.

Students reflected on their experience:

“(The Naples Players program) taught us about teamwork and working with others. This is something we need in school and for our future!”

“I really liked how you couldn’t tell you were actually learning something because it was so much fun you didn’t notice!”

For many students, this experience highlighted a powerful truth: when learning is supportive and interactive, students with learning differences are able to shine!

We are deeply grateful to Champions For Learning for making this opportunity possible through their classroom grant, and to The Naples Players for sharing their expertise and creating such a memorable and enjoyable experience for our students.

Together, this collaboration reflects what is possible when education, the arts, and community organizations come together to support students with learning differences in Southwest Florida.