Teaching Shakespeare
Recognizing Shylock’s Humanity in The Merchant of Venice
“I don’t have to condone it to understand it. The pain that people feel is real.” While most watched DeRay McKesson, Baltimore native and #blacklivesmatter activist, deliver these words in April 2015 (describing the unrest that occurred shortly after…
Debating Ophelia’s Death—and Becoming a Better Teacher
I am an English teacher because of my English teachers. What dedication I have I learned from a man who had Paradise Lost taken off of his syllabus but came into work an hour early, each day, to teach…
Introducing Iambic Pentameter: Feeling Our Way
*Beware the ides of March…and join us for our live-streamed Master Class on teaching Julius Caesar! Since Caesar is in the air these days, we’re bringing you a special post on teaching meter in this play. Enjoy—and let us know…
Hamlet on Wheels: Teaching Shakespeare in a Special Education Classroom, Part 2
(Image: Kathy Leonard) As promised, I’m back with the follow-up post on Hamlet on Wheels. This time, I’m sharing some practical suggestions that are essential for my special education classroom—and often beneficial for all learners. I primarily use Shakespeare…
“Conscience Does Make Cowards of Us All” - Embracing Your Fears While Teaching Shakespeare
(Image: Chasidy Burton) I have a confession to make. As a high school English teacher, I have not always been obsessed with teaching Shakespeare. Yikes! I know that makes me sound sacrilegious as a lover of language, but after…
Hamlet on Wheels: Teaching Shakespeare in a Special Education Classroom, Part 1
Wheels? Yes, wheels. All of my students are physically disabled, and many are diagnosed with intellectual disabilities as well. Able-bodied students can get up on their feet to perform. My students can’t get on their feet, but that doesn’t stop…
Tossing Lines, With a Twist
I first read about this go-to strategy in the Folger Library’s Shakespeare Set Free resources. Over the years, I’ve developed and personalized my own take on this interactive way of getting students to jump into Shakespeare’s language. The…
5 Soliloquies to Teach in This Month of Resolutions
Happy New Year, colleagues! This time of year, there’s a tendency to look inward. We reflect. We resolve. And, if you’re anything like me, you wrestle with your resolutions, too. (Image: Kate Ryan) What better time to take a close…
Why We Shouldn’t Study Shakespeare
By Mari O’Meara Like most teachers, when a Shakespearean unit is announced, I am greeted by many loud groans and a few students voicing the usual (whiny) complaints- “It’s so boring!” “I don’t understand it”; “Do we have to?” Tuning…
5 Ways to Teach Shakespeare’s Sonnets
By Folger Education In February, when the Folger launched its exciting new website, we posted our first set of revamped teaching modules, which include assessment ideas, writing prompts and technology tools (where appropriate), and connections to the Common Core…
Teaching Shakespeare: Mini-Research Projects
Karen Peakes (Emilia) and Janie Brookshire (Desdemona) in Othello, directed by Robert Richmond, Folger Theatre, 2011. Photo by Carol Pratt. By Deborah Gascon I set a goal this school year to include several, less time-consuming (but equally as meaningful), mini-research projects…
Quartos and Folios in the English Classroom
Hamlet. First Folio. Courtesy Folger Shakespeare Library. By Sara Lehn “Stand, who is that?” “Tis I.” “Who’s there?” “Nay, answer me. Stand and unfold yourself.” What’s the difference between the two exchanges above? Either not much or quite a lot,…