Shakespeare, It’s Elementary!

Folger Shakespeare Library Education presents Shakespeare, It’s Elementary! The Practical Why and How of Teaching Shakespeare on the Elementary Lucretia Anderson, Folger Elementary School Program Coordinator, Washington, DC Dr. Barbara M. Cobb, Associate Director and Education Coordinator Murray Shakespeare Festival, Murray State University, KY Holly Rodgers, ESOL teacher White Oaks Elementary, Fairfax County, VA Session Chair Dr. Robert Young, Folger Director of Education, Washington, DC

Folger Education…Our Philosophy Performance-based teaching is an interactive approach to the study of literature, particularly Shakespeare’s plays and poems, in which students participate in a close reading of text through intellectual, physical, and vocal engagement. Folger Education believes that students can engage Shakespeare’s texts most effectively when they are on their feet, working with peers, and speaking some of the greatest lines in the English language. The crucial element of performance often makes a connection that traditional teaching methods may not.

Why Teaching Shakespeare Works with Young Students … Are eager to try something new and have fun while learning Are less inhibited and willing to take risks Have less fear of unfamiliar words and are in the midst of language acquisition and vocabulary building. Have little to no prior knowledge of the social stigmas placed on Shakespeare. Ie. Shakespeare is high culture, boring, intimidating

ELA Common Core Standards and Shakespeare on the Elementary Level Teaching Shakespeare addresses several Common Core Standards in Reading: Literature and Informational Text, Speaking and Listening as well as Language From Common Core State Standards ELA Note on range and content of student reading…. To build a foundation for college and career readiness, students must read widely and deeply from among a broad range of high- quality increasingly challenging literary and informational texts. Through extensive reading of stories, dramas, poems, and myths from diverse cultures and different time periods, students gain literary and cultural knowledge as well as familiarity with various text structures and elements. To emphasize comprehension of complex texts, it is important to use the actual text, (not adaptations) if not all than in part Performance-based teaching approach works naturally with these concepts

Shakespeare Steps Out in a Nutshell Introduction to Elizabethan Culture Introduction to William Shakespeare the man Explore Shakespeare’s language, structures and stories Collaborate on a group performance of play or scenes using Original Language

Body Language

O My Word! Students break into groups and receive a card with an unfamiliar word on the front. First, they try to determine the meaning first by looking at the word, sounding it out and discussing possible definitions. The group then demonstrates the meaning by working together to form a tableau and the class guesses the group’s definition based on the tableau. Next the students receive the word with context clues used in Shakespearean text, also used in contemporary sentence. Last perform a skit that uses the word while showing the meaning. Afterwards classmates conclude meaning based on the performance

Children’s Shakespeare Festival

Benefits of Studying Shakespeare in the Elementary Classroom Doing Shakespeare is deeply satisfying-and actually fun- for students of all abilities. Learning Shakespeare appeals to students’ higher order thinking skills, encourages critical thinking, and teaches them to work collaboratively and communicate effectively Performance -based classroom activities and teaching methods provide far reaching alternatives to traditional teaching methods. Students demonstrate a deeper appreciation for language, literature and the arts. Students have a new found confidence - they have just tackled Shakespearean text and made it their own- what can’t they do?

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