After my outrage last week, it must be said that my Year 7 class are really getting into Shakespeare. They love all the stuff about the Globe and Elizabethan London. I've decided to start them gently by looking at A Midsummer Night's Dream and it seems to be working. I'd like to say that it's my flawless teaching, but when it comes down to it it's the man himself I have to thank. Once you can link the play to their own life, children seem to love it. In a world of reality TV and soap opera they are all to familiar with sex, violence and betrayal, and lets face it that's what Elizabethan audiences wanted too. I was worried about the faeries but with the recent revival of fantasy films in the cinemas, this hasn't caused a problem at all.
Once the story has been established the language comes quite easily, as long as they realise that people in the 1600s didn't all walk around London greeting each other on rhyming couplets and iambic pentameter. of course with 11 year olds the easiest way in is through the insults. I look forward to the day I walk across the yard and hare them calling each other painted maypoles and puppets rather than some of the preferred endearments usually bellowed at lunch time.
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4 comments:
At school I was the odd one out because all the others scoffed at fantasy, fairies and ghosts. So I think it's great that they're into all these now. Keep up the good work!
I've finally got around to reading your blogs, having been confused at first by the @ and then been away. I used to be a teacher, but that was nearly 29 years ago. Their language then was abit tame compared with todays children. Anyway I've enjoyed reading you
Dear Connie, I think your writing really shows your passion for learning and education. How amazing that some of the Year 7 children had never heard of William Shakespeare. I can understand that you may question how relevant Shakespeare is going to be to your students in later life, but it sounds as though they have really embraced what you have been teaching them. I guess enjoyment has a lot to play in that, and your enthusiasm as a teacher! Debbie
Connie, the comments your blog has stimulated indicate that you have tapped into a number of areas of common interest. Language, imagination, learning, teaching...
I look forward to reading more!
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