Hamlet Remix: A Teaching Idea, with Student Work Samples
Last week, my classes were right in the middle of two tragedies–Othello and Hamlet. My Senior English class had just finished Hamlet’s “to be or not to be” speech and my Junior Dual Enrollment class had just read the temptation…
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…
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…
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,…
Hamlet's Ophelia: How imagery supports characterization
By Jill Burdick-Zupancic In English 10, I chose to study Macbeth with the students this year. However, because we were also looking at how imagery supports characterization, I decided to get them back into the world of Shakespeare with a…