Product Description

6 Sensational Scenes From Favorite Plays and Dozens of Fun Ideas That Introduce Students to the Wonderful Works of Shakespeare
Classroom-tested, Kid-pleasing Scenes and Activities!
Reproducible scenes, exciting mini-lessons, and motivating activities that explore meter, metaphor, imagery, alliteration, and much more.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #655268 in Books
• Published on: 2001-04-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 80 pages

From the Author
When I started out as a young and very novice educator, I had to teach Shakespeare several times a year. Not only was I unsure of how to introduce these rivettingly beautiful Elizabethan plays to modern, sometimes TV-soaked students, but I was often made painfully aware of how little I knew about Shakespeare's language and theater. Over the years, I studied Shakespeare so that I could become more informed and hopefully more eloquent about his works. From some great professors and theater teachers, I have learned that teaching Shakespeare with special attention to the plays as dramatic texts makes enormous sense in the literature classroom. These texts were, in fact, written to be performed; so much becomes clearer for students when they understand that they are not reading novels but plays. And when students read the plays with different interpretive hats on - not only as students of literature but as actors and directors and costume designers, it involves t! hem in Shakespeare's work in a profoundly wonderful way.

In Irresistible Shakespeare, I present my best assignments; they have worked well with many different students of all ages. These lessons not only introduce students to fundmental components of Shakespeare's tool box such as meter and metaphor but also acquaint them with various dramatic conventions. I have also included six reproducible "playlets;" these are annotated speeches and/or short sections of plays. Playlets are perfect for introducing Shakespeare or doing an in-class performance or supporting the study of another play with a related lesson. All assignments are preceded by teacher pages that include relevant information and activities.

I thank you very much for your interest in my book.

About the Author
Carol Rawlings Miller teaches fifth graders at St. Ann¹s School in Brooklyn, New York.

Customer Reviews

I would give this ten stars if I could!
Hi! I am not a teacher, but a mother of a 10-year old who is studying Shakespeare in school, and I wanted to help her, since my own background in English is extremely spotty (ahem). I read the teacher's comments (Ms. Miller) and am SO glad I ordered this book! My daughter and I are having such fun studying the text, taking turns reading the parts, even acting them out! Since Ms. Miller's experience as a teacher of Shakespeare is so great, we are BOTH learning a great deal together...

I would advise this book for any parent who wants to help their child gain a greater understanding of Shakespeare -- as a living play, and not just dull text on the page -- Miss Miller brings it all to life -- I wish I had had her as a teacher so many years ago.

As a conscientous mom who wants to help her child, I cannot recommend this book enough -- buy it, you will be glad you did.

Irresistable Shakespeare is a very hands-on book!
Irresistable Shakespeare is a well written, well thought-out teacher's guide. I am planning on introducing Shakespeare this year to my gifted and talented students and the lessons are user-friendly and will be an excellent introduction to a very difficult subject. The lessons cover the difference between prose and poetry and the use of meter. I am very impressed with Rawlings Miller and am looking forward to using it.

Wow, 8th graders engaged!
The lessons in here have my 8th graders engaged! After each lesson, I am literally hearing kids say, "I get it!" The excerpts that Miller has included are of higher interest to a younger crowd--the opening and Bosworth speeches of Richard III, the St. Crispian's Day speech from Henry V, a little R&J, Shrew, and a long excerpt from Midsummer's. I have supplemented Miller's lessons on meter and poetry w/ sonnets 12, 18 & 91, and found the kids are actually understanding iambic pentameter and rhyme scheme. The only other thing I've thrown in are some Shakespearean insults to make class interesting. This book is an invaluable addition to my teacher's arsenal.