How to Start Romeo and Juliet: Act 1 Activities

Act 1 of Romeo and Juliet is often students’ first experience with a Shakespeare play, and so it can be a make-it-or-break-it situation for many. Students will be deciding whether Shakespeare is something they can handle—and maybe even enjoy—or something they’ll need to just get through. There’s so much that they’ll love about this classic play, but it’s not always easy to convey those elements to a group of 21st-century teens. The trick is not to simplify things, but to

How To Beat The Online Summaries

One of the main reasons why I love teaching literature is because I get to witness my classes experience the joy of reading great books. When students grapple with a text, analyze exquisite writing first hand, discover universal themes in classic works, and experience the accomplishment of finishing a challenging text for themselves, they truly grow as students and as people. Often, though, kids deny themselves of their own education by choosing to read online summaries rather than actual

How to Teach Romeo and Juliet to 9th Graders

In many ways, 9th grade is a great time to teach Romeo and Juliet—there’s something about a whole tragedy about an unending feud, over-the-top love, and deaths resulting when “they stumble that run fast” that is just perfect for that age. Freshmen are often right at that stage where emotions feel huge, decisions feel urgent, and everything seems like the end of the world. Freshmen are also often excited about the prospect of their first real Shakespeare, and that energy

Why You Should Teach ELA in Thematic Units

When I first started teaching, I did what lots of ELA teachers do: I started at the beginning and then went from there. In other words, I taught literature chronologically. What better way for students to understand the comprehensive sweep of literature written in English, right? Well, it often felt like I was just stringing together a list of texts, and, as happens to many people, I never really got to the stuff that was written in the last 100

How to Teach Shakespeare: Lesson Plans That Actually Work

Teaching Shakespeare is truly the highlight of the school year for me. And it’s not only because I love the Bard so much that I have tattooed a favorite quote on my arm. It’s also because the Shakespeare unit is a highlight for my students as well. It wasn’t always that way, and I have learned a lot over the years about how not to teach the Bard. These 6 tips will work for any Shakespeare play, but if you