Re: To Kill and English Teacher

Andy Hewitt wrote:
Kate XXXXXX <kate@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Andy Hewitt wrote:
Guy King <guy.king@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

If my English teacher wanted me to read To Kill A Mockingbird, why
didn't he just tell me what a good book it is? I'm finally reading it
properly (instead of just skimming it to try to cram in a few snippets
that might come up in an exam) and it's really very good.

Then again, perhaps they did and I wasn't listening - but I really don't
recall it.
I was fortunate to have not been forced into classic literature myself
(I have never understood why Shakespeare is use to teach English).

I got to read books like Kes and The Cruel Sea.

I used to use both Kes and Shakespeare, and lots of other things. The
trick with Shakespeare is not to read it, at least, not to start with.
I always started with acting bits, then seeing chunks of the film, then
reading bits of the script. We then went on to seeing the whole film,
possibly seeing a stage production, and only THEN reading the original
all through. Works a treat with R&J, Macbeth, Henry V, and all sorts.


Best bit of R&J to start with is lines of the scene where Mercutio is
killed, rolled up newspaper swords, and chopping the script into one-line specials and handing them out randomly. Leave the kids to work
out who says what in which order. It's amazing what they can do and how
well they work things out. Might not end up *quite* like the original,
but it's a load of fun!

That sounds more like a drama class thaqn an English class though.

I've been teaching it like that since 1978...

By the end of a 14 week term they have a essay about character development, one about plot and sub-plot, one comparing a film version to the script as published (about why the director cut and changed bits), and one about Mr S's use of language, plenty of oral grades for the 'drama' lessons and discussions, and udually some fun bits like Wanted posters for Romeo and news reports about the deaths. It could also lead to excellent art projects (stage and costumedesign), CDT projects (lighting, props, etc), PSE discussions on gang warfare, and loads of other cross-curricular activities if you could drag the other departments along with you.

The kids and Shakespeare were not the reason I escaped from the classroom. I still suffer occasional relapses and take the sewing machines in for more fun!
--
Kate XXXXXX R.C.T.Q Madame Chef des Trolls
Lady Catherine, Wardrobe Mistress of the Chocolate Buttons
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