Shakespeare Kids: Performing his Plays, Speaking his Words

(Paperback)

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Description

This book is a practical, comprehensive, step-by-step guide to performing one of Shakespeare's plays in a classroom, library, or recreational setting. Shakespeare Kids: Performing his Plays, Speaking his Words opens the world of the Bard to children, providing a wonderful learning experience along the way. Designed as a comprehensive, practical guide to engaging students with the playwright's timeless stories, Shakespeare Kids covers every aspect of production and performance, with step-by-step guidelines on how to choose, cast, rehearse, produce, and perform a play. It even shows you how to condense a play without changing Shakespeare's language. The book's inclusive approach is based on the author's experience performing these plays with hundreds of students in the classroom and in recreational programs. Each of the ten recommended plays is summarized, with special attractions for performing it with students noted. The rationale for teaching language arts and reading by performing Shakespeare is based on national standards and recent reading research and explains how to differentiate this approach for English learners and students with disabilities. A ready-to-use, condensed script for Macbeth gets you started. Grades 3-8

Reviews

Any school with an interest in drama will find this book a useful and refreshing addition to the school library. Recommended. * Library Media Connection *
Cox's effort is sure to be a welcome guide to bringing Shakespeare to the elementary stage. * School Library Journal *
In this guide for teachers, librarians, and recreational leaders, Cox (teacher education, California State University) proves that students can understand the language and ideas in Shakespeare's plays and perform them well enough to interest an audience. She offers a rationale for teaching language arts and reading by performing Shakespeare, based on national standards and recent reading research, and explains how to use the approach with all students, including English language learners and students with disabilities. She recommends and summarizes ten plays, and provides a ready-to-use, condensed script of Macbeth for grades 3-8. * Reference & Research Book News *

Author Bio

Carole Cox is professor in the department of teacher education at California State University, Long Beach, where she was named the Outstanding Professor in 2001.