Comments on: New Shakespeare Set Free Toolkit Unveiled at NCTE http://folgereducation.wordpress.com/2009/12/02/new-shakespeare-set-free-toolkit-unveiled-at-ncte/ Fri, 17 May 2013 02:19:26 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: Wayne Warsaw http://folgereducation.wordpress.com/2009/12/02/new-shakespeare-set-free-toolkit-unveiled-at-ncte/#comment-61 Thu, 11 Feb 2010 01:21:46 +0000 http://folgereducation.wordpress.com/?p=143#comment-61 Last week, my classmates and I, acted out a scene from Midsummer’s Night Dream. Our Professor, Michael LoMonico, based our “performance” on lesson #1 of “Shakespeare Set Free.” It was interesting to experience the almost immediate level of comfort that each step of the lesson provided. By the end of the class, we were “in character,” getting stage direction from our audience of peers, and the language seemed much less “foreign” to us. We understood how to better express Shakespeare’s words through our intonation and body language. The language became our own and we had a lot of fun performing the scene. If we were asked to jump right into the scene without the scaffolded steps provided by our professor and “Shakespeare Set Free,” the class would have presumably been much less productive and willing to perform amongst a classroom of peers. Personally, I can’t wait to teach Shakespeare, as well as other works, and incorporate the lessons provided in “Shakespeare Set Free” into my curriculum. Like Scott O Neil’s comment above, what you get with “Shakespeare Set Free” is not just a book full of exciting and practical lesson plans, you get introduced to a completely different mindset and approach to the teaching of Shakespeare in the classroom setting.

]]> By: Scott O'Neil http://folgereducation.wordpress.com/2009/12/02/new-shakespeare-set-free-toolkit-unveiled-at-ncte/#comment-48 Thu, 10 Dec 2009 08:16:57 +0000 http://folgereducation.wordpress.com/?p=143#comment-48 Terry and Diane,

The Folger approach to teaching Shakespeare isn’t really about the pre-packaged unit plans (though they do have some fantastic ones- I know for a fact that both Othello and R and J are included in the Shakespeare Set Free books). The idea behind the Folger method is to alter the entire philosophy of teaching Shakespeare.

I participated in a month-long institute at the Folger in 2008 (they are doing another one this coming summer- You should definitely apply–It’s a life-changing experience). While I was there, we worked with Lear, Richard III, Taming of the Shrew and Much Ado. I was able to use that experience to help write a new Shakespeare unit for my 12th graders that covered those four plays, as well as two others (Tempest and Macbeth). Once you get are exposed to the ideas behind the Folger approach, it’s REALLY easy to apply those ideas to other plays.

That’s really the only way I can think of to explain the toolkit. You’re getting the resources to implement an approach to teaching Shakespeare (which is far, FAR more valuable than getting JUST a unit plan).

Good luck, and remember what I said about this summer’s workshop (you’ll love it–check the Folger website for “Teaching Shakespeare Institute 2010″).

Scott

]]> By: Maryellen Kenney http://folgereducation.wordpress.com/2009/12/02/new-shakespeare-set-free-toolkit-unveiled-at-ncte/#comment-47 Wed, 09 Dec 2009 16:22:32 +0000 http://folgereducation.wordpress.com/?p=143#comment-47 The Shakespeare Set Free curriculum has revolutionized the way I teach Shakespeare! My students and I love the interactivity, the way the students are up and moving and interacting with the authentic language. Many of the techniques are appropriate with other pieces – novels that we read in my classroom, for example – and continue to be so engaging for the students. Now that I have taught Romeo and Juliet using the SSF curriculum, I know that I could adapt those same strategies to any other of the Bard’s plays. I took the workshop a few years ago and so have missed out on the extras, like the flash drive. But I check in with the Folger website frequently for all the wonderful resources there. I’ll be asking for English Department money to purchase the complete toolkite for next year!

]]> By: Terry Becker http://folgereducation.wordpress.com/2009/12/02/new-shakespeare-set-free-toolkit-unveiled-at-ncte/#comment-44 Fri, 04 Dec 2009 20:15:06 +0000 http://folgereducation.wordpress.com/?p=143#comment-44 Please notify me when you have one for Hamlet and/or Romeo and Juliet.

]]> By: ryoung http://folgereducation.wordpress.com/2009/12/02/new-shakespeare-set-free-toolkit-unveiled-at-ncte/#comment-43 Fri, 04 Dec 2009 19:32:08 +0000 http://folgereducation.wordpress.com/?p=143#comment-43 The toolkit is perfect for any play. The contents contain activities and exercises for all of the plays, and uses specific plays to illustrate the techniques used. Enjoy! Bob

]]> By: Diane Reitmyer http://folgereducation.wordpress.com/2009/12/02/new-shakespeare-set-free-toolkit-unveiled-at-ncte/#comment-42 Fri, 04 Dec 2009 00:54:03 +0000 http://folgereducation.wordpress.com/?p=143#comment-42 Please notify me when you have one for Hamlet or Othello. Thanks.

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