Shakespeare in the ClassroomMichael Pulsinelli, English Teacher, and Kelly Fast, English Teacher
The Kansas City Repertory Theatre offers a "Shakespeare in the Classroom" enrichment program, which brings four qualified actors to the English classroom for week-long segments, and is currently being utilized for one week per year with approximately 100 English 10 Honors students. After working with the actors for two years, it has been found that they greatly enhance a classroom study of Shakespeare. The English teachers are able to comfortably teach the literary aspects of the play, whereas the visiting actors allow the students to approach the play on emotional, personal, and performance levels. All of these components are vital to a complete understanding of a Shakespearean play. This grant would solidify Shakespeare in the Classroom’s involvement at East for the next three years. Currently, the actors come to SME classes for one week. They begin together in the classroom understanding the play’s basics. Then, each actor takes a small group of students, who are responsible for performing a few scenes from the chosen play. The actors help the students rehearse and prepare, but more importantly require students to think specifically and critically about their characters’ motives and actions. Lectures alone can miss some students, but the actors are able to reach all levels, especially students who normally wouldn’t speak up in a discussion-based class. The teachers have participated in the groups for the past two years, and can personally attest to the positive influence the actors have on all types of student. Student thank-you letters have further demonstrated this influence. Even seniors have returned to recite lines and visit with the actors. This request would allow expansion of the current scope from a one-week to a three-week experience over the course of a school year. This will allow students the opportunity to analyze and edit personal versions of the plays before the actors’ arrival. In the past, cut versions of the plays prepared by the actors have been used, but with extra time, the actors could involve the students personally beyond the performance level. They will perform their own edited script. The actors will work with the scripts for one week and would move on to rehearsals and performances. With this grant, the program, ideally, will be expanded to the entire sophomore class. In addition, students will take their enhanced understanding to their junior and senior year readings of plays. Some students read up to four Shakespearean plays after their sophomore year, and we feel that their understanding of those plays will be heightened as well. The teachers have spoken to the actors, and they work with all student levels. While they’ve only worked with our honors students, they attest to the program’s effectiveness for basic and standard-level students as well. The KC Rep charges $1,000 per week for four actors to come to the school for six out of seven class periods each day. They would be asked to come for one week in the first semester (for Julius Caesar) and for two weeks in the second (for Othello). This grant would fund the program for three years ($9,000 total). From two years’ experience, this program’s educational benefits have been proven. Students are highly motivated and excited by the actors. Performances will be taped, and student thank-you letters will be copied to demonstrate the program’s value. The teachers plan to share the skills and information gained with their English colleagues (through department meetings and inservices) so that they can use similar methods in their classes. The teachers will actively involve colleagues in the program itself, so that it can grow to benefit all students. Grant awarded February 2006 |