Now I have to really write. For real.
The title for this week is misleading. When I first got the syllabus, I was all "OOO! But I have a month to gather my materials..."
No, actually, this week is WRITING. Okay. We're writing.
The assignment this week was to turn in our outlines for review by the rest of the class. This, of course, with the understanding that over the next few weeks, the project is likely to take sharp turns you didn't expect...and that's okay.
One colleague in my class asked mid-week "Is it too late to change my topic?" -- the answer is "never too late, but you'll have a lot of catching up to do." The first draft is due March 10. If I write ONE PAGE a night from the day that I started writing, I will get this done by that date -- but I want time to clean it up and revise it, so really I probably have to write TWO PAGES a night. I've been putting my son to bed and then writing from 9pm - 1:30am almost every night. I am writing my way through a cloud. I am tired.
Here's my outline. There are very few people in my class that are interested in what I have to say, so I feel like I am flying under the radar. It's just like high school all over again: I'm, like, geeking out about my thing....and no one currrrrrrr.
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Thesis: How do we create a generation that is successful academically, but also has the wisdom to know when it is appropriate to put down their screens and be present: expressing empathy and a desire to be in community with their peers? An early introduction to Shakespeare curriculum and drama play can set the stage for successful academic, emotional and social development in children, ages five to nine.
I. The Problem with Shakespeare
II. History of Shakespeare in America
III. Why Americans have a hard time with teaching/learning Shakespeare
The title for this week is misleading. When I first got the syllabus, I was all "OOO! But I have a month to gather my materials..."
No, actually, this week is WRITING. Okay. We're writing.
The assignment this week was to turn in our outlines for review by the rest of the class. This, of course, with the understanding that over the next few weeks, the project is likely to take sharp turns you didn't expect...and that's okay.
One colleague in my class asked mid-week "Is it too late to change my topic?" -- the answer is "never too late, but you'll have a lot of catching up to do." The first draft is due March 10. If I write ONE PAGE a night from the day that I started writing, I will get this done by that date -- but I want time to clean it up and revise it, so really I probably have to write TWO PAGES a night. I've been putting my son to bed and then writing from 9pm - 1:30am almost every night. I am writing my way through a cloud. I am tired.
Here's my outline. There are very few people in my class that are interested in what I have to say, so I feel like I am flying under the radar. It's just like high school all over again: I'm, like, geeking out about my thing....and no one currrrrrrr.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thesis: How do we create a generation that is successful academically, but also has the wisdom to know when it is appropriate to put down their screens and be present: expressing empathy and a desire to be in community with their peers? An early introduction to Shakespeare curriculum and drama play can set the stage for successful academic, emotional and social development in children, ages five to nine.
I. The Problem with Shakespeare
- Avoided with young children because is perceived as difficult and raises uncomfortable ethical questions.
- Many teachers aren’t interested or not prepared to teach it.
- Current curriculum standards make it difficult to fit it in.
II. History of Shakespeare in America
III. Why Americans have a hard time with teaching/learning Shakespeare
- Culture of materialism has resulted in over-testing and over-booking young children, but they are out of balance because of this choice.
- Bombardment of technology. Creates passivity, does not engage the imagination. Removes children from face to face interaction and awareness of non-verbal communication & manners.
- Moral teaching can be drawn from Shakespeare’s plays. Ethics & morality are not in vogue as subjects in school. Teachers are nervous that conversations can veer into religious issues. However, Shakespeare was not particularly religious, but focused on humanity in his plots and characters, so his plays are a good jumping off point for guiding discussions about universal morality.
- Engaging the power of storytelling.
- Drama Play allows children to “try on” situations and learn from the mistakes and wise choices of the characters they put on.
- Hooray! Storytelling and Drama Play are FREE. There’s no reason why we shouldn’t be doing these more in early education.
- Common Core - what is it and why it is "supposed" to work.
- Why it is flawed at the K - 3 level.
- Math Standards for K – 3 and Shakespeare games that can help.
- English Standards for K - 3 and Shakespeare games that can help.
- CASEL.org, SEL competencies.
- Critical Thinking.
- Confidence.
- Creativity.
- Community.
- Compassion.
- Hope - Hard to measure, but a rich storytelling environment can coach a child into expecting hopeful outcomes; to look for and hang on to hope in their own lives. Shakespeare’s characters always play to win. They are survivors.
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