Teaching Shakespeare

Teacher, Hillcrest School & Community College

“ I enjoy all of us being together in the circle…”

Year 10 student, London

IMAGINE A WORLD… … where children are eager to stand up and enjoy Shakespeare. A world where they understand how each character is feeling, find meaning in the language and can relate the plays to their own lives.

And imagine a world where your teaching of Shakespeare can lead to improved self-esteem and confidence… and help your pupils to achieve higher levels of attainment in English and Literacy.

This is the world of Teaching Shakespeare, your opportunity to develop your teaching career with the Royal Shakespeare Company and the University of Warwick.

“ What I love about Teaching Shakespeare is that it goes further than just teaching Shakespeare.

It is about developing a love of learning.”

Sir William Atkinson, Headteacher, Phoenix High School, West London

ENGAGE WITH SHAKESPEARE

Tracking pupil progress over two years shows attitudes to learning Shakespeare improve significantly: 2010 2011 “Shakespeare is difficult to understand” 39% agree 18% agree “Shakespeare is fun” 57% agree 83% agree

Through active approaches to learning that mirror the RSC’s rehearsal room process – underpinned by evidence-based research at the University of Warwick – you can give your pupils a new world of opportunity through your teaching of Shakespeare.

We have also found that 43% of Lead Teachers engaging with us have either gained a promotion or moved into new positions of responsibility.

Plus, at each stage of your Teaching Shakespeare journey you can get qualifications accredited by the University of Warwick. From online and intensive modules leading to a Postgraduate Award, all the way to an MA in the Advanced Teaching of Shakespeare, see how far your first small steps can take you in your career.

STAND AND DELIVER

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For further details about research and case studies go to: www.rsc.org.uk

Teaching Shakespeare represents the Stand up for Shakespeare manifesto for children and young people: • Do Shakespeare on your feet • See it live • Start it earlier

BREAKING THE MOULD Learning to love Shakespeare through ensemble The underlying principle behind Teaching Shakespeare – and the RSC as a whole – is a creative, collaborative approach to learning known as ensemble. It’s an approach in which teachers and students, actors and directors, develop a shared understanding of the play, becoming co-owners and active participants.

Performance is also hugely important so that pupils can get up on their feet and actually feel what it is like to be a character in a scene.

This can be a real culture change. Teachers need to be able to let go and allow their students to find meaning and interpretations for themselves. Top down instruction is replaced by open discussion, with teachers and students learning together. Mutual trust and respect is essential so that pupils have the confidence to stand up and try out something new.

Both teachers and their pupils need to be supported through the process. The experience of the RSC’s education programme – and years of academic research at the University of Warwick – demonstrates how ensemble methods and more active approaches can lead to a transformation in the way Shakespeare is taught and learned in the classroom.

The evidence shows how children and young people can: • Understand Shakespeare’s plays more quickly and develop a deeper appreciation • Become more engaged and show improvements in their social and communication skills • Achieve higher test scores in English, Literacy and other subjects as well

ONE GIRL. ONE BOY. Erin (Primary)

Jonathan (Secondary)

Erin had experienced challenging circumstances according to her teacher. In class she did not value her writing, she was timid and ignored, she allowed others to lead when she worked in groups and she was reluctant to be in the limelight.

According to his teacher, Jonathan was “a very shy boy who does not often offer ideas and suggestions in front of the whole class.”

After three lessons of Macbeth following Teaching Shakespeare principles, Erin said this in her diary: “I was King. It felt strange, funny and as if I was of some importance AND it ALSO built up my confidence quite a bit! I wish that we could do it EVERY week!!!”

“By completing the RSC ensemble-based tasks he could really begin to relate with the characters in the play in a new and dynamic way… his selection of vocabulary showed a real maturity and individuality in approach.”

As a result, with a KS3 target of 6a, Jonathan scored 6b for Reading and 7c for Creative Writing.

“ My dad said Shakespeare was boring, but he’s got it wrong!

I’m gonna tell him about Hamlet.

It’s got murders and ghosts and castles and stuff and that’s not boring.”

Ben (aged 8), Stokeinteignhead Primary School

“ The effect… has been huge. Even the more reluctant members of staff have completely changed their methods and attitudes towards teaching Shakespeare.”

Celia, Secondary School teacher, Cumbria When you join Teaching Shakespeare you will work with an internationally respected team of theatre practitioners and academics.

Take a look to ‘meet’ just a few of the tutors.

MEET THE TUTORS Rachel Gartside Rachel is a trained actor and English/Drama teacher. She has been an Associate of the RSC and the University of Warwick for six years and has worked with many world-class Shakespearean actors and directors. Rachel’s PhD research focuses on change in learning and teaching inspired by rehearsal room pedagogy. She is co-author of The RSC Shakespeare Toolkit for Teachers.

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ONLINE LEARNING

ENTER THE WORLD OF TEACHING SHAKESPEARE Online learning is at the heart of what we do so that teachers can get involved, wherever they are in the world.

You will be able to access a Virtual Learning Environment that is rich in content to inspire and guide you along the way.

WATCH

LEARN

ENGAGE

Film content includes:

Work through the syllabus to learn how you can apply Teaching Shakespeare approaches in your class:

Use extensive support materials, additional reading and questions for response and reflection to help you apply what you have learned in the classroom. A learning diary is included and you can also access podcasts and talk to the general Teaching Shakespeare community.

Rachel Gartside and Professor Jonothan Neelands working on Romeo and Juliet with 11-15 year olds Professor James Shapiro of Columbia University working with New York City teachers Insights from RSC Directors Rupert Goold, Michael Boyd, Roxanne Silbert and Tim Crouch In-depth interviews with the RSC’s Director of Voice and Text, Cicely Berry OBE and Head of Movement, Struan Leslie RSC actors on how they approach Shakespeare’s characters and language RSC practitioners Mary Johnson, Jacqui O’Hanlon and Miles Tandy exploring transferable strategies to Macbeth, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Hamlet Expert peer and academic commentary on the social and historical context of Shakespeare’s world

Unit 1: Building an Ensemble Classroom Unit 2: The Classroom as Rehearsal

Room: A Model Lesson Unit 3: Telling the Story of the Play Unit 4: Exploring Shakespeare’s

Language Unit 5: Connecting Worlds –

Our World, Shakespeare’s World

and the World of the Play Unit 6: Transferring Strategies

to Macbeth, A Midsummer

Night’s Dream and Hamlet Unit 7: The Art of Asking Questions

in the Classroom and the

Rehearsal Room

Teachers following the Postgraduate Award in the Teaching of Shakespeare (Online) (see page 5), get all of this and more with regular webinars and online discussions to exchange ideas about the course with tutors and classmates.

In addition, academics at the University of Warwick will formally assess your coursework and offer feedback to help you track your learning progress.

Unit 8: Taking the Plunge Unit 9: Designing Learning Unit 10: Why Teach Shakespeare Now

MEET THE TUTORS Professor Jonothan Neelands Jonothan is Professor of Drama and Theatre Education at the University of Warwick and Professor of Creative Education at the Warwick Business School. He works regularly with young people and teachers worldwide and has written and co-written many influential texts including; Structuring Drama Work, Beginning Drama 11-14, Key Shakespeare 1 and 2, Advanced Drama and Theatre Studies and Improving Your Primary School Through Drama.

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ONLINE LEARNING

PRACTITIONER RESOURCES

Stand up for Shakespeare: The Essentials Online Duration: 12 months from date of purchase Date: Available from 1 September 2012 Price: Site licence: £385 (inc VAT)

Individual licence: £285 (inc VAT) The Practioner Resources are ideal for teachers who want to take a self-guided approach to learning and development.

A site licence is available for groups of teachers to work through the materials together. Teachers can also choose the individual licence for their own personal use.

Stand up for Shakespeare: The Essentials Online gives you access to all the Teaching Shakespeare units and includes:

• Over 8 hours of high quality, carefully sequenced films and podcasts • Support materials to help you question, reflect and

put into practice what you are learning

ACCREDITED COURSES

Postgraduate Award in the Teaching of Shakespeare (Online) Duration: 25 weeks Courses start on 17 September and Date:

10 December 2012 Price: £1194 (inc VAT) Wherever you are, you can learn online with the additional personal support of practitioners and scholars at the RSC and the University of Warwick.

The Postgraduate Award in the Teaching of Shakespeare (Online) is also based around the 10 Teaching Shakespeare units, with additional support to help you make a huge leap forward in your learning:

• Your own personal tutor from the RSC or the University of Warwick to guide you with feedback, ideas and advice • Group activity through live webinars, joint tasks and online tutorials

• Access to an online community of like-minded teachers

• Input from leading academics such as Professor Jonathan Bate and Professor James Shapiro

• Assessment by academics at the University of Warwick

• Interviews with RSC Directors and other theatre practitioners

of Warwick when you successfully complete the course

FREE

When you purchase Stand up for Shakespeare: The Essentials Online you will also get

The RSC Shakespeare Toolkit for Teachers

(RRP £52)

• An accredited Postgraduate Award from the University

This course is ideal for teachers who want structured and accredited professional development to help them take their first steps with active approaches to teaching Shakespeare.

This module can be taken as a stand-alone Postgraduate Award.

The qualification can also contribute towards a Postgraduate Certificate in the Teaching of Shakespeare and an MA in the Advanced Teaching of Shakespeare (see page 7).

Access practical classroom activities and schemes of work to help you engage pupils aged 8 to 14 in three of Shakespeare’s most popular plays: Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet and A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Available free as a digital copy or PDF download.

MEET THE TUTORS Jacqui O’Hanlon Jacqui is the RSC’s Director of Education. In 2008 she led the RSC’s Stand up for Shakespeare campaign which resulted in 15,000 supporting signatures. Jacqui also set up the RSC’s Learning and Performance Network which reaches 96,000 children and young people across the country. She is the co-author of Using Drama to Teach Personal, Social and Emotional Skills and editor of The RSC Shakespeare Toolkit for Teachers.

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INTENSIVE LEARNING

INTENSIVE FIVE-DAY COURSE IN STRATFORD-UPON-AVON Join us for an unforgettable week of Teaching Shakespeare.

Venue: Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, UK We offer two courses in a highly supportive and relaxed environment to help teachers explore active teaching strategies and gain insights into Shakespeare’s text and the performance of his plays:

1. The Essentials of Teaching Shakespeare in the Classroom for English, Literacy and Language Arts teachers

2. The Essentials of Staging and Performing Shakespeare with Children and Young People for Drama and Theatre teachers

Both courses are based around a live performance in the Royal Shakespeare Theatre with training linked directly to the play and production.

Throughout the week, participants are immersed in the rehearsal room approach to teaching, staging and performing Shakespeare with children and young people.

RSC Education practitioners and leading academics from the University of Warwick will guide you through a wide range of practical workshops and seminars, and there will be opportunities to work closely with RSC Actors and Directors, plus RSC departments specialising in Voice and Text, Movement and Music.

ACCREDITED COURSES

The Essentials of Teaching Shakespeare in the Classroom Duration: 5 days Date: Tuesday 23 July - Saturday 27 July 2013 Price: UK/ EU: £1194 (inc VAT)

Non-EU: £3000 (inc VAT)

The Essentials of Staging and Performing Shakespeare with Children and Young People Duration: 5 days Date: Monday 29 July - Friday 2 August 2013 Price: UK/ EU: £1194 (inc VAT)

Non-EU: £3000 (inc VAT)

Each intensive course leads to a stand-alone Postgraduate Award.

The qualification can also contribute towards a Postgraduate Certificate in the Teaching of Shakespeare and an MA in the Advanced Teaching of Shakespeare (see page 7).

Please note: Fees include tuition only.

They do not include accommodation or meals.

Explore practical ways to engage students with Shakespeare’s plays Work with RSC Actors and Directors to develop artistic skills and understanding Transform your approach with the rehearsal and ensemble-based model of teaching Shakespeare Use a live performance to discover new, creative ways of teaching with RSC artists

MEET THE TUTORS Dr Paul Prescott Paul is Associate Professor of English at the University of Warwick and has taught and acted Shakespeare worldwide.

He has published books and articles on a range of subjects, including pedagogy and the history and practice of theatre criticism, and on a variety of Shakespearean actors, directors, plays and performances.

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MA PATHWAY

ACCREDITED COURSES

Pathways to the MA in the Advanced Teaching of Shakespeare Teaching Shakespeare gives you flexible pathways of learning to demonstrate you have successfully completed recognised standards of teaching, reflection and scholarship.

You can gain qualifications that will help you develop your teaching career. Plus you can build up credits that count towards the MA in the Advanced Teaching of Shakespeare offered by the University of Warwick (180 credits).

Postgraduate Award (30 credits) Gain this qualification by successfully completing the Postgraduate Award in the Teaching of Shakespeare (Online) described on page 5, or one of the intensive five-day courses described on page 6.

Postgraduate Certificate (60 credits) Rise to the next level by completing the Postgraduate Award in the Teaching of Shakespeare (Online), plus one of the intensive five-day courses described on page 6.

MASTER’S DEGREE

The MA in the Advanced Teaching of Shakespeare Duration: 2-5 years Date: The MA Pathway opens July 2012. Direct entry

to the MA course opens summer 2013 Price: Courses and modules individually priced When you complete the Postgraduate Certificate in the Teaching of Shakespeare you can apply to join the MA programme at the University of Warwick.

At this stage, you will develop both a practical and theoretical base to implement active approaches to teaching Shakespeare at Primary and Secondary school levels. You will also develop the necessary skills in research and enquiry that will lead to recognition of excellence in your teaching.

Further modules leading to the MA in the Advanced Teaching of Shakespeare include:

• Applying the RSC/Warwick Model to Learning and Performing • Foundation Research Methods in Education • Introduction to Leading Professional Enquiry • Dissertation • Professional Research Project For more details on the requirements and prices of each MA module, go to the Teaching Shakespeare website or contact enquiries@teachingshakespeare.ac.uk

“ Some of the most relevant, exciting and inspirational professional development I have ever participated in.”

English and Drama teacher, Harrow

MEET THE TUTORS Miles Tandy Miles is the RSC Education team’s Lead Practitioner in Professional Development for Teachers. Previously, he was an Adviser with the Educational Development Service in Warwickshire and collaborated with the RSC to develop their work in Primary and Early Years. Miles is a regular visiting tutor at the University of Warwick and is widely published.

He is the co-author (with Joe Winston) of Beginning Shakespeare 4-11.

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JOIN OUR FREE WEBINARS Throughout 2012 we are running Taster Webinar Sessions online so you can experience what it is like to be in the Teaching Shakespeare community.

Join us live to:

• Experience Teaching Shakespeare first-hand

• Interact with the tutors and RSC practitioners

• Learn more about the resources and accredited courses Sign up at www.teachingshakespeare.ac.uk to receive details of our next live event.

REGISTER YOUR INTEREST For further information about Teaching Shakespeare, contact us or sign up at www.teachingshakespeare.ac.uk

BUY OR APPLY Contact us to buy Stand up for Shakespeare: The Essentials Online or to enrol on our accredited courses: Tel: +44 (0) 1789 403432 Email: enquiries@teachingshakespeare.ac.uk

For more information: Teaching Shakespeare c/o Royal Shakespeare Company Waterside, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, CV37 6BB. Tel: +44 (0) 1789 403432 Web: www.teachingshakespeare.ac.uk Email: enquiries@teachingshakespeare.ac.uk

Photography by Nick Spatling. © Royal Shakespeare Company.