Teaching Shakespeare

Cambridge School Shakespeare

by Rex Gibson

Invaluable support for all teachers of Shakespeare in schools, colleges and institutions of higher education. Teaching Shakespeare is a major contribution to the knowledge and expertise of all teachers of Shakespeare in schools, colleges and institutions of higher education. It makes explicit the principles of active learning which underpin Cambridge School Shakespeare, and helps teachers to develop their existing good practice. Practical examples are given from the plays most frequently used in schools, but Rex Gibson shows that the principles apply equally to the less frequently studied plays, thereby extending the canon of school Shakespeare.

Genres: Shakespeare, Education, Nonfiction, Teaching

272 pages, Paperback

First published February 26, 1998

Reviews

[Diz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent resource for teachers who are teaching Shakespeare. I like that it approaches the topic from many different angles, so you can find ideas for your lesson regardless of what you focus is (literature, language, acting, directing, etc.). The final chapter provides ideas for activities and for evaluation, which I think would be really useful for teachers who are just beginning to teach Shakespeare.

[Joe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book for those of us who teach Shakespeare.
The knowledgeable author lays out the many reasons and benefits behind teaching Shakespeare.
He also outlines the many lens and paradigms through which Shakespeare can be taught and understood.
Finally, he gives lists and lists of practical activities to introduce students to Shakespeare and to help them engage with this unique and seminal creative genius. As someone who has been teaching A Midsummer Night's Dream to 8th graders for five or six years, I found a lot of things in this book to be immediately helpful.

[*Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a great introduction to teaching Shakespeare. Some of the reviews said this book is "tired" and "doesn't present anything new." However, as a first-time teacher of Shakespeare, this book has given me a lot of confidence and ideas that have already been successful in my classroom. I highly recommend this book to somebody who is looking for a good starting point.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of excellent strategies and ideas!

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Has a number of examples of good active/acting lessons for students. Material appropriate for young children up to university students, with a focus on high school/college introductory courses.

[K. Marie Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Essential

[Steve]

Some good ideas for teaching Shakespeare, some perhaps more practical then others depending on the class community.

[Emily Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an amazing resource.
I think the most useful chapter for my students (A Level students) is the “Shakespeare’s language” chapter. Invaluable!

[J · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book contained some really useful ideas for teaching Shakespeare to different age groups. Some of the ideas, although over ten years old seem modern and easily adaptable for different situations and environments.

[Jessica Lucy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have a relatively old edition of this book so some of the ideas are outdated but it's a great springboard for trainees or NQTs like myself. I believe a new edition is to be released this year; might be worth buying to see what new ideas Gibson has :)

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is proving to be a great resource as I teach a Shakespeare class this year. Gibson provides many ideas for getting students involved in Shakespeare in a variety of ways.

[Elena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well-organized and practical. I could begin incorporating ideas found in this book today. Many of the ideas could be used for a variety of literature.