Shakespeare a Hit in Seventh Grade Language Arts

Seventh graders are immersed in a language arts unit on the famous William Shakespeare play Romeo and Juliet. “Our work with the play addresses two of our seventh grade throughlines: ‘How can we be thoughtful readers and writers’ and ‘What does it mean to love reading?’” says teacher Isaac Jacobs-Gomes. In class, students are using psychoanalytic and feminist theory to see how the patriarchal power structure in Verona limits Romeo and Juliet’s agency. “We’ll explore some of the ways Shakespeare’s work both upends and reaffirms this dynamic,” Mr. Jacobs explains. Students are also watching two film versions of the play: Zepherelli’s 1968 version and Baz Lurhman’s 1994 version, exploring how Zepherelli highlighted the devastating violence and how Lurhman presented a feminist reading of the play.

 

“Introducing some theory helps empower our seventh graders,” adds Mr. Jacobs. “Texts are living things—even an old text like Romeo and Juliet—and with a little theory, students can make the play their own! This also relates to our Brandeis core value because we try to answer the question, ‘How can I change the world through writing?’” MORE PHOTOS