Reading Aloud and Acting Out Stories Brings Language Arts Classroom to Life

In seventh grade, students spend time in class reading books and stories aloud. Currently, students have delved into Romeo and Juliet and, says teacher Ashley Bitton, “I believe that a student’s first introduction to Shakespeare should be memorable. If we lived in Renaissance England, we would be at the Globe Theater watching these plays, so why not recreate the same energy in the classroom?” Students begin each scene by reading and acting it out aloud, and then discuss the main points of the scene as well as how Shakespeare uses figurative language to make his words come alive. Seeing other actors also helps students interpret Shakespeare, so the class watches two different movie versions of Romeo and Juliet, the 1968 Zeferelli version and the 1996 Luhrman version. Acting out the scenes in class and then seeing them unfold on the screen brings to life what students are reading.

 

Adds Ms. Bitton, “As a whole, teaching Shakespeare has been dynamic, hands-on, exciting, and approachable. In the play, Friar Lawrence says, ‘Go wisely and go slowly. Those who rush stumble and fall.’ It is a great reminder for students to take their time and enjoy the process. For the seventh graders, that process has been deciphering the language of Shakespeare, despite how difficult it may seem at first glance.” MORE PHOTOS