Imitation: Shakespeare is the King of Compliments

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We’ve all heard the saying by Charles Caleb Colton: Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. If that’s the case, then Shakespeare is the king of compliments. His plays have lived on for over 400 years, but most of the ideas, story lines and characters were not his own, they were imitations of others:

Top 10 Male Shakespeare Characters for Kids to Perform

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This is my personal top 10 male Shakespeare characters “for kids”. My thoughts and judgements are based around how much fun they are to perform and play melodramatically on stage, and what you can do with the character to just enjoy and have fun with Shakespeare. This is a list of the top 10 male Shakespeare characters only, the female list will be out soon.  Also, if you have any thoughts or male Shakespeare characters you think I missed, leave a comment below!

10) Prospero – (Tempest) – He’s a wizard with his own personal Monster … Continue reading →

Treasure Island for Kids is here!

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These are the late nights. Writing Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island for Kids has been a BLAST! Possibly because it is my first foray outside of Shakespeare, possibly because it is about pirates (I mean, who doesn’t want to write about pirates, right?!?!) or possibly it’s because when it comes down to the launch of a new book, it’s always exciting! But, it’s finally here!

Treasure Island Cover Continue reading →

“Shake it up” with Shakespeare and Elementary Kids

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Recently we were able to get in touch with a wonderfully gifted AIG teacher from North Carolina, Debra Williamson, who decided to “Shake it up” with Shakespeare!

She took a few of our plays and did a trio of melodramatic Shakespeare skits with her kids. They performed Midsummer, Romeo & Juliet, and Macbeth. She referred to it as “Shake it up, Shakespeare”. Since this was such a wonderful way to approach her elementary children, we asked her to answer a few questions about her experience. Here ya go…

1) … Continue reading →

What Shakespeare can teach you about…

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What Shakespeare can teach you about…EVERYTHING…Okay, I find this subject rather humorous.  It seems that anywhere you look on the web, there’s some site that can tell you how Shakespeare can teach you about fishing, or karate, or making money, or whatever!  So, I thought I would just peruse the web and see what Shakespeare can teach you about…. here are just a few I found… enjoy!

Karate

Writing

Business

Enlightenment

Power, Love, and Money

and lastly, here’s a spin for you: Continue reading →

Bringing Shakespeare to life

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Whether you’re a teacher trying to inspire a love of Shakespeare in your students, or a parent who wants to get your child excited about literature and history, it can be both enjoyable and educational to take Shakespeare from the stage to the home. It’s one thing to memorize lines, practice dying a valiant death, or fall in love after two seconds (gross!), but making the past relevant to your kids will get them to better understand what they’re reading and performing (and they’ll have fun doing it). Here are some ideas for bringing Shakespeare to life:

Enjoy a night … Continue reading →

Shakespeare Insult Generator

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Well hello my fellow Shakespearean insulters, or, dare I say, you bawdy, ill-breeding, maggot pies!  Just to let you know the most requested page that I get on this website is for the Shakespeare Insult Generator.  I love this for several reasons; the main one is because the Shakespeare Insult Generator is the best and fastest way for kids to engage with Shakespeare.  Another reason is that this is just plain simple fun, regardless if you’re a kid or an adult. And thirdly (if that’s even a word) who doesn’t like to engage in fun, … Continue reading →

Shakespeare Music: Reaching kids with Shakespeare

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Shakespeare Music. At least that what Joonee, a teacher in the Philippines, wanted to create with one of my plays. I thought she was a bit crazy, but it was her passion, and she did it, and even wrote the music herself. Most importantly the kids and audience LOVED IT. A little more about her and her process:

Q: First of all, tell me a little about yourself, what you do, and how arrived at teaching in the Philippines?

Fairies fighting Continue reading →

Shakespeare Lesson Plan (Day 1): 6 weeks with the Bard

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Melodramatic Shakespeare lesson planMelodramatic Shakespeare lesson planThis Shakespeare lesson plan is designed for grades 3rd – 9th – (Just an hour a week – it’s easy!)

Over the next few paragraphs I am going … Continue reading →