22 Apr

Teaching Shakespeare is never easy. But teaching Shakespeare to a classroom of mostly English Language Learners? It's not only difficult, but hilarious.

This morning I began reading Romeo & Juliet to my ninth graders. We had already gone over the history of Shakespeare's life, the history of Elizabethan England, and what was considered popular entertainment at the time (think bear baiting, public executions and cockfights--and yes, "cockfights" evoked some serious laughter from the 14-year-old boys in the room.) Now it was time to discuss puns.