Past Institutes

Teaching Shakespeare

On September 30, 2011, Humanities Texas held a one-day workshop in Austin for secondary language arts teachers on teaching the plays of William Shakespeare.

Curriculum

The workshop explored topics including the historical and cultural contexts of Shakespeare's works; the classical sources and dramatic conventions central to Shakespeare's plays; approaches to teaching A Midsummer Night's Dream and Macbeth; and teaching Shakespearean drama using performance-based strategies. Content was aligned with the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS), with particular emphasis on newly added or revised standards.

Thirty-nine teachers attended the workshop. The workshop emphasized close interaction with scholars, the examination of primary sources, and the development of effective pedagogical strategies and engaging assignments and activities. The program was designed ultimately to enhance teachers' mastery of the subjects they teach and to improve students' performance on state assessments. Teachers received books and other instructional materials.

Faculty

Workshop faculty included J. Dennis Huston (Rice University), Nancy Cain Marcus (Southern Methodist University), and James Loehlin, Elizabeth Richmond-Garza, and John Rumrich, all of The University of Texas at Austin.

Program Resources

View videos of faculty lectures from the workshop:

• J. Dennis Huston, "Approaches to Teaching A Midsummer Night's Dream"
• John P. Rumrich, "Approaches to Teaching Macbeth"

Our October/November 2011 newsletter included excerpts of the faculty lectures and images from the workshop.

Location and Schedule

The workshop overview details the program's schedule and participants.

Sponsors

The workshop was made possible with major funding from the state of Texas, with ongoing support from the National Endowment for the Humanities.