Shakespeare Takes Center Stage This April

Last week, we blogged about National Poetry Month. It seems that April has a flair for the literary, because it's also the month of William Shakespeare's birthday! That's right, the man whom many call the greatest writer in the English language walked onto the world's stage on April 26, 1564. Things haven't been the same since.

We'll spare you the skinny on Mr. Shakespeare - you've likely heard it before. If you want to know more about the Bard of Avon, or any of his 38 plays, check out Shakespeare Online.

If you teach young students or children, don't stop reading! The actual works of the playwright might be beyond your student's grasp; that doesn't mean you can't celebrate his legacy in your classroom. Teach your students about the life and times of William Shakespeare. The man's story is interesting (and somewhat mysterious), and the world he wrote for was rich and fascinating.

Though your students might struggle with King Lear, April is a perfect month for a class or school play of any level. Show your class video performances or take a field trip to a local theater. Get them talking about drama and the stage. Create a short play, assign roles, practice, and perform for other students, teachers, or parents! It may sound like lots of work, but students will learn a prop room's worth of valuable lessons and skills.

If your students are old enough to tackle a Shakespearean play, this is the time to do so. This takes time and effort (especially for the students), but the rewards are many. Many of the themes and ideas behind Shakespeare's greatest works still apply - students will learn and react in amazing new ways. Translation can be tricky - the daily speak was somewhat different in the 16th century - but fear not, Lorenz Educational Press has you covered with the Access to Shakespeare Series. These full plays contain original texts alongside simple, modern translations. Click this link to take a gander. We've got five of the Bard's greatest plays - take a look!

How do you plan on saying Happy Birthday to William Shakespeare this April? Share your ideas in the comments section below!

Plan Ahead for National Poetry Month!

It's hard to believe, but March is half over! That means it's time to start thinking about lesson plans and teaching ideas for April. Look no further - we've got you covered. How about a little poetry?

That's right - April is National Poetry Month. First celebrated in 1996, this celebration of verse increases awareness and appreciation of poetry. It's also a great opportunity for teachers and parents to boost their students' learning with some poetry. Kids (and adults) of all ages enjoy reading, interpreting, and writing poems of all kinds. With so many different kinds and forms, there's something for everyone. It's not just for Language Arts teachers, either. Poetry can be used to enhance just about any subject matter, including music, math, history, and even science.

So why not use the wonderful tool of poetry in your classrooms and homes this April? Here are some great places to start planning:

Poets.org: your one-stop site for all things poetry, brought to you by the Academy of American Poets

PoeStories.com: an excellent site dedicated to the works of Edgar Allan Poe, one of poetry's most celebrated figures

Looking for something specific? Try these links:

National Poetry Month FAQ

Tips for Teaching Poetry

For Educators

Great Poems to Teach

Teacher Resource Center

How do you plan on using poetry at home or in the classroom this April? Share your ideas and stories in the comments section below!

3.1415926535 = Πarty!

Archimedes. Ptolemy. Newton. Some of the most brilliant minds in history. United with many others around the globe and through the ages in their devotion to a single pursuit – pi. That’s not a typo. We’re not talking about apple, pecan, or lemon meringue varieties. We’re talking about 3.1415926535…and so on. And this March 14, you can join the worldwide celebration of Pi Day!

You’ve probably heard of pi. It’s the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter. And it’s a pretty huge deal. Mathematicians have studied and restudied this number for millennia, and will continue to do so for the next thousands of years. Now, if you’re an English teacher or have a seven-year-old at home, you might think that Pi Day is something to skip over. But what’s the fun of that? There are plenty of fun and educational ways for anyone to celebrate.

• Though Ludolph van Ceulen didn’t spend most of his life munching on pizza – he accurately extended the known digits of pie to 35 and had them engraved on his tombstone – you most definitely can! Lead your students in a math lesson and celebrate with a slice of your favorite kind of pie. Don’t forget, English enthusiasts, that pi and pie are homophones…
• Another brilliant mind, Albert Einstein, shares his birthday with pi. Discuss Einstein and his contributions to science and mathematics.
• Teach about other math milestones and how history has changed through their impact: zero, calculators, the Pythagorean Theorem. Pick concepts that your class has or will study.
• Or, you can fully embrace the day and design a lesson about pi. Even if your students can’t understand what pi means, they will enjoy learning about the people who have studied it throughout history; they will also be fascinated by the applications pi has to the world.

Ready to get your pi on? Check out TeachPi.org for tons of great ideas and information. While you’re at it, take a look at some of our very own math bestsellers.

How do you plan on recognizing Π? Share your ideas in the comments section below!!