Talk about a winning combination! I'm sure some of it has to do with the fact that we are reading a comedy. Who does not like A Midsummer Night's Dream? If you don't, don't tell me. I love it.
It was my first exposure to Shakespeare and I remember thinking it was absolutely hilarious. When speaking with the high school English teacher over the summer about what we should include in our literature, we both decided it was high time to have some Shakespeare in middle school! YES!
I promise you. They are NOT bored. All of these little cutie pies are intent on listening or speaking their parts. While we are on the subject of speaking parts...cue angels singing...they LOVE EVERY LAST MINUTE. I have hands waving each day to be picked for a part. I have many ask, "Can I use an accent?"
Um. Let me think. YES! Use an accent! My only stipulation is you cannot crack yourself up. You must be able to read in an accent plus maintain fluency. Boy oh boy do they deliver.
Caleb as Puck: Sid the Sloth from Ice Age accent. Yes. He did. Yes. He kept a straight face the whole period. **I, however, fought side stitches the entire class.**
Sarah as Oberon (I think): a cross betwix and Aussie and a Brit accent.
Myles as Demetrius: an Irish brogue.
As soon as our reading was done for the day, we all looked up from our books, took a deep breath, and laughed!
And then, there's Holly. Holly Holly Holly. I love that girl. She already knows the play backwards, forwards, and inside out. I have already told her that I will NOT call on her first because the child knows just about every answer. This does not deter her. She sits on the edge of her seat, enraptured the entire period, and when I ask, "So what did you just say so-in-so?" She literally convulses in her chair trying to hold herself back with excitement hoping no one will be able to answer so she'll get a chance.
Yesterday. Oh yesterday, she is once again sitting on the edge of her chair with her arm stretched up as high as it will go waving her hand frantically in hopes that she'll get a part. Once she is cast as Helena, she emits a "Yeeeesssssss!" a la Napolean Dynamite. All at once, her hand shoots up, and I say, "Yes?" "May I PLEEEEEEAAASSSSE read with expression!? I am like. the. ONLY ONE. who reads with expression!"
ROFLOL. Man, these kids are awesome.
