Could Gore Vidal inspire my 9-year-old son to read MND?
So, tomorrow starts the MND unit. I was exploring the
web’s resources this weekend, in particular, the BBC’s site and the Folger’s
Shakespeare site. I like the BBC for its really engaging resources and lessons (we
used them last year and my son and husband laughed too hard to actually learn
anything) and was hoping to find a Bitesize version of MND. Unfortunately, they
didn’t have one, but if you haven’t seen these videos, they are hilarious.
The Folger’s site was good, but it was hard to read and
navigate the site with my nieces clamoring for attention (I was at my mom’s
this weekend). One useful tidbit I did pick up was that you can teach
Shakespeare without having to teach about his life and his times and the Globe
and everything else. That makes me feel great and honestly if I can just keep
my kid from hating Shakespeare or feeling intimidated by his language, I’ll
feel successful. (Again, I haven’t yet justified why Shakespeare yet, but I
will eventually).
So, tomorrow I’ll reflect on our opening lesson. But I
decided on two important things—1. A recording we’ll use (Ian McKellen’s) and
2. Which film to watch.
I think based on Gore Vidal’s introduction and praise of
Mickey Rooney, we’ll watch the 1935 version.
Okay, what 10-year-old stumbles upon Shakespeare? As a
matter of fact, what kid stumbles upon Dickens or Austen and falls in love with
these authors? And why do these people grow into authors? The only thing Emery
stumbles upon is the latest video game or flip note. Victor found Tolkien
through a family friend, I found my books through my English teachers telling
us not to read particular works because they were too “risqué.” But how many
kids really grow to love Shakespeare through a project with their mom?
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