Jessica Swale's Blue Stockings is the empowering and surprising story of four young women fighting for their right to a university education in a world that assumed women belonged at home. First produced professionally at Shakespeare's Globe in 2013, and a sell-out success, it is now regularly performed by theatre groups in the UK and beyond, and widely studied by GCSE Drama students. This Page to Stage guide, written by the playwright, who also directed the first production at RADA, along with her assistant director Lois Jeary, is packed with contextual information, scene-by-scene and character breakdowns, and personal insights into the world of the play and the real lives that inspired it. An invaluable resource for those studying and staging the play, it takes you through the entire production process, considering each of the elements in turn, from sound and music to design and rehearsals. You'll also find notes from the original rehearsal process, extracts from working diaries, and interviews with key members of the creative team. Throughout, there are hints and tips on staging, and helpful games and exercises to bring the play to life on the stage and in the classroom. Highly accessible and uniquely authoritative, it is the indispensible guide for anyone studying, teaching or performing the play.

Originally published in paperback in 1982, this book was written in answer to the question 'which books should our children read, and why?' It is a study of what is, in the author's opinion, the best children's fiction of the previous hundred years, and at the same time a study of the social values which that fiction celebrates and criticises. Fred Inglis concentrates on stories for children aged between nine and thirteen; he contrasts the kinds of delight and profit to be gained from classics ancient and modern, from the novels of Dickens and Lewis Carroll via those of Arthur Ransome and Tolkien to William Mayne, Ursula Leguin, Russell Hoban and Philippa Pearce, situating these books in the social context from which they came and relating them to the audience of adults who are expected to write, publish, judge and choose books for their children.

This essential guide offers a fresh approach to integrating grammar effectively into the classroom as a vital strand of English that both enlivens and enriches students' understanding of literature. It aims to demystify grammar and empower teachers with the knowledge, inspiration and practical ideas to confidently teach grammar to students at any stage of their secondary education. The authors demonstrate that routinely weaving grammar into lessons and the study of literature, rather than teaching it as an abstract set of rules, enables students to see grammar in a more flexible, enjoyable and exciting way. Each chapter clearly defines complex terminology and provides an essential overview of relevant subject knowledge. With multiple examples of textual analysis and a variety of adaptable lesson plans for popular Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4 texts, the book shows how grammatical requirements can be taught in a lively, literature-based manner, developing students' understanding and improving the quality of their creative and academic writing. Taught like this, grammar becomes a decoding tool: a key to unlocking deeper meaning within texts that enriches the reading experience. Considering a wide range of texts, Teaching Grammar through Literature thoroughly works through core grammatical concepts such as: sentences and sentence clauses nouns verbs determiners punctuation extension vocabulary. This book is a source of fresh and exciting ideas for all practising secondary school English teachers. It will revolutionalise teaching and enrich students' understanding of literature and the grammatical theory within.

In this book, Rodriguez uses theories of critical literacy and culturally responsive teaching to argue that our schools, and our culture, need sustaining and inclusive young adult (YA) literature/s to meet the needs of culturally and linguistically diverse readers and all students. This book provides an outline for the study of literature through cultural and literary criticism, via essays that analyze selected YA literature (drama, fiction, nonfiction, and poetry) in four areas: scribal identities and the self-affirmation of adolescents; gender and sexualities; schooling and education of young adult characters; and teachers' roles and influences in characters' coming of age. Applying critical literacy theories and a youth studies lens, this book shines a light on the need for culturally sustaining and inclusive pedagogies to read adolescent worlds. Complementing these essays are critical conversations with seven key contemporary YA literature writers, adding biographical perspectives to further expand the critical scholarship and merits of YA literature.

Philosophy and Education: Engaging Pathways to Meaningful Learning represents a philosophical approach to learning. It encourages students to think critically and form well-reflected opinions around relevant concepts in the English language, literature and society, such as inequality and duty. Philosophy and Education embodies a more engaging style (than is traditionally common) with the text - instead of reading long texts and answering questions about that text, it motivates learners to relate their own experiences and interpretations to the view communicated in the text, by actively and continuously engaging them to test one opinion against another. Philosophy and Education is primarily designed to help students improve their reasoning skills both orally and in writing, and prepare them for tests and exams at the end of the upper secondary and university-preparatory courses. Some of the chapters in Philosophy and Education have been used in the classroom, resulting in highly engaged students who feel they are offered the opportunity to relate to the classroom experience in a meaningful way. None of the activities ask students to make lists of words or spend enormous amounts of time on close reading and interpreting texts - instead, they are required to reflect and share their own thoughts on the relevance of the texts, movies, etc. to their own lives. They learn new words and ideas by discussing the myriad of philosophical questions presented, which makes learning a conversation about life.

The "Heinemann Plays" series offers contemporary drama and classic plays in durable classroom editions. This play (also a feature film) is about the struggle of the central character, completely paralysed for life, for the right to die.

Taking a comprehensive, critical, and theoretical approach to the role of Shakespeare in educational policy and pedagogy from 1989 (the year compulsory Shakespeare was introduced under the National Curriculum for English in the United Kingdom), to the present, Shakespeare Valued explores the esteem afforded Shakespeare in the British educational system and its evolution in the twentieth century and into the twenty-first. Sarah Olive offers an unparalleled analysis of the ways in which Shakespeare is valued in a range of educational domains in England, and will be essential reading for students and teachers of English and Shakespeare.

Crime Fiction provides a lively introduction to what is both a wide-ranging and hugely popular literary genre. Using examples from a variety of novels, short stories, films and televisions series, John Scaggs: presents a concise history of crime fiction - from biblical narratives to James Ellroy - broadening the genre to include revenge tragedy and the gothic novel explores the key sub-genres of crime fiction, such as 'Rational Criminal Investigation', The Hard-Boiled Mode', 'The Police Procedural' and 'Historical Crime Fiction' locates texts and their recurring themes and motifs in a wider social and historical context outlines the various critical concepts that are central to the study of crime fiction, including gender, narrative theory and film theory considers contemporary television series like C.S.I.: Crime Scene Investigation alongside the 'classic' whodunnits of Agatha Christie. Accessible and clear, this comprehensive overview is the essential guide for all those studying crime fiction and concludes with a look at future directions for the genre in the twentieth-first century.

Expecting students to jump right into a rigorous literature discussion is not always realistic. Students need scaffolding so that they will be more engaged and motivated to read the text and think about it on a deeper level. This book shows English language arts teachers a very effective way to scaffold by tapping into students interest in pop culture. You ll learn how to use your students ability to analyze pop culture and transfer that into helping them analyze and connect to a text.

Special Features:

• Tools you can use immediately, such as discussion prompts, rubrics, and planning sheets
• Examples of real student literature discussions using pop culture
• Reflection questions to help you apply the book s ideas to your own classroom
• Connections to the Common Core State Standards for reading, speaking, and listening

Throughout the book, you ll discover practical ways that pop culture and classic texts can indeed coexist in your classroom. As your students bridge their academic and social lives, they ll become more insightful about great literature--and the world around them. "

In this remarkable volume of poetry for two voices, a companion to "I Am Pheonix," Paul Fleischman verbally re-creates the "Booming / boisterous / joyful noise" of insects. The poems resound with the pulse of the cicada and the drone of the honeybee. Eric Beddow's vibrant drawings send each insect soaring, spinning, or creeping off the page in its own unique way.Paul Fleischman has created not only a clear and fascinating guide to the insect world - from chrysalid butterflies to whirligig beetles - but and exultant celebration of life.

Demonstrating the power of teaching global literature from a critical literacy perspective, this book explores the ways that K-6 educators can infuse diverse texts into their classrooms and find support for their endeavours in teacher inquiry communities. Through carefully analyzed, ethnographically informed portraits of classroom life alternating with teachers' own accounts of their teaching and learning experiences, it demonstrates how students are moved to question, debate, and take action in response to global texts. This multi-vocal work both emerges from and responds to tensions and debates related to the purpose and practice of literature education in a time of Common Core State Standards.

During a game of hide-and-seek, a young boy hides in the boot of a disused car No one can find him and he gets stuck. This dramatic story provides a starting point for exploring safety.

This story is about a young boy, Vusi, whose father goes away to work on the mines. vusi is very sad and writes letters to his father while waiting for him to return home.

This collection of poems for children aged 8-14 are beautifully illustrated and have been hailed by teachers as a great introduction to poetry for children. From Mr Nobody, an unhappy spook who just wants to join the class, to the bizarre dress sense of the new teacher, or the spying and piracy that can occur in the playground in between sherbet dabs, this original collection of verse enlivens both teaching and learning poetry.

This series offers a unique interactive approach that will encourage learners to become involved in the interactive process of these plays, whilst exposing them to the atmosphere and history of the age, in a fun and stimulating way. An extensive amount of background and supporting material is offered in a user-friendly way with exciting features make the plays become visually real. Each exciting page offers: -complete text done in an attractive double-page spread layout a glossary of what the words and phrases mean thought-provoking notes and activities on each page that: explain difficult language, explore characters, themes, words and images, provide useful background information and stimulate thoughts on how to stage the play. This series also offers activities at the end of each act to facilitate understanding. At the back of each book, notes are included, providing information on the world of William Shakespeare.

Thoroughly updated editions to meet the needs of the Key Stage 3 and GCSE classrooms. Enhanced accessibility for all students with clear navigation through the texts, spacious page design and new activities. Brand-new support and activities to match the new GCSE English 2010 curriculum. Durable hardback editions for longevity.

To accompany the Jane Eyre graphic novels from "Classical Comics" and to help with their application in the classroom, this book is spiral-bound, making the pages easy to photocopy, and includes a CD-ROM with the pages in PDF format, ideal for whole-class teaching on whiteboards, laptops, etc or for direct digital printing. Written by a teacher, for teachers, helping to engage and involve students in the novel. Suitable for teaching ages 10-17, this book provides exercises that cover structure, understanding and character as well as key words, themes and literary techniques. Tasks of this title focus on the use of language and comprehension, there are also many cross-curriculum topics, covering areas within history, ICT, drama, reading, speaking, writing and art. There is an extensive Educational Links section that provides further study opportunities. Devised to encompass a broad range of skill levels, this book provides many opportunities for differentiated teaching and the tailoring of lessons to meet individual needs. It includes a CD-ROM. This resource can be used alongside the Classical Comics adaptation of Jane Eyre as well as any traditional text. In fact, many of the activities can stand on their own as introductions to the works of Charlotte Bronte.

‘Inch by Inch, Row by Row, Gonna Make This Garden Grow!' This picture book version of a favorite popular song charts the faithful progress of a young boy who overcomes every obstacle'rock and weeds and a hungry old crow'and makes his garden overflow with bounty. Included are the song lyrics set to music for guitar and piano.

An Alternate Selection of Children's Book-of-the-Month Club

Aimed at both teachers and pupils at higher and lower secondary levels, this lively book offers a practical first introduction to the plays of Shakespeare. This volume is part of a series which uses classroom drama to teach English as a second language. Speaking the parts helps children to increase their confidence with English and no sophisticated equipment is needed.

The Merry Wives of Windsor, Shakespeare's only thoroughly English comedy, created an archetypal literary figure in the shape of the devious, irrepressible John Falstaff. This stimulating new edition celebrates the play as a joyous exploration of language, but also places elements of its plot firmly in a continental, specifically Italian, tradition of romantic comedy. It draws out the complexities of Merry Wives as a multi-plot play, and takes a fresh and challenging look at both textual and dating issues; a facsimile of the first Quarto is included as an appendix. The play's extensive performance history, both dramatic and operatic, is fully explored and discussed.'This is a significant and substantive edition, in that nothing has been taken for granted, everything has been opened to reconsideration. The commentary is exceptionally detailed and attentive to questions of language and meaning.'John Jowett, Shakespeare Institute, University of Birmingham, Shakespeare Quarterly

Full comprehension of the plays is gained from the line-by-line modern English translation given on facing pages. Understanding of the plays is increased as pupils take part in the variety of related activities included in each book. The significance of the plays is reinforced by sections discussing Shakespeare's life, works and theatre. Pupils are encouraged to understand the language, characters, structure and themes of the plays by completion of practical exercises.

Each of the 12 extracts from contemporary children's literature is accompanied by eight sets of questions based on the Key Stage 2 (KS2) Reading Content Domains and National Curriculum. This book provides opportunities to tackle more complex vocabulary, explore how authors use language to impact their readers and develop endurance for longer passages. The clear structure and the author's passion for literature make Developing Reading Comprehension Skills Years 3-4: Contemporary Children's Literature invaluable for everyone working with pupils in Years 3 and 4. Support for teachers and parents is built in with guidance for how to teach the different question types, plus suggestions for embedding these texts in the wider English curriculum. This series is suitable for new and recently qualified teachers as well as those who are more experienced and wanting to expand the range of texts they use. If you're looking for a comprehensive resource to enhance reading provision and teaching in your classroom or to support home education, this is exactly what you need. Look for other books in the Developing Reading Comprehension Skills series.