Kirkwood High School Teachers Work to Bring The Old Globe and Shakespeare into the Classroom

Kirkwood High School (KHS) recently welcomed a special guest to English classrooms to enhance students’ experiences and learning around Shakespeare. Erika Phillips, Associate Director of Arts Engagement for The Old Globe in San Diego, worked with KHS teachers on ways to explore strategies to approach Shakespeare through language, themes, writing and acting to reflect on the relevance of the works in society and their own lives.  

While the training and expertise of The Old Globe has been used in several settings with young people, KHS is the first to use this specific program in English literature classrooms. 

“The Old Globe is really interested in seeing how these materials that we have developed over the years can be useful in a variety of environments,” said Phillips. “We are so grateful that the Kirkwood School District is engaging in this beta program with us, and I really hope that the teachers find it helpful, nourishing, exciting and interesting.” 

The work began in October when 12 KHS teachers participated in professional development led by Phillips. This week, Phillips traveled to Kirkwood to see the teachers actively using the strategies with students studying Shakespeare’s texts. 

Throughout the two-day visit, Phillips observed students at various levels of learning. Phillips acknowledged that studying Shakespeare can be intimidating. Her approach is designed to help students feel successful, whether they are delving into scenes and monologues or just connecting with one line or idea of the text. During her time in classrooms, she saw students actively engaged thanks to the work of their teachers.   

“I’m seeing teachers really valiantly step into the literature and into the Shakespeare world with different levels of comfort and experience and with different student populations in each room,” said Phillips. “I saw different aspects of what I brought being tried in each room, each with success, and it was really cool to see.”  

In Dr. Amy Barker’s AP Literature class, for example, students reviewed a more current text, a monologue from Arthur Miller’s “All My Sons” and compared and contrasted it to a monologue from Shakespeare’s “Henry VIII”. Students read the texts out loud, discussed related themes and structure, and worked to connect directly to the writing.    

The work will serve students at grade levels throughout KHS. Sophomore literature classes delve into Romeo and Juliet each year, but the work with the Old Globe is able to lend a new perspective to the learning. During Phillips’ visit, students worked through the prologue of Romeo and Juliet, delving into Shakespeare's words and creating “modern translations” to better understand what is being said. 

“Erika helped to explain how Shakespeare can be relatable to anybody. Her passion and vigor helped to show students the importance of tone and emphasis of specific words that impacts meaning,” said Tara Jones, KHS English teacher. "She also shared resources with me over sonnets and productions to show what we are reading in class." 

While Phillips’s visit is complete, the work she was able to accomplish with KHS educators will continue to serve students during this school year and beyond.