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How To Get Your Students To Really Listen

The box was finally mailed off to the National Boards grading conglomerate (or is it conspiracy?). Life can begin again...

Plus it's spring and we all know what that means! Yes! Shakespeare! Willie the Shake! Woot!

Seriously, it's my favorite time of the year because this is when my students listen with rapt attention to almost every word I say. Especially if it's Romeo and Juliet. Can't get your students to pay attention to Shakespeare? Well, you are not focusing on the right spin. Bathroom habits, boys kissing boys and lots of dirty jokes. (once we had a grant to take students to SEE a professional show of Romeo and Juliet... the ones who didn't take my class were stunned at all the dirty jokes. My students giggled like 5 year olds.) If they're not listening, they may be insulted in words they don't understand or miss out on a joke.

Yesterday, I started with my usual, "this is the globe theater. It has a floor and three tiers of seats. Unlike today, seats in the nosebleeds cost more... why do you think that might be?" And then I launch into an explaination of how stinky everyone was. The students (even non-habitual bathers) are stunned to learn that Elizabethans did not bath regularly, if ever. Or that they had no real toilet paper. Or underwear for that matter. Shocking, I tell you, shocking!

Whilst describing the process of using/emptying a chamber pot, one student literally freaked out at the disgustingness of it. Apparently, he/she is NOT a camper. Freaking out as in yelling "that's just wrong! doesn't anyone else think that that is just wrong?!?!" The other students laughed uncontrolably. They were so interested and asking so many questions, I didn't even get why everyone is wearing those clothes and what is the sexiest part of the body. That really kills them.

Then I make them all practice a proper curtsy and bow. It's hysterical.

Sometimes I really wish I taught history. Not in this current economic climate... but lord-luv-a-duck it sure would be fun!
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