Modify Shakespeare?

Question

I work with special education students and we are about to go over some works from Shakespeare but I am having trouble finding ways to modify the works for them. Any suggestions would be great!

Thanks.

Answer 1

If you go to Sparknotes.com and type in the play that you want, it gives the original version and modern-day English.

Answer 2

I work with very low very functioning special ed kids and what I would do is translate it into modern english accomanied by pictures. Many times these kids are visual learners.

Answer 3

You could try something like this: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002CH...

Shakespeare: The Animated Tales

Answer 4

With ANY students, I recommend teachers present Shakespeare the way he intended...as an audio visual prformance, not a written piece. If you cannot take them to a live performance, there are many good DVD productions out. I especially like those with Kenneth Brannaugh and Mel Gibson. I also like the Leonardo DiCaprio version of R & J although the dialog is abridged and some  people disapprove of the substitution of guns for swords. It would definitely hold teens interest more than a traditional rendering.

With students who are new to Elizabethan English, reading them a plot summary first is best. Any library will have a selection of Tales from Shakespeare written in children's language, but I do have a favorite. The well-known children's author Bruce Coville has adapted several of the plays as gorgeous picture books, using Shakespeare's own language and just enough prose to clarify plot.

http://www.brucecoville.com/books.asp?gi...