This past Saturday, April 23, was the 400th anniversary of the death of William Shakespeare. Shakespeare's birth date is not known with certainty, but due to his baptism on April 26, 1564, many believe he was born on April 23 of that year. He is widely regarded as the most significant playwright who ever lived. In addition he was an actor, poet, director, and business partner in an acting company. He gets credit for introducing numerous words and phrases into the English language, such as "break the ice," "dead as a doornail," "good riddance," "love is blind," "one fell swoop," and "wild-goose chase" (for more see my BBC source). The short film from the New York Times samples the many films and TV shows that make use of scenes from Shakespeare's plays.
Grades 3, 4, and 5 are hearing books about Shakespeare this week. There is a good BrainPop video about Shakespeare, so I will show that if there's time. Oh, and do you know about Shakespeare by the Sea? Every summer there are excellent stagings of two of Shakespeare's plays right here in Polliwog Park! My family never misses them--they are great productions and free of charge, though donations are welcome and well-deserved. This year's plays and dates for Polliwog are Othello on August 12, and Cymbeline on August 13.
Grades K and 1 are hearing books about how people come up with stories. (There aren't many books specifically about Shakespeare for this age group!) With TK I'm reading about insects and gardens, that class's current areas of study. Grade 2 will hear a biography of Pablo Neruda that is from the Manhattan Beach public library. Grade 2 is working with biographies now in preparation for the "living museum" in a week or two, and in the next couple of weeks in the library I'll be focusing on poetry.
I'd like to remind everyone again about the very exciting assembly this week with co-authors Annabeth Bondor-Stone and Connor White. In addition to being writing teachers, they are the authors of The Pirate Who’s Afraid of Everything (Shivers!) and The Pirate Who’s Back in Bunny Slippers (Shivers!). The assembly is Friday, April 29. Grades 2 and 3 will attend at 1:00 p.m., grades 4 and 5 will attend at 2:00 p.m.
The Shivers! books are both short, funny chapter books. There are paper order forms available in the library if you would like to purchase copies of the books, or you can use the online order form. Books will be autographed and can be personalized. Students may also purchase a book through any bookseller and bring it on the assembly day to have it signed. If you choose this method, please put a Post-It in the front cover of the book with the name to be personalized and the classroom to which the book should be delivered. Books brought to school by students should be at the library by noon on April 29 for signing.
Last but not least, next Sunday, May 1, is the one-year anniversary party at the Manhattan Beach public library, with music, art, and free books for kids! The event will be from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. and looks like a great time.
Grades K and 1 are hearing books about how people come up with stories. (There aren't many books specifically about Shakespeare for this age group!) With TK I'm reading about insects and gardens, that class's current areas of study. Grade 2 will hear a biography of Pablo Neruda that is from the Manhattan Beach public library. Grade 2 is working with biographies now in preparation for the "living museum" in a week or two, and in the next couple of weeks in the library I'll be focusing on poetry.
I'd like to remind everyone again about the very exciting assembly this week with co-authors Annabeth Bondor-Stone and Connor White. In addition to being writing teachers, they are the authors of The Pirate Who’s Afraid of Everything (Shivers!) and The Pirate Who’s Back in Bunny Slippers (Shivers!). The assembly is Friday, April 29. Grades 2 and 3 will attend at 1:00 p.m., grades 4 and 5 will attend at 2:00 p.m.
The Shivers! books are both short, funny chapter books. There are paper order forms available in the library if you would like to purchase copies of the books, or you can use the online order form. Books will be autographed and can be personalized. Students may also purchase a book through any bookseller and bring it on the assembly day to have it signed. If you choose this method, please put a Post-It in the front cover of the book with the name to be personalized and the classroom to which the book should be delivered. Books brought to school by students should be at the library by noon on April 29 for signing.
Last but not least, next Sunday, May 1, is the one-year anniversary party at the Manhattan Beach public library, with music, art, and free books for kids! The event will be from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. and looks like a great time.
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