Shakespeare in
American Classrooms

Arts-based curriculum and innovative professional development for English language arts teachers and theater teaching artists who use Shakespeare’s works to inspire students toward empathy, respect, understanding and connection.

IDENTITY • COMMUNITY • JUSTICE • ACTION

Shakespeare in American Classrooms project is a national network of theater and language arts educators. Offering curriculum and arts-based teaching approaches that embrace youth perspectives. Students discover how Shakespeare’s works help them understand identity, diverse communities, systemic justice, and the need for action today.

What is the Shakespeare in American Classrooms initiative?

  • An urgent and innovative curriculum that illuminates Shakespeare’s texts:

    • A curriculum aligned with English Language Arts standards.

    • A curriculum drawing on three decades of nationally recognized arts-based youth programming.

    • A curriculum designed for youth engagement in issues that matter to our contemporary world

  • A project that provides educator training for teaching that encourages and supports students in artistic action

  • A project that demonstrates how arts-infused literacy, literature, and theater education makes an investment in identity, diversity, justice and action for all.

Our Mission

Upcoming Programs

Sign up for upcoming online and in-person professional development programs. Teachers and teaching artists can earn stipends as they adapt and implement new arts-based approaches for their English language arts curriculum.

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On Demand Curriculum

Lesson plans for Shakespeare sonnets and plays that engage students with the Bard’s text through arts-based approaches.

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Archive

View current and past newsletters, blog articles, teacher comments, and evaluation reports

Coming Soon