Looking for ways to help all students tackle complex texts with skill, confidence, and joy? Ready to try a lively, language-based approach with texts beyond Shakespeare? Searching for a core set of effective strategies that your students and you will use over and over again, all year long? Committed to amplifying the voice of every student?
Every lesson explains not just the how and the what but also the why-and provides questions to help you assess your students’ learning and your own teaching.
Free resources
Not yet a Teacher Member? Try out these free classroom resources. Then join the Folger as a Teacher Member and access our vast collection of classroom ready resources and professional development library.
Pre-reading
Effective pre-reading is really just reading… in bits!
Pre-reading: Tossing Lines from Romeo and Juliet
Pre-reading: Tossing Lines from Romeo and Juliet
The First Week of School: Literature Line Toss
The First Week of School: Literature Line Toss
Richard III: Introducing Language with 2-Line Scenes
Richard III: Introducing Language with 2-Line Scenes
Pre-reading: Tossing Words and Lines from A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Pre-reading: Tossing Words and Lines from A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Free resource
Juicy Lesson! Pre-reading: A 20-minute Hamlet
Juicy Lesson! Pre-reading: A 20-minute Hamlet
Free resource
Pre-reading Othello: Tossing Words and Lines
Pre-reading Othello: Tossing Words and Lines
Pre-reading: Tossing Words from Their Eyes Were Watching God
Pre-reading: Tossing Words from Their Eyes Were Watching God
Pre-reading: 20-minute 1 Henry IV
Pre-reading: 20-minute 1 Henry IV
Pre-reading: 20-minute Romeo and Juliet
Pre-reading: 20-minute Romeo and Juliet
Choral Reading
Choral reading just might be the most powerful and versatile tool in your Folger toolbox.
Choral Reading: Macbeth’s Soliloquy in Macbeth 1.7
Choral Reading: Macbeth’s Soliloquy in Macbeth 1.7
Who is the Moor? Choral Reading American Moor and Othello
Who is the Moor? Choral Reading American Moor and Othello
Choral Reading: King Lear 1.2
Choral Reading: King Lear 1.2
Choral Reading Dr. King’s I Have a Dream Speech
Choral Reading Dr. King’s I Have a Dream Speech
Choral Reading with Shakespeare’s Sonnet 43 and Imtiaz Dharker’s “The Trick”
Choral Reading with Shakespeare’s Sonnet 43 and Imtiaz Dharker’s “The Trick”
Choral Reading: “Seven Ages of Man” from As You Like It
Choral Reading: “Seven Ages of Man” from As You Like It
Choral Reading: Rena from August Wilson’s Jitney and Lady Macbeth from Macbeth
Choral Reading: Rena from August Wilson’s Jitney and Lady Macbeth from Macbeth
Choral Reading: Hamlet and August Wilson’s King Hedley II
Choral Reading: Hamlet and August Wilson’s King Hedley II
Choral Reading: The Declaration of Independence
Choral Reading: The Declaration of Independence
Cutting a Scene
Sneaky close reading at its best. Students won’t want to stop!
Cutting the Opening Scene of A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Cutting the Opening Scene of A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Cutting a Scene: Twelfth Night 2.3
Cutting a Scene: Twelfth Night 2.3
Cutting a Scene: Hamlet 1.3
Cutting a Scene: Hamlet 1.3
Cutting a Scene: Othello 1.1
Cutting a Scene: Othello 1.1
Free resource
Cutting a Scene: Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein
Cutting a Scene: Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein
Cutting a Text: Their Eyes Were Watching God
Cutting a Text: Their Eyes Were Watching God
Beyond Shakespeare
Help all students discover the broad sweep of literature and the power of words.
An American Marriage by Tayari Jones: Introducing Language with 2-Line Scenes
An American Marriage by Tayari Jones: Introducing Language with 2-Line Scenes
Choral Reading and Cutting a Text: Pairing Clint Smith’s “My Hopes, Dreams, Fears for My Future Son” with Hamlet
Choral Reading and Cutting a Text: Pairing Clint Smith’s “My Hopes, Dreams, Fears for My Future Son” with Hamlet
Free resource
3-D Literature: Amy Tan’s The Joy Luck Club
3-D Literature: Amy Tan’s The Joy Luck Club
Choral Reading Dr. King’s I Have a Dream Speech
Choral Reading Dr. King’s I Have a Dream Speech
3-D Literature: The Opening Scene of Their Eyes Were Watching God
3-D Literature: The Opening Scene of Their Eyes Were Watching God
Cutting a Scene: Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein
Cutting a Scene: Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein
Any Text
These lessons are designed with any text and every student in mind. Adapt them for whatever you’re teaching.
The Monologue Project
The Monologue Project
Free resource
The First Week of School: Literature Line Toss
The First Week of School: Literature Line Toss
2-Line Scenes - General Shakespeare
Free resource
Courageous Conversations
Let’s work together to use literature and language as tools for antiracism and social justice.
Essential Everyday Bravery
Who is the Moor? Choral Reading American Moor and Othello
Who is the Moor? Choral Reading American Moor and Othello
Choral Reading Dr. King’s I Have a Dream Speech
Choral Reading Dr. King’s I Have a Dream Speech
Pre-reading: A Snapshot of Othello
Pre-reading: A Snapshot of Othello
Choral Reading and Cutting a Text: Pairing Clint Smith’s “My Hopes, Dreams, Fears for My Future Son” with Hamlet
Choral Reading and Cutting a Text: Pairing Clint Smith’s “My Hopes, Dreams, Fears for My Future Son” with Hamlet
Free resource