Four hundred years after his death, Shakespeare lives on in classrooms everywhere. He is the most commonly taught author in American schools, and his works continue to challenge and stir new generations of readers.
The Folger Shakespeare Library is revolutionizing the way Shakespeare is taught, showing how the study of his work deepens knowledge and hones skills across key academic areas.
For four decades, our programs and resources have supported teachers in all kinds of schools and students at all ability levels, both locally and nationally.
More than two million teachers and students each year benefit from in-person workshops, lesson materials, online classes and field trips, and the best-selling Folger Editions of Shakespeare’s plays.
At the heart of every Folger learning resource is the highly effective Folger approach, which engages students in active reading, speaking, listening, and writing so that they develop rich literacy - and a sense of ownership in the language. Our teacher-created teaching modules apply that approach to Shakespeare's works, offering teachers dynamic ways to approach these complex texts. These modules integrate performance activities, primary source documents, textual studies, and strategies for adapting and assessing learning. And our overview of Shakespeare's works includes information and images for every play, perfect for in-class activities or for self-directed learning. Students can also find out more about Shakespeare here on the Folger site, including his life and what theater was like in his day.
Our programs for teachers range from a single Professional Learning Day to the month-long Teaching Shakespeare Institute. All programs integrate scholarship, performance, and classroom practice, for a rigorous approach to Shakespeare that inspires students to understand and own the plays.
We offer programs for a wide range of students, from elementary school through high school. School groups can visit the Folger building, library, and theater for short workshops, tours, and matinees. Eligible students can benefit from our long-term, intensive programs: our school residencies for students from local DC schools, and the Lily McKee High School Fellowship Program for qualifying high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors. And students at all levels, from 3rd through 12th grade, learn by adapting and performing Shakespeare's works at our celebrated student festivals.