Associate Professor Jon Wargo tells K-12 Dive “Don’t block the Bard”
Based on his research and experience, Wargo argues that Shakespeare can be introduced in the earlier grades.
At what age should students be introduced to Shakespeare? K-12 Dive notes that educators differ on how well the Bard translates to upper elementary and middle school students. Although some argue that readers at these grade levels may be turned off by the complexity of Shakespeare, Wargo sees much relevance in the material for middle school students—ranging from current issues to building their language arts skills.
Wargo, who has undertaken research on the Shakespeare in Detroit summer STEAM program aimed at youth, says:
“I would tell educators, ‘Don’t block the Bard,’” he says. “Watching young people engage with his works, Shakespeare remains so relevant given the topics and themes presented.”
Wargo says that educators should embrace available age-appropriate scaffolds to engage preteen and early teenage children in Shakespeare. He recommends graphic novels as inroads to help middle-grade readers get involved with the texts. Connecting the texts to present-day issues can help ground the material.
“’King Lear’ can tell us a lot about how power and wealth can divide people, and how it can bring people together,” Wargo says. “And Shakespeare can help us tune in to literary devices: symbolism, metaphor, meter, rhyme, structure — elements of literature that students take with them as they navigate complex texts. Shakespeare can serve as a bridge.”
