National Teacher Mentorship - Megan Pfeiffer

Bell Shakespeare is a national theatre company that specialises in the works of Shakespeare, his contemporaries and other classics. 

 

Each year, Bell Shakespeare selects thirty Australian teachers to take part in a National Teacher Mentorship. This opportunity is funded through the Australian Government Office of the Arts and the Teachers Mutual Bank.

 

I was lucky enough to take part in the mentorship and in February, travelled to Sydney for a one-week training course. The program steps teachers through the pedagogical approach that Bell uses when exploring Shakespeare with school-aged students. This may sound serious, but it was a lot of fun!

 

Highlights included: participating in workshops with Bell Shakespeare staff; seeing a First Folio of Shakespeare’s plays at the State Library of NSW; sitting with director Marion Potts at a tech run through of Henry V; and meeting primary and secondary school teachers from across Australia.

 

I walked away with new insights into Shakespeare’s application and relevance, as well as a host of drama-based activities that can help students better connect with Shakespeare’s plays.

 

As a year-long mentorship, I will now prepare a unit of work and submit it for feedback. Bell will work with me to refine the unit and, after delivering it here at St Philip's, provide opportunities for ongoing reflection.

 

There are numerous teachers in our parent community, so perhaps this is an opportunity to consider applying for next year? I highly recommend it!

Meghan Pfeiffer

Teacher