GCSE English Lit Shakespeare

[helpmum2003]

Just got back from Y11 parent's evening and would appreciate your experience of how Shakespare is taught.
DD is top set English in a private school in a class of 12. I queried that they haven't read the whole play (R and J) but as far as I could see fairly limited sections. The reply was that they only needed to read particular scenes that coincided with important themes.
I was shocked. I had discussed with a friend who is a teacher prior to going today and she felt it was not an appropriate approach for top set.
I would like to hear what your experience is.
Thanks!

This must be one of the few threads ever on MN where everyone is unanimous OP that you aren't being 'that parent' !

My DD's are at a Grammar school. Lower down the school they were taught Shakespeare like this and neither of them got it because they felt it was too disjointed.
DD1 did GCSE's this year and for GCSE they had to read the whole play. They did Macbeth.
I would be inclined to get your DD to read it in her own time and go through a study guide - the CGP ones are excellent.

Definitely read the whole book. And I'd also recommend watching the play. Shakespeare was written to be performed and makes so much more sense when see it on stage. A good tip mine were given was watch the film (De Caprio for R&J is good) and have book open at same time so can underline good quotes and annotate what the heck is going on 😁