The Tragedy of King Lear

In this Shakespearean tragedy, King Lear decides to divide up his kingdom amongst his daughters, commanding them to proclaim their love for him. He is fooled by Goneril and Regan's proclamations and so infuriated by Cordelia's inability to put her love into words that he banishes her. When he discovers that Goneril and Regan are treacherous and ungrateful and Cordelia is truly loyal, he is driven mad! Disloyalty brings a terrible fate upon this royal family. This script includes six roles, each of which match a different reading level. Teachers can apply differentiation and English language learner strategies to the script to assign roles in a way that accommodates all students, whether they are struggling or proficient readers. All students can engage in one activity together, gaining confidence in their reading fluency and feeling successful, regardless of their current reading ability! An accompanying song and poem provide additional resources to help students build fluency! Along with reading fluency improvement, students will also practice reading aloud, interacting cooperatively, and using expressive voices and gestures by performing this story together. This dynamic, colorful script is sure to benefit a classroom of varied readers! | Disloyalty brings a terrible fate upon King Lear and the royal family in this tragic tale! Students can act out differentiated roles that accommodate a range of reading levels. All students can feel confident and successful while building fluency! | Harriet Isecke, MA and M. Ed., has served for over 35 years as a teacher, literacy coach, and district administrator and is the recipient of several local and state education awards. Her published works include numerous children's picture books, reader's theater plays, primary source guides for students, and differentiated instructional materials for teachers. Harriet speaks at state, national, and international conferences and provides workshops for K-12 educators.