My mom was (and still is) a stickler for proper reading posture and tone. Often, during reading lessons, she’d make my siblings and me stand in the schoolroom closet, close the door, and read so she could understand us. This didn’t mean yelling, of course. Good support and enunciation will take you far in declamation, and since we were also getting these habits drilled into us at children’s choir, they’ve become ingrained in my regular speaking practices. We had many opportunities to hone these skills, as we were often called upon to recite poetry or give presentations both at home and at local homeschool events.
This year, I have the privilege of teaching six little girls, all sisters and cousins, and all between the ages of seven and ten. Most of our curriculum is pre-set, but their mothers gave me free rein with the poetry lessons, and I’ve had the most delightful time browsing my copy of Laura M. Berquist’s The Harp and the Laurel Wreath for just the right selection. Berquist’s book is a treasure, and it contains “poetry and dictation for the classical curriculum.” Ranging from simple Robert Louis Stevenson poems to lengthy Shakespeare excerpts, the book divides its material into sections and shows teachers how best to use it.
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