Recitation or Interpretive Reading
Recitation or Interpretive Reading achieves several things. It helps you to learn to read aloud with feeling and meaning, clarity and volume and to practice making good eye contact when speaking.
Each term my children have one poet they study and each week they are given a new poem to practice. They are to read this poem aloud with feeling, practicing clarity as well. Then once a week we get together and have Poetry Tea. Julie at Brave Writer gave me this idea.
I make a few snacks along with some tea, of course, and that’s it. It’s not fancy, although a few times I went out of my way to do something extra special. My kids enjoy it; they get to eat (a big thing for boys) and it’s something different in their day.
As we hear the various poems from all age levels, I like to think that we’re training our ear to appreciate the different types of poetry. I don’t always understand what they’re reading, (I have a hard time understanding Shakespeare for instance.) but I still think it doesn’t hurt to stretch yourself.
Justus, my 4yos, loves to be a part of our tea too. Since he cannot read he recites the few memory verses he knows. He is all excited to be able to do this and jumps up and down when it’s his turn and for this reason he usually goes first. 
We all clap when he’s finished. (He probably claps for himself, too, now that I think about it.)
I forgot to mention that I do tell the children that this is a good time to practice being good listeners and to be respectful of those speaking by looking at them and not getting up to go get something in the middle of someones poem.
This boy of mine has no trouble with expression and being dramatic. When he reads from the book of James about the tongue and how ‘it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.’ it fairly causes you to shiver. 
He actually reminds me of the minister on Pollyanna when he preaches. But he wasn’t reciting from James on this day.
How do you practice recitation in your home?
5 Comments
Arby
Excellent idea! I am going to begin this in our home.
SuzyScribbles
This is so great! I had my boys memorize a poem a month, a hymn a month, along with their usual Bible Study. Then when we studied U.S. History, I had them memorize the Gettysburg address for recitation. My 2nd grader memorized part of Patrick Henry's speech and he gave a long recitation–with feeling–at our church's 4th of July celebration years ago. It was precious!
How in the WORLD did you find me over at my FarmLifeFarmWife homestead blog? I'm always amazed when somebody shows up "out of the blue!" Nice meeting you. Have you heard of The Homeschool Lounge? It's brand new and quite popular, started by Tiany, right here on HSB. Go here:
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homeschoolhighlites
Thanks for sharing about this great idea – what is your source for age appropriate poems?
bubbebobbie
They just happen in the middle of the day. But I really like your tea idea. we have all been watching Masterpiece Theatre's Jane Austen stories and this idea fits that so well. (and we all love teas too)
My husband's favorite line in PollyAnna is "Death Comes Unexpectedly!" and is shouted from upstairs over the railing often!
Because of Jesus, Bobbie
EagleHeights
I sure do miss Wesley in Sunday School. Dramatic… that must be why I love him so much! 🙂 I remember the first time he recited that chapter for me. I LOVED IT!!!!!!!