Secular Charlotte Mason

Here are the favorite books and poetry recommendations from the last Charlotte Mason Meeting in Portland. On my blog, I’ve linked the ones that are available on Amazon. A big thank you to everyone who brought books and ideas! Gina, thank you also for the Native American selections as this is a special interest of ours.

POETRY BOOKS:

Poetry for Young People by Lewis Carroll

Paul Revere’s Ride by Longfellow Ill. Ted Rand

Where the Sidewalk Ends, Shel Silverstein

A Hat So Simple by Jerry Smath (pretty)

Wish You Were Here (and I Wasn’t) by Colin McNaughton (boy silly)

Two-Legged Four-Legged No-Legged Rhymes by J. Patrick Lewis

Talking Like the Rain by X.J. Kennedy and Dorothy M. Kennedy

Read Aloud Rhymes for the Very Young by Jack Prelutzky ill. Mark Brown

The Dragon’s are Singing Tonight by Jack Prelutsky ill. Peter Sis

Catching Life by the Throat: How to Read Poetry and Why (with CD) by Josephine Hart

A Child’s Introduction to Poetry (with CD) by Michael Driscoll

Stories from Shakespeare by David Timson read by Juliet Stevenson and Michael Sheen (series)

Math Talk by Theoni Pappas

Joyful Noise Poems for Two Voices by Paul Fleischman ill. Eric Beddows

Chinese Poems by Arthur Waley

American Indian Poetry by George W. Cronyn

Don’t You Turn Back Poems by Langston Hughes

Spirit Walker by Nancy Wood

All the Colors of Race by Arnold Adoff (about children of mixed races, I liked this book a lot)

In the Eyes of the Cat: Japanese Poetry for All Seasons by Demi

Civil War Poetry and Prose by Walt Whitman

Good Books Good Times by Lee Bennett Hopkins

Beowolf by Seamus Heaney

The Prose Edda: Norse Mythology by Snorri Snurluson

Hailstone and Halibut Bones by Mary O’Neill

Around the Seasons by Eleanor Farjeon

Animal Poems by John Hollander ill. Simona Mulazzani

A Journey in Poetry by Oregon Homeschoolers 2003

Joyful Noise I am Phoenix performed by John Bedford Lloyd and Annie Twomey unabridged

Poetry Speaks to Children (with CD) read by the Poets, compiled by Elise Paschen

A Family of Poems by Caroline Kennedy

Edgar Allan Poe Poetry for Young People (series)

CURRICULUM:

Linguistic Development through Poetry Memorization by Andrew Pudewa

This is for 8 years and older, recite a repertoire of poems so you never forget what you learn. The poems that are short, fun and silly are good for 8 year olds. Longer poems might be harder for younger children. The only critcism is of the CD, the reader’s voice was a bit condescending.

QUICK NOTES:

Do one poem per week or per month. Kristal suggested a way to foster a love of poetry is let children listen to poetry recited well. She recommended many of the books that come with CD’s above. She said listening to the poet recite their own poems is a good thing sometimes but not always. The reader is important. Rote memorization or poetry memorization helps with overall memory later and should be introduced when child is ready. Clapping rhymes from the playground also help with memorization. Poetry is helpful for reading prose like Beowolf Legends. Recitation is early public speaking. Songs are poetry set to music.

~Cori

http://wonderinthewoods.wordpress.com/2010/05/20/poetry-recommendations/