Read Aloud Archives - Page 2 of 2 - Timeline of Classics

30Dec 2016 by Gail Ledbetter No Comments

Lessons from Scrooge on Keeping Christmas Well

Classic Literature, Classical Education, Read Aloud

"Old Marley was as dead as a door-nail...even Scrooge was not so dreadfully cut up by the sad event, but that he was an excellent man of business on the very day of the funeral..." I am an incurable Charles Dickens fan! It is common for me to watch the same movie over and over during the holiday season. This is my favorite way to get my chores done AND enjoy a classic. (I once heard that you should never do this because there could be psychological consequences.) Well, I'm guilty! Maybe that's why my family says, "Mama, you ain't right!" Not only did I watch It's a Wonderful Life (Frank Capra's classic tale) at least three times, but I watched A Christmas Carol (Charles Dickens' timeless allegory) in as many…

10Dec 2016 by Gail Ledbetter 4 Comments

TLC 003 : Strange Name for an Awesome Resource – The Great American Bathroom Book

Classic Literature, Classical Education, History through Literature, Literary Analysis, Podcast, Read Aloud

TLC 003: Strange Name for an Awesome Resource - The Great American Bathroom Book Learn how you can broaden your personal knowledge of an enormous collection of classics and topics. This three-volume set is one of my favorite power tools! On Episode 003 of the Timeline of Classics podcast, we'll feature The Great American Bathroom Book: Single Sitting Summaries of All-time Great Books (originally titled: Compact Classics) We've all been there... Help! I need a quick reminder of the characters, setting, or plot of a Shakespeare play. It's been way too long since I studied this in my high school English class. I've got to teach this book tomorrow. There's a literary goldmine inside each volume! In Episode 003 you'll learn... how The Great American Bathroom Book (GABB) can introduce a…

09Oct 2016 by Gail Ledbetter 1 Comment

TLC 002 : Teaching Literature in the Classroom with Donna Seidman – Part 2 of 2

Classical Education, History through Literature, Literary Analysis, Podcast, Read Aloud, Reader-Response Journaling, Top Posts

Whether you teach in a traditional classroom, school at home, or snuggle with toddlers on the sofa, this message is for you! Listen as Donna and I finish our conversation... In Episode 002, you'll learn: how Timeline of Classics can benefit classical educators how to study a period of history with multiple students of differing ages the nuts and bolts of reader-response journaling how reader-response journaling improves comprehension and thinking skills how reader-response journaling sharpens vocabulary study and summarizing skills literary analysis through Socratic discussion how reader-response journaling cultivates wisdom, discernment, and thinking Helpful resources from this episode: Jim Weiss - Greathall Productions Jim Hodges - Jim Hodges Audio Books The Great American Bathroom Book (aka - Compact Classics) Teaching the Classics - Adam & Missy Andrews Episode 36: Some…

18Aug 2016 by Gail Ledbetter No Comments

Book Lovers: Why Children are Naturals

Classical Education, Literary Analysis, Read Aloud

Do you want your children to grow up loving books? Would you like more than anything for them to have a well-rounded, literary education? If your answer is "yes," then you have to take some simple steps to nurture the book lovers in your home. [caption id="attachment_502" align="aligncenter" width="560"] A library provides a feast for the imagination. For children, this is amplified![/caption] Few things in life bring as much delight for a child as a trip to the library! What’s not to love? Kids, who are natural born book lovers, are drawn like magnets to the children’s section of a library. From pint-sized furniture to animal prints, pirate ships, and reading nooks with secret passages, a library provides a place of wonder and discovery for young imaginations. Nurture the Book…

17Jul 2016 by Gail Ledbetter No Comments

Recharge for a New School Year – Part 1

Classical Education, Read Aloud

Soon after the 2015-2016 school year ended, I was given an unexpected gift: a day at home all alone. It was glorious! (I took three naps.) Once I wiped away the sleep from my eyes, I was shocked at how tired I really was. Truthfully, a teacher's work is never done and plans for a new school year are always on the brain. With a new school year just around the corner, teachers look forward to the summer months to recharge their batteries. Perhaps sharing these refreshing ideas with you will encourage both of us to take better care of ourselves! Rest your body - You may not realize how worn out you probably are! Stress is a normal part of life, but it can have nasty consequences on your…

02Jun 2016 by Gail Ledbetter No Comments

Podcast Featuring TLC – An Interview with Sarah Mackenzie (Read-Aloud-Revival)

Classic Literature, History through Literature, Podcast, Read Aloud, Top Posts

I love Sarah Mackenzie! If I could pick my neighbors, the Mackenzies would live in my neighborhood. But, since I'm on the east coast, and Sarah on the west, we'll just be thankful for wifi, headsets, and plenty of laughter! After meeting her for the first time last Fall at an IEW Exhibitor's Retreat, I learned that we had many things in common: a house full of kids an insatiable love for great books a great desire to give our families a literary education a sincere wish to face the library without fear We've bumped into one another since then at a home school convention and had a recent conversation, which is now a podcast for you to enjoy! There's so much more I could say, but that will have…

19May 2016 by Gail Ledbetter No Comments

It Doesn’t Have to Be Overwhelming: Let’s Go to the Library!

Classical Education, History through Literature, Literary Analysis, Read Aloud, Reader-Response Journaling

If you're like me, the library was, and still is, one of the favorite all-time stops for my kids and me. The very mention of going to get books brought nothing but glee and smiles to the faces of my kids. (One of my daughters is now a nanny for a young family. Guess where she takes the kids at least once a week?) I knew that I needed some sort of plan before we hit the road. Choosing books at the library is like walking down the cereal aisle at the grocery store...too many choices! What's a mom to do? My heart has always been drawn toward history. Perhaps it's because I was born into a home with four grandparents and a great-grandmother who lived to be 100 years…