Great resources Ruth, and thanks for the mention. Are you reading War and Peace with our slow read or at your own pace? We start again in January.
On the subject of difficult words and language learning, I think it is important for children and adults to develop reading confidence by picking up books slightly beyond their current comprehension. As a child, I'd read books full of words I didn't understand. It didn't matter as long as I was finding pleasure and satisfaction from the experience. The same was true when I was learning Spanish. Over time, exposure to complex words in their context results in greater comprehension.
So being relaxed about not understanding everything is a great life skill!
I have started on my own with War and Peace, but given that you'll start again in January I'll plan to join along with your slow read.
You raise a great point with regard to developing tolerance for words one does not understand. When I was learning English, I often used to experience it as floating along with the story and bearing with it, a bit like an experience of faith, where one has trust even without full understanding. And I agree that it most definitely is an excellent language learning approach and essential life skill.
I clearly recall reading Our Mutal Friend by Dickens and feeling rather fuzzy about what was happening for pages at a time. But as is always the case for me with classic tales, I got so engrossed in the story that I could harldy put the book down. Btw. Peco and I are watching the first season of Wolf Hall just now based on your recommendation and are greatly enjoying it!
I literally can't wait until l have kids so I can start homeschooling them -- don't ever delete your blog! I'll be coming back to this in the future!! This also reminds me that I need to finish my series on Classics that are Required reading in schools. I'd be so interested to hear your thoughts on it!
Well, this certainly filled a morning trying to unpack all of this. Thank you for the resources. Is your book on Amazon in the same 2-column format as the one you provide in the Unabridged PDF? I find that flush two columns a little hard to read.
Yes, it is the same format. Because of the large pages I don't find it too busy, but there are many editions that you can obtain that would have different layouts. Most used bookstores will have a copy on their shelves:)
Thanks for the update. Your book has so many helpful aids. I have a personal bug against so many of those other classic novels published “independently” with no editorial care whatsoever. Unless they specifically say Unabridged or you know the publisher like Penguin Classics is good.
I know what you mean. I did take great care in the layout and particulary enjoy the size of this edition as it serves as a workbook as well. Penguin Classics are always a safe bet :)
10 hrs ago·edited 10 hrs agoLiked by Ruth Gaskovski
Thank you so much for your generosity and all the lovely resources! How kind. We also love reading "The Christmas Carol" at Christmas. We don't always get to it every year as we have a nice Christmas book collection.
I also really love "The King of the Golden River" by John Ruskin. It is a glorious story for young children with really beautiful language and a joy to read aloud just because the word usage is so descriptive. "The features of the face, however, were by no mean finished with the same delicacy; they were rather course, slightly inclining to be coppery in complexion, and indicative, in expression, of a very pertinacious and intractable disposition in their small proprietor." (pg 48)
I have the edition with illustrations by Juan Wijngaard which are a joy to behold. You can also listen to it for free on Librivox.
Thank you for being so generous and sharing these outstanding resources! Our family had such fun last year celebrating a ‘Victorian-style’ Christmas and enjoyed several CC dramatic readings (including sound effects and homemade props) with friends of various generations.
Thank you for these wonderful resources, Ruth! I will be using them!
Great resources Ruth, and thanks for the mention. Are you reading War and Peace with our slow read or at your own pace? We start again in January.
On the subject of difficult words and language learning, I think it is important for children and adults to develop reading confidence by picking up books slightly beyond their current comprehension. As a child, I'd read books full of words I didn't understand. It didn't matter as long as I was finding pleasure and satisfaction from the experience. The same was true when I was learning Spanish. Over time, exposure to complex words in their context results in greater comprehension.
So being relaxed about not understanding everything is a great life skill!
I have started on my own with War and Peace, but given that you'll start again in January I'll plan to join along with your slow read.
You raise a great point with regard to developing tolerance for words one does not understand. When I was learning English, I often used to experience it as floating along with the story and bearing with it, a bit like an experience of faith, where one has trust even without full understanding. And I agree that it most definitely is an excellent language learning approach and essential life skill.
It's a lovely way to learn a language: get lost in stories!
I clearly recall reading Our Mutal Friend by Dickens and feeling rather fuzzy about what was happening for pages at a time. But as is always the case for me with classic tales, I got so engrossed in the story that I could harldy put the book down. Btw. Peco and I are watching the first season of Wolf Hall just now based on your recommendation and are greatly enjoying it!
It's great, but not as greatl as the books – which are wonders!
Amazing, thank you!!
You are welcome :)
I literally can't wait until l have kids so I can start homeschooling them -- don't ever delete your blog! I'll be coming back to this in the future!! This also reminds me that I need to finish my series on Classics that are Required reading in schools. I'd be so interested to hear your thoughts on it!
Well, this certainly filled a morning trying to unpack all of this. Thank you for the resources. Is your book on Amazon in the same 2-column format as the one you provide in the Unabridged PDF? I find that flush two columns a little hard to read.
Yes, it is the same format. Because of the large pages I don't find it too busy, but there are many editions that you can obtain that would have different layouts. Most used bookstores will have a copy on their shelves:)
Thanks for the update. Your book has so many helpful aids. I have a personal bug against so many of those other classic novels published “independently” with no editorial care whatsoever. Unless they specifically say Unabridged or you know the publisher like Penguin Classics is good.
I know what you mean. I did take great care in the layout and particulary enjoy the size of this edition as it serves as a workbook as well. Penguin Classics are always a safe bet :)
Incredibly Helpful
Thank you so much!
Grace and peace to you both.....
Thank you so much for your generosity and all the lovely resources! How kind. We also love reading "The Christmas Carol" at Christmas. We don't always get to it every year as we have a nice Christmas book collection.
I also really love "The King of the Golden River" by John Ruskin. It is a glorious story for young children with really beautiful language and a joy to read aloud just because the word usage is so descriptive. "The features of the face, however, were by no mean finished with the same delicacy; they were rather course, slightly inclining to be coppery in complexion, and indicative, in expression, of a very pertinacious and intractable disposition in their small proprietor." (pg 48)
I have the edition with illustrations by Juan Wijngaard which are a joy to behold. You can also listen to it for free on Librivox.
Thanks for sharing Lauren! I will add John Ruskin's story to our Christmas reading list :)
Thank you for being so generous and sharing these outstanding resources! Our family had such fun last year celebrating a ‘Victorian-style’ Christmas and enjoyed several CC dramatic readings (including sound effects and homemade props) with friends of various generations.
Wonderful! We are getting ready for hosting an Christmas Carol reading event in a couple of weeks and I am so looking forward to it :)
Also, my teen daughter and I are beginning the free Hillsdale College course on A Christmas Carol. Should be excellent.
That sounds like a splendid idea. Will take a look at this now...