Plutarch Anyone?

FWIW, I noticed the title in this morning basket post and it’s what we are using as an introduction…we’ve never pursued Plutarch. 

http://www.wildflowersandmarbles.com/2014/07/01/revisiting-morning-basket-plans-for-the-new-year

Hope the link works.  I can never copy/paste on this forum.  It looks like the correct link after typing it.

I’ll be watching this thread.  We are adding Plutarch because I was impressed by the glimpse at it in the L&L dvds.

We’ve been doing Plutarch for about eight years.  You really don’t need tons of resources, although Anne’s previous footwork is helpful.  I use those when we do a Life she’s done, but we are just reading through our book now.  I really, really don’t like the children’s versions.  I don’t see the point in them.  They tend to boil them down to a “history” type lesson.  Plutarch’s purpose is not history.  I think it’d be better to wait until your kids are old enough to tackle the real thing.  Try a few different translations if you like.  I have Dryden/Clough.  Use the study guide if you have it.  If you don’t, use a good dictionary and Wikipedia.  

Plutarch is excellent for many things.  DO be sure to prepare the lesson, and do be sure to do a pre-reading review of the previous lesson each time.  

We consider Plutarch good for citizenship, making good choices (or not making bad ones!) how worldview affects choices, how our choices affect those around us, leadership, stretching the mind (it’s not easy to read!) and applying principles to real life.  I will confess that we don’t always understand every single thing we read in a Plutarch reading.  But I do think what we do get is worth the trouble.  My kids usually do not like it much when I begin including them (it’s hard work!) but so far both the older, “graduated” ones have told me they were grateful we did it.  Again, I think teacher preparation and pre-reading review (see Sonya’s article on this here: https://simplycharlottemason.com/blog/pre-reading-reviews/  )

are really important for tougher lessons like Plutarch.

Melissa,

They do have a suggestion of Plutarch. My oldest will be reading it this coming school year. Here is the link that SCM has for Plutarch from Public Domainhttps://simplycharlottemason.com/planning/curriculum-guide/matthew-acts-ancient-rome/where-to-find-books/

However, I bought Plutarch from the Oxford World Classics from amazon. Now, I can’t remember if I bought it because of a SCM link of what. I am new to CM and Plutarch so, I am not sure if this is the best or 2nd best. Here is the link from amazon…http://www.amazon.com/Roman-Lives-Selection-Oxford-Classics/dp/0199537380/ref=sr_1_16?ie=UTF8&qid=1406048358&sr=8-16&keywords=plutarch

I hope this helps,

Sarai

Melissa, we usually start requiring Plutarch at about age 11.  We hold out the “candy” of “getting” to read the real Shakespeare plays, to sweeten the deal of “having” to listen to and narrate the Plutarch.  So we start both about the same time.  

i echo Bookworm’s comments.  We started earlier than her recommendations though.  My children love it and have always loved it. We have always orally narrated as we read small bites and then drawn our favorite scene from our day’s reading and kept those in a binder to enjoy weekly. 

The reading is complex and you should pre-read and understand it yourself to make it meaningful for your children.  I use Anne’s study guides from AO for the most part.  I own one translation and have never wasted time with “children’s versions” either.  Simply click the link to her study guide and then also the life that she used to create it.  There is always a link to the version she uses I think and if not there are free copies you can also print.  I put the guide in a binder under one tab and the text under a second tab.  We do it weekly.

I’d suggest following the narration model of –

1. Discuss vocabulary and review what was read last time and look over maps if applicable
2. Read text in small passages, narrate these passages orally
3. Do some type of “final” narration