Name: Spreading the Feast Gathering
Start: 2025-07-11T00:00:00-05:00
End: 2025-07-12T23:59:59-05:00
Location: LaGrange, KY

This topic has 11 replies, 10 voices, and was last updated 10 years, 4 months ago by greenebalts.

Viewing 12 posts - 1 through 12 (of 12 total)

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October 8, 2013 at 5:36 pm
Theups1
Participant
Why should a young child (2nd grade) read Shakespeare? I do enjoy Shakespeare, but was wondering why it should be introduced to younger children. i wasn’t introduced until high school. Thoughts????????

His,
Shari
October 8, 2013 at 5:54 pm
TailorMade
Participant
Our young children don’t read Shakespeare and I’ve never heard an argument to convince me otherwise.
October 8, 2013 at 6:26 pm
nebby
Participant
I think reading versions of his stories with younger kids (say 7 and up) is a great idea. My kids have loved Lamb’s Tales from Shakespeare. The stories with their twists and turns really captivate them. It gives them a love for Shakespeare which I hope will last. We have also begun Memorizing passages with How to Teach your child Shakespeare. The language is lovely and again will help
Them when they are older to not have such a big hurdle in reading his plays. Also it is just nice to have them hear the English language being used well.
Nebby
http://www.lettersfromnebby.wordpress.com
October 8, 2013 at 6:41 pm
LindseyD
Participant
I don’t have a reason “why” young children should read Shakespeare, except that I started young with both of my children, and they have LOVED both plays that we’ve read. We have used the Lamb’s version and had a lot of laughs. Anything I thought they wouldn’t understand I explained as we went. So, maybe just as another genre for them to enjoy is as good a reason as any…
October 8, 2013 at 7:13 pm
Bookworm
Participant
You probably don’t NEED to read the actual plays with children under 10 or so. But the stories themselves are a delight–Lamb’s or another story version. All the children I’ve introduced to these stories love them. And, in defense of the plays themselves–the language is so very beautiful. Not every bit of course, but the cadences and sounds and expression are really sublime. Very, very beautiful. I did not read the actual plays with my two older ones until they were about 10, but my youngest son “tagged along”, listening, and then reading very short parts (he begged and begged!!!) as soon as he was able, and it’s one of our favorite things to do now. Everyone looks forward to Shakespeare time, and when we are able to catch a performance, especially a well-done one, the whole family is over the moon. 🙂 I actually firmly believe that no one who scorns and refuses to have anything to do with Shakespeare can ever really have a complete idea of what the English language is capable of and should be.
October 9, 2013 at 12:59 am
Theups1
Participant
Thank you for your help!! We haven’t decided one way or the other, so this will be helpful to share with my husband!
Thank you all!

His,
Shari
January 11, 2015 at 6:47 pm
Laurie
Participant
So what do your Shakespeare studies look like?
January 11, 2015 at 8:14 pm
Monica
Participant
It has been my experience that when young children are introduced to, hear, read Shakespeare, and see it performed, they find it easier to comprehend the language at a younger age. I have a degree in English Literature, and I admit that even still I find Shakespeare quite challenging. I am amazed, though, with what my 9YO can already understand.
Our Shakespeare studies are very informal. We read one play each year. Before we read the play in full we read either the Lamb or Nesbitt version. Afterwards I try to find a good video or live performance for us to attend. That’s it. This year I’ve decided to add “Shakespeare in Bits” because I was able to get one of the plays for free.
If we are finding a lot of difficulty with some of the language, “No Fear Shakespeare” online is great.
One other thing my kids do is that each year on Shakespeare’s birthday we travel to my Alma Mater where they have a reading of Shakespeare’s sonnets. My kids read one each year. We receive our assignment a few weeks before the reading so that we can read, comprehend, and practice before the big day. In between sections of sonnets the drama club often performs scenes from plays, so that is also great fun for the kids to watch.
I wish I had been introduced to Shakespeare at a much younger age. I had the typical high school schedule – Romeo and Juliet as a freshman, Midsummer Night’s Dream as a sophomore, and a couple more (Hamlet and Merchant of Venice, I think) as a senior.
January 12, 2015 at 5:37 am
Bookworm
Participant
One should read Shakespeare for the same reasons one should look at the very best art, listen to the very best music–because it makes us better human beings. God made us capable of recognizing and loving true beauty, true excellence. He even gave some of us the ability to create and express this in one way or another.
“A man should hear a little music, read a little poetry, and see a fine picture every day of his life, in order that worldly cares may not obliterate the sense of the beautiful which God has implanted in the human soul.” Goethe
January 12, 2015 at 6:32 am
missceegee
Participant
That Goethe quote is one of my favorites. I agree re. Shakespeare, whole heartedly.l

January 12, 2015 at 5:09 pm
Bluegoat
Participant
I think better than reading Shakespeare might be seeing his plays. My daughter, who is in grade four this year, has been seeing summer theater for a few years now and enjoys it very much. We generally read a short version of the play first, like lamb, so it is a little easier for her to follow. But especially with the comedies, the humour is often performed in quite a broad way which is easy for a young child to enjoy.
January 18, 2015 at 12:26 pm
greenebalts
Participant
Our 11 year old dd is reading Lamb’s Tales from Shakespeare, which includes six tales. She’s reading two per term. Part way through the first term, she came to me and stated she was actually really enjoying it though she initially thought she wouldn’t.
I was encouraged by this recent post….
http://sageparnassus.blogspot.com/2015/01/grapple-them-to-thy-soul-resources-for.html
Blessings,
Melissa
http://reflectionsfromdrywoodcreek.blogspot.com/