Michael P. Farris, Esq.
Chairman &
General Counsel

Recitation

Volume 40, Program 27 10/15/2002

Do you want your children to be effective communicators, but aren't sure how to help them? Join HSLDA's president Mike Smith on today's Home School Heartbeat as he explains why recitation is a great way to form good public speaking habits in your children.

Mike Smith:


We continue our discussion of homeschooling and public speaking with a recommendation for even the youngest students. Memorizing and reciting the writings of others is an effective way to teach students about proper language structure. Plus it provides a child with material they can use to speak in front of an audience. Your six year old may not be able to write yet, but she has probably been memorizing the words to songs or her favorite bedtime stories for years. She's ready to memorize Scripture, poetry, and great writings so she can recite them to the rest of the family.


It may seem like a simple exercise, but you may just find that even young children have already acquired a fear of public speaking. Like anything else, your ability to feel comfortable speaking in public is something that will improve with practice. So putting your young child in front of a friendly audience will encourage good habits early.


In modern times, knowledge is taught through books rather than being handed down through the generations by memorization. Consequently, the quality of public speaking has been steadily declining. By integrating recitation into your curriculum, you can improve your child's public speaking ability by helping them overcome their fears while they're still young. When they're older, they can begin to present their own thoughts in front of an audience. Until next time, I'm Mike Smith.

We'd love to send you a free Public Speaking Resource Sheet, giving you valuable information on Toastmasters, Home School Debate and more. And, if you'd like to order Jeff Myer's excellent book, called From Playpen to Podium, call us toll-free at 866-338-8614. Or go to our website at homeschoolheartbeat.com.