Poetry

When you consider that during our school year we will be studying 35 different poems - the mind begins to spin with questions of - how will I keep this boy interested in poetry for that long? What can he possibly learn from these poems? Is it really important? And the answer to all those questions comes easily because we are following the carefully laid out instructions of Carrie Austin, the author of our curriculum, everything is done in small manageable steps and before you know it 35 poems have been studied.
Robert Louis Stevenson is the poet for this school year and every few weeks Samuel will have to memorize one of his poems.  Here is the first one he chose.  I think he did an excellent job!

Poetry and Copywork

Every day Samuel is required to do copywork. This means that he will copy a good example of literature in order to practice his handwriting and at the same time experience meaningful sentences, extraordinary words and exposure to poetry. Once a week he must draw a picture that reflects the meaning of the poem.

Copywork has been a long difficult process! Samuel does not like to do copywork. But it must get done. So, we set the timer for 10 minutes and in that time he must copy at least two lines of the poem. And it must be his best work.

Yesterday he took a looooong time for his drawing, but I think he did an excellent job!

Against Idleness and Mischief

How doth the little busy bee
Improve each shining hour,
And gather honey all the day
from every opening flower!

How skillfully she builds her cell!
How neat she spreads the wax!
And labors hard to store it well
With the sweet food she makes.

In works of labor and of skill,
I would be busy too;
For Satan finds some mischief still
For idle hands to do.

In books, or work, or healthful play,
Let my first years be passed,
That I may give for every day
Some good account at last
Isaac Watts