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Grace&Chaos
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| Posted: June 22 2011 at 9:40am | IP Logged
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I was just introduced to the Mater et Magistra spring 2009 edition dedicated to Shakespeare. Another great edition BTW.
I'm just wondering if anyone has used Starting with Shakespeare (mentioned in the magazine)? I have such a young group but I know my older two have been enjoying the stories so far. Just wondering if this book will be helpful to continue introducing Shakespeare gently to them and the boys as they start listening in. 
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That IS a really fantastic edition of m et m!!
I wish I could comment on that book you linked because it looks fantastic! I too would love to hear a review if someone has it and has used it!
Grace&Chaos wrote:
| I have such a young group but I know my older two have been enjoying the stories so far. Just wondering if this book will be helpful to continue introducing Shakespeare gently to them and the boys as they start listening in. |
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For the young students, we have really just enjoyed reading from E. Nesbit's Beautiful Stories from Shakespeare...very slowly...and narrating as we go. We have this version and find it quite beautiful. The quotes in the back of the book are wonderful for copywork. Without coordinating or planning for anything else *Shakespeare*, the stories take on a life of their own, and the children re-enact them with play silks and stick horses and wooden swords and various other props of their own finding and making! I must confess, I quite enjoy the spontaneity of it, so I'm loathe to add anything else more formal than just...reading.
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Jen Mackintosh
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Grace&Chaos
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Thanks Jen, This is the book we have too. I have to admit I rather like our slow introduction to the originals. The girls really are enjoying the Nesbit book and it does take some time to get through it, if you digest it slowly.
I don't have anything planned for next year except knowing that we want to keep a time slot to read through the Stories like we did this year.
Maybe for my age group this might be enough for now. 
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JennGM
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Perhaps it's because I'm so immersed in reading Charlotte Mason and about her right now, but as I was looking over the Starting... book, I was wondering if it was a little too structured or unit studyish? I like having some ideas to do extensions with crafts or acting if the child is looking for ideas, but I do balk a little when I see all these ideas. It seems a little like spoonfeeding.
So I'd like to hear reviews before I pull the trigger, too. My son heard and read so many references to the Bard and his works that he was begging to read Shakespeare. I don't have Nesbit yet, but I had Lamb, and he enjoyed a few of the shorter stories.
And that's where I'm thinking that's how I'm introducing Shakespeare: I think Lamb and Nesbit, and then audio or visual presentations and then the actual plays.
Jen, there is always play acting after every book and movie here -- I would be so excited to see that application.
Perhaps there is one thing that we haven't done and being a small family we don't have much opportunity, is reading an actual play, and playing parts. In writing this reply, that makes me want to think a little about that....
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Grace&Chaos wrote:
Thanks Jen, This is the book we have too. I have to admit I rather like our slow introduction to the originals. The girls really are enjoying the Nesbit book and it does take some time to get through it, if you digest it slowly.
I don't have anything planned for next year except knowing that we want to keep a time slot to read through the Stories like we did this year.
Maybe for my age group this might be enough for now. |
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Oh, of course, definitely keep Nesbit as part of your day, but don't discount something else...like this neat book you found in the m et m issue. It could be a fantastic addition to your day, and I really am hoping for a review of it, too! (How did I miss that one? I thought I scoured that issue for resource materials I thought might be appealing, but I don't remember looking into that one. ??)
I guess I was just saying (in a rather convoluted way) that I've gotten Shakespeare activity books before and they fell flat for us, not because the book was unworthy, but I guess our family chemistry? But, when I just sat back and read to them...all seemed normal-ish, nothing exciting, no unusual reactions to the reading...until the children were acting out Much Ado About Nothing!  Anyway, I guess that's all I was saying.
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Grace&Chaos
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JennGM wrote:
Perhaps it's because I'm so immersed in reading Charlotte Mason and about her right now, but as I was looking over the Starting... book, I was wondering if it was a little too structured or unit studyish? I like having some ideas to do extensions with crafts or acting if the child is looking for ideas, but I do balk a little when I see all these ideas. It seems a little like spoonfeeding.
So I'd like to hear reviews before I pull the trigger, too. |
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My thoughts exactly, sometimes I think my need to be organized gets the best of me. I like to have ideas down even if I don't follow step by step. 
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Jenny
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lapazfarm
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Mackfam wrote:
For the young students, we have really just enjoyed reading from E. Nesbit's Beautiful Stories from Shakespeare...very slowly...and narrating as we go. We have this version and find it quite beautiful. |
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Yet another book that is free for Kindle!
Nesbit: Beautiful stories from Shakespeare
as is Lamb:Tales from Shakespeare
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JennGM wrote:
| Perhaps there is one thing that we haven't done and being a small family we don't have much opportunity, is reading an actual play, and playing parts. In writing this reply, that makes me want to think a little about that.... |
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Oh...do give it some thought, Jenn!!! It really does make Shakespeare come alive, and though it's wonderful with a room full of people, it isn't necessary! I really only read aloud with my older two, and we usually take two parts each. Sometimes, it's just my older dd and I just reading through one scene, practicing in our best Elizabethan voice and hand flourishes... ...anyway, just wanted to encourage your brainstorming this!
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Grace&Chaos
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Theresa, can I just say you make a very good argument for upgrading my technical equipment . A kindle might just have to go on my Christmas wish list this year  .
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Since, we've mentioned Lamb here. Is this a good next read aloud from Nesbit? We haven't read this yet and was up next on our list.
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Yes, the Charles and Mary Lamb version is a perfect follow-up for the Nesbit version of Shakespeare.
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Jen Mackintosh
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Grace&Chaos wrote:
Theresa, can I just say you make a very good argument for upgrading my technical equipment . A kindle might just have to go on my Christmas wish list this year . |
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I know. Jen, you have pushed me a bit more for the iPhone after your tornado experience, and I did ask dh for some kind of reader for all these free books!
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JennGM wrote:
Grace&Chaos wrote:
Theresa, can I just say you make a very good argument for upgrading my technical equipment . A kindle might just have to go on my Christmas wish list this year . |
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I know. Jen, you have pushed me a bit more for the iPhone after your tornado experience, and I did ask dh for some kind of reader for all these free books! |
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I know!! This is TOTALLY OFF TOPIC...BUT...when we had those devastating tornadoes - the ONLY thing we could communicate with was our smart phone. The only thing small enough data-wise to get in or out for several days was a text message. And after we were hit by the first tornado we knew there were more coming, but we had no power, no way to hear news reports. That iphone saved our skin!!! Literally! Because I could watch the radar with the other tornadoes coming right on my phone and Rob had our local tv station streaming on his phone. It has proven itself again and again since then, many times while I was taking care of my brother and away from home so long. Technology can be a very good and useful tool! Does it replace real life communication - no way, not any more than an ereader replaces a book in my hands - but they are still extremely useful tools!!
Ok...done gushing about how technology has been useful to me of late...and back to Shakespeare.
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Hmmmm....
Nesbit vs Lamb...
I am going to put a couple of excerpts here of text from both Nesbit and Lamb, because it might be an interesting exercise to compare the two:
First, Nesbit:
The Tempest
Prospero, the Duke of Milan, was a learned and studious man, who lived among his books, leaving the management of his dukedom to his brother, Antonio, in whom indeed he had complete trust. But his trust was ill-rewarded, for Antonio wanted to wear the Duke's crown himself, and, to gain his ends, would have killed his brother but for the love his people bore him.
Contrast to Lamb:
The Tempest
There was a certain island in the sea, the only inhabitants of which were an old man, whose name was Prospero, and his daughter, Miranda, a very beautiful young lady. She came to this island so young, that she had no memory of having seen any other human face than her father's.
Now I realize this is just one example, and this may or may not hold true for the entire book, but it seems to me the language of Nesbit is more complex than that of Lamb.
Also, I find it interesting that the Lamb version is about 32 pages, while Nesbit is only about 20.
So, to me, the language of Nesbit is more challenging, while the Lamb version is longer.
Which comes first, do you think? Length, or complexity of language?
ETA: I am asking this in all honesty, not having an opinion myself as I have yet to read either version to the kiddos. It's on my "TBR" list and I am honestly asking which one you ladies think should come first.
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I have the Signet Classics version of Charles and Mary Lamb's Shakespeare.
I do enjoy the overall language used in Nesbit's edition, but for more content and detail of the plays, the Lamb version offers a bit more, though it's true that many sub-plots and side stories are not a part of either of these re-tellings. The Lambs make use of Shakespeare's own words throughout many of the plays. It's a step up, and continues to be just a little bit fuller and richer than Nesbit (to me) and is a good step into Shakespeare himself. Those are my thoughts anyway. Generally, I like Nesbit for 2 - 4 grade, and the Lambs for 5 - 6...but that's ishy and depends a lot on the student/individual child.
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More for you to consider, Theresa:
From A Midsummer Night's Dream:
Nesbit
"Hermia and Lysander were lovers; but Hermia's father wished her to marry another man, named Demetrius. Now, in Athens, where they lived, there was a wicked law, by which any girl who refused to marry according to her father's wishes, might be put to death."
Lamb
"There was a law in the city of Athens, which gave to its citizens the power of compelling their daughters to marry whomsoever they pleased: for upon a daughter's refusing to marry the man her father had chosen to be her husband, the father was empowered by this law to cause her to be put to death."
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I asked my daughter to comment on the two books, since her memory is probably the freshest on the comparison of these two versions. She says that overall Nesbit sticks closer to the main story, with less side story, while she liked Lamb because of the use of Shakespeare's words which she really felt eased her into Shakespeare very nicely. And she thought Lamb included more detail and more of the side stories which she enjoyed. Hope this is a help!
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Thanks, Jen!
I do remember reading a story from Lamb to my dd a few years ago and it was a bit much for her. She would have been in 2nd grade at the time. We got through it, but only by breaking into several day's reading.
I think I'll try Nesbit first this year and see how that goes.
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Continuing the tangent on Nesbit, does anyone know the differences between all the different titles on Shakespeare?
::Beautiful Stories from Shakespeare
::The Best of Shakespeare: Retellings of 10 Classic Plays
::The Children's Shakespeare
::Shakespeare's Stories for Young Readers
::Green Tiger's Illustrated Stories from Shakespeare
::Children's Stories From Shakespeare
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You're right, Jenn, these are all different versions of Edith Nesbit's original book, The Children's Shakespeare published in 1897.
::Beautiful Stories from Shakespeare is the version that is my favorite. Illustrations are done in pen and ink by Max Bihn. The original copyright is 1907. The edition I have, Smithmark books published 1997, is a quality reprint with cream color heavyweight pages, in the original typeset with violet page borders and b/w illustrations by Bihn throughout. This 1907 edition is actually a reprint of Nesbit's original 1897 edition, and that's probably why it's my favorite other than the quality reprint by Smithmark - it is true to the original language.
::The Best of Shakespeare: Retellings of 10 Classic Plays
...is a newer printing. I've never seen it so I can't compare the two, but I see additional "contributors"...so my guess is the language has been "modernized".
::The Children's Shakespeare
...uses "totally modern english". Contains 11 of the original 20 stories.
::Shakespeare's Stories for Young Readers
...contains 12 of the 20, but I don't know anything more about it. Is the language altered? I don't think so. I don't see other contributors listed - so it looks like this one is just abbreviated in the sense that it doesn't contain all of Nesbit's stories.
::Green Tiger's Illustrated Stories from Shakespeare
...I believe these are Nesbit's original stories, though I don't know if all of them are printed in this book. But, it's a different illustrator with more modern illustrations. Green Tiger Press is the publisher.
::Children's Stories From Shakespeare
....this is a reprint of a 1912 edition of E. Nesbit's stories. The difference is the illustrator, John Bacon. You can see the book here. It's the only other book I'd take a chance on besides the 1907 reprint/republished in 1997 book.
Hope that's a help, Jenn.
EDITED...to correct my mistake! I have been calling E. Nesbit, EVELYN....but her name is EDITH.
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Big help, Jen. I was trying to sort it out last night and it was a bit tedious.
There was one more edition, Twenty Stories...Homeschool Edition. Ever see it?
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4Real Forums : The Arts in the Everyday
Topic: Starting with Shakespeare
