Enjoying Freddie this weekend! It's baptism time! What a joy to bring this little guy into the Church.
This week's reading:
Random and fun:
- I would stay at this castle.
- Soccer and the tango.
- I've always been fascinated — as who isn't! — with the cracking of the Enigma machine and code.
- I think you will enjoy these family fun night ideas.
Serious takes on raising children:
- Anthony Esolen on the real reason to teach children to read, and guess what, it doesn't involve jumping through hoops set up by test-makers.
- A wise priest gives the key to holiness in youth.
This week we're a bit heavy on spiritual reading, but you won't mind:
- Two rules from dear St. Augustine on reading Scripture.
- Is it a sin to be boring? Spoiler: Yes.
- Are you feeling the “inner ugly”?
Please join Elizabeth Foss and me doing a podcast about Chapter 5 of The Little Oratory: A Beginner's Guide to Praying in the Home. We took some time off but we're back talking about making a rule of life that really suits you. And do remember to add your very own Little Oratory to the link up. Visit the others and see what you think!
From the archives:
Now that you have the grill out for real, try Eggplant Obsession. No, really.
Horizontal Surface Management in the Kitchen.
~We’d like to be clear that, when we direct you to a site via one of our links, we’re not necessarily endorsing the whole site, but rather just referring you to the individual post in question (unless we state otherwise).~
Tamara says
I’m looking forward to reading these links!
I love your Eggplant Obsession! My husband is allergic to eggplant so when I make it, I have to eat the whole thing by myself! Poor me! 😉
Barbara says
I enjoyed (especially) the article on the Enigma machine. Anyone who enjoys British television should definitely catch Bletchley Circle (a series about a small group of women who were cryptologists, and after the war they found themselves solving crimes).
Enjoy the weekend with your sweet grandson — celebrating a most glorious sacrament!
Terri says
Lovely links this morning. I especially enjoyed the “inner ugly” piece–beautiful! I’m going to try to get some of my girlfriends to stay in one of those castles with me–so as to help me avoid the sin of boring 😉
CarlynB says
I have several comments:
1. That baby is PRECIOUS! May God grant him (and his sweet family) many, many years.
2. I immediately thought “Family reunion!” when I looked at the article about the chateaux for rent.
We spent part of our summer vacation touring the Biltmore, George Vanderbilt’s version of a European chateau. It was fascinating, and definitely worth the time and money if you are ever in the Asheville, NC area.
3. Amen, Anthony Esolen.
4. Thank you for posting the link to the piece about the “inner ugly.” I needed that.
Janet says
Beautiful picture. Quite captivating!
Joana says
Leila,
I completely share Esolen’s opinion on the sort of language we often have to endure from institutional sources (unfortunately, it seems to affect not just the US). I would, however, like to hear your opinion on how to help children interpret what they read, which is really the concern behind the Alaska directive (albeit the dreadful language, which I always take a sign of intellectual insecurity). Although for some kids, reading and interpreting seems to come effortlessly, that is not true for many kids – a fact which is clearly reflected in the functional illiteracy rates worldwide. At the primary level, there is a clear divide between schools that teach mainly phonics and those that teach using the whole-language method, which from my experience affects not just how children learn how to read but also the type of work they do. For example, I believe the former focus more heavily on getting the students to answer simple interpretation questions correctly (not just in terms of content, but also in terms of structure and spelling), whereas the latter would adopt a more unstructured approach. Now, this would perhaps seem dull to Esolen, but my honest question is whether or not this helps run-of-the-mill students write better, interpret better and therefore communicate better later on – even be able to enjoy great works of literature later on. I feel like I’m running in circles and can’t really make up my mind as to what is the better approach.
Sorry for the rambling.
Joana
Joana says
Sorry, I’ve just noticed a couple of mistakes in my comment. Funny for a post about reading and writing. 🙂
Leila says
Dear Joana,
It’s really hard to be happy with your writing when you’re writing about writing. 🙂
I have written about the connection between reading and writing at length. I can’t give you the links right now because I’m on the road (don’t worry I’m the passenger at the moment).
But if you look at the post categories on the sidebar you will see them. I wrote about a certain reader that I think does the best job of any I’ve seen at teaching what you are talking about.
I will say that the goal is a long-term one. Anyone who expects results before the upper level of high school – for most kids- is deluded.
The goal of teaching reading should be – guess what- teaching reading! Giving the tools to read and the joy of words.
The type if comprehension discussed in Esolen’s piece comes gradually and with patient formation.
A combination of tried-and-true methods and trust in the eagerness of the child when given excellent material will do the trick. Eventually.
Leane says
Loved the links! Thank you!