Yes, that is really the title of this review: Linguistic Development through Poetry Memorization. It is not a very catchy title but this compact spiral bound book is a powerful tool in helping our children develop better language skills. The basic idea behind this Andrew Pudewa creation is that children need a foundation for correct and sophisticated speech patterns. Our children are constantly surrounded by slang, sloppy speech, and improper grammar. This program strives to provide food for the ears of our young ones and help them build up their natural ability to memorize.
If you want to view an introductory video on YouTube about this product here is the LINK.
My boys just think this is a fun way to start out our day. We listen to the accompanying CD to hear Mr. Pudewa recite the poems under study. We listen to each poem and then work on memorizing it. Some of the selections are short and some are longer. A few are familiar but many are new to our family. There are serious poems and silly poems. This program emphasizes “mastery learning” or memorizing every word “in its correct place, being able to recite the poems with fluency, speed, pronunciation, and inflection.”
There are charts to copy off and use to keep track of your memory work. There are four levels included in this one volume and depending on your child’s age and aptitude, this book will carry over from year to year. My boys just started working through this program this school year as high school students and they have almost completed the first level memorized perfectly.
Spiral bound book, 3 CDs, and charts to copy for your own use
The first few poems are short and will give your child confidence as you begin this program. As you work through the poems, memorizing starts to get a little easier. The plan suggests the “Every Poem Every Day” plan where you recite every poem you know every day until you master all twenty poems. This isn’t as time consuming as it sounds. We allow ten minutes per day and we can easily get them all in if we focus.
Some poems that are included in this book:
My Shadow by Robert Louis Stevenson
Who Has Seen the Wind by Christina Rossetti
Jabberwocky by Lewis Carroll
The Charge of the Light Brigade by Alfred Lord Tennyson
The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost
I have found that our work in this book has carried over into our Bible scripture memorization as well. We seem to be quickly working through this year’s list of verses. Besides the benefits already mentioned, I see my children really enjoying the ability to recite for fun in front of their siblings, their father, and friends. It is a pleasurable experience to be able to entertain others with funny or lovely poetry. I also see a difference in their writing and vocabulary after using this program even for a short period of time. The patterns and words they are putting into their minds through the poetry memorization process are coming out in their other schoolwork.
I highly recommend purchasing the book and the CD to make your life easier. We have found that listening to a “professional” recite the poems before we learn them to be beneficial. We can imitate his inflection and pronunciation in our reciting of the poems.
I wish we would have known to start earlier with this valuable product since it has become an important piece of our language course. All ages and abilities can successfully use this program!
Edit to add on 1/8/10
Jimmie commented after I posted this review that at $65 for the program it was a little expensive. Here is what I commented in reply:
Here is how I think:
Two boys and probably three years to get through the entire book. $65 divided by 6 is about $10 per year per child…not so bad when you consider it that way.
Also I really, really enjoy having the CDs so we can listen first and then have them memorize. It is a very Suzuki way to learn. You hear the words in your ear, you say them with your mouth and then as time goes by they are used in their writing. I see it as a way to program great speech and grammar into their minds.
This is so much more than memorization.
I purchased my set from Rainbow Resource and waited until I had a $150 order so I didn’t pay shipping. (Plus for those of us in the states, resale is very HIGH for IEW materials.)
I think all of the IEW materials are pricey but looking back over the last four years of using their stuff……priceless.
Written by Barb-Harmony Art mom. She also blogs at http://harmonyartmom.blogspot.com and her business is found at http://www.harmonyfinearts.com. I would love for you to join us for the Outdoor Hour Challenges: http://handbookofnaturestudy.blogspot.com.
I will strongly consider this program as my children have suddenly started to add, um, like, you know and stuff to everything they say.
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I’ve looked at this program several times contemplating whether to make the purchase or not. Your post has helped tremendously
Thanks
.-= Darla´s last blog ..2009 has gone =-.
You do make it sound wonderful, Barb! My Sprite has suddenly become a hater of memorization. I’ve never emphasized it much, and now I see that it’s gotten me to this terrible extreme. Yikes!
I’m wondering, where can I buy this (will go search) and what ages is it appropriate for (will go find the answers).
.-= Jimmie´s last blog ..New Year, New Calendar, New Art =-.
Yikes! It’s $65! That’s pricey!
.-= Jimmie´s last blog ..New Year, New Calendar, New Art =-.
Jimmie,
Here is how I think:
Two boys and probably three years to get through the entire book. $65 divided by 6 is about $10 per year per child…not so bad when you consider it that way.
Also I really, really enjoy having the CDs so we can listen first and then have them memorize. It is a very Suzuki way to learn. You hear the words in your ear, you say them with your mouth and then as time goes by they are used in their writing. I see it as a way to program great speech and grammar into their minds.
This is so much more than memorization.
I purchased my set from Rainbow Resource and waited until I had a $150 order so I didn’t pay shipping. (Plus for those of us in the states, resale is very HIGH for IEW materials.)
I think all of the IEW materials are pricey but looking back over the last four years of using their stuff……priceless.
Barb-Harmony Art Mom
I went to see Andrew speak earlier this year in Phoenix. I had no intentions on buying anything because I never liked his web site or him on the you tube videos. I was just curious because so many people use his products.
After listening to him for an hour I was rolling in my seat and convinced that I must have this poetry program. ( he did not push any of his products, just inspired people to read great literature and poetry). I thought it was expensive but bought it anyway. My son is now on his 8th poem and loves it. He did poetry memorization the year before in FLL and hated it! We bought the writing program next. My son who loathed writing keeps asking when are we watching the next video because Andrew is so funny. Andrew is great for boys. My son loves writing now and is proud of all of the poems he has memorized. His little buddies are even impressed.
I highly recommend it.
Angela,
I too was convinced after meeting Andrew at a homeschool convention. He really is one of my “mentors” now when it comes to working with my boys. I feel like he has given me a great gift that I can share with my children. I needed convincing to purchase the IEW materials but after listening to his convention parts, I did not hesitate but walked straight out to the booth and made my purchase. I am still using the materials four years later. The concepts work for younger children, older children, and I believe they have even improved my writing skills. Best of all, we are all confident about our writing.
I could talk a long time about IEW and their products but best to leave that to another post. 🙂
Thanks for sharing your experience.
Barb
.-= Barb-Harmony Art Mom´s last blog ..Winter Nature Study Ebook Giveaway Winners! =-.
I, too, heard Mr. Pudewa speak at a convention and rushed straight to the booth to buy the writing and spelling. The next year, I bought more writing and poetry. The next, the advanced spelling and more writing stuff. I’m hooked. I have just about every product that they sell up to date, and we use/have used them all. They have been the best purchases that I have made for my homeschool hands down!
Jimmie, I will say that I do not have the Poetry CD. I listened to a friends and decided against it. I think he says the poems too slow. I like to say the poems myself with the children so that I can learn them too. ; )
Another reason to miss homeschool! I enjoy “keeping up” through your site and a few others, just in case…. 🙂
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Sounds great! Could you just buy the book and not the CD’s Do you think the CD’s are necessary?
We just started adding poems to our memory box this year. I’m amazed at how much my son is enjoying them! This looks like a great program. Thanks for sharing this with us at Trivium Tuesdays!
I wrote an entire book of poems about recess, to appeal to children under IEP’s or otherwise linguistically challenged, and this encourages me to somehow get it published (need to create a catchy title). Thank you for this information; it is vital for children’s linguistic and semantic development to read rhyming poetry (IMHO). My website is not yet up and running, but I’m getting there!