{"id":1147,"date":"2022-09-08T06:00:57","date_gmt":"2022-09-08T10:00:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/amblesideschools.org\/?p=1147"},"modified":"2025-04-11T15:23:10","modified_gmt":"2025-04-11T19:23:10","slug":"watchwords-read-aloud","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/amblesideschools.org\/watchwords-read-aloud\/","title":{"rendered":"Watchwords &#8211; Read Aloud"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wpb-content-wrapper\"><p>[vc_row full_width=&#8221;stretch_row_content&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;true&#8221; custom_padding_t=&#8221;30&#8243; custom_padding_b=&#8221;30&#8243; row_hide_sm=&#8221;yes&#8221; row_hide_md=&#8221;yes&#8221; row_hide_xs=&#8221;yes&#8221; css_zindex=&#8221;999&#8243; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1706736113176{background-color: #faf5eb !important;}&#8221;][vc_column]<div class=\"templatera_shortcode\"><div class=\"container-fluid row_section vc_row_cp_lr_15 vc_row_cp_t_0 vc_row_cp_b_0\"><div  class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid vc_column-gap-15 rdy_vc_row-o-equal-height rdy_vc_row-flex vc_row-6953b1787f96f369450484\"   style=' text-align:left; z-index:0;'><div class=\"row-container container-fluid\"><div class=\"row-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-4 vc_column_container_6953b1787fa89170205565\" style=\"z-index:0\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner \"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\r\n\t<div class=\"wpb_single_image wpb_single_image_1 wpb_content_element vc_align_left\">\r\n\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/amblesideschools.org\/\" target=\"_self\"><div class=\"vc_single_image-wrapper   vc_box_border_grey\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1458\" height=\"217\" src=\"https:\/\/amblesideschools.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/ASI-Logo.Horiz_.RGB-150r.png\" class=\"vc_single_image-img attachment-full\" alt=\"\" title=\"ASI Logo.Horiz.RGB 150r\" \/><\/div><\/a>\r\n\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t<\/div>\r\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-8 vc_column_container_6953b1787ffde379674240 column_vertical_align_bottom\" style=\"text-align:right;z-index:0\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner \"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t<div class=\"wpb_raw_code wpb_content_element wpb_raw_html\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t  <style>\n\/* Style The Dropdown Button *\/\n.dropbtn2 {\n  background-color: #faf5eb;\n  color: white;\n  padding: 10px 14px 10px 14px;\n  text-align: center;\n  font-size: 12px;\n  border: none;\n  cursor: pointer;\n}\n\n\/* The container <div> - needed to position the dropdown content *\/\n.dropdown {\n  position: relative;\n  display: inline-block;\n}\n\n\/* Dropdown Content (Hidden by Default) *\/\n.dropdown-content {\n  display: none;\n  position: absolute;\n  text-align: left;\n  background-color: #f9f9f9;\n  min-width: 100px;\n  box-shadow: 0px 8px 16px 0px rgba(0,0,0,0.2);\n  z-index: 10000;\n}\n\n\/* Links inside the dropdown *\/\n.dropdown-content a {\n  color: black;\n  padding: 12px 16px;\n  text-decoration: none;\n  display: block;\n}\n\n\/* Change color of dropdown links on hover *\/\n.dropdown-content a:hover {background-color: #f1f1f1}\n\n\/* Show the dropdown menu on hover *\/\n.dropdown:hover .dropdown-content {\n  display: block;\n}\n<\/div> \n<\/style>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t<div class=\"wpb_raw_code wpb_content_element wpb_raw_html\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"dropdown\">\n  <a href=\"https:\/\/amblesideschools.org\/about-us\/\"><button class=\"dropbtn2\"><h5 style=\"color:black;\">ABOUT US<\/h5><\/button><\/a>\n  <div class=\"dropdown-content\">\n    <a href=\"https:\/\/amblesideschools.org\/philosophy-of-education\/\">Philosophy<\/a>\n    <a href=\"https:\/\/amblesideschools.org\/history\/\">History<\/a>\n    <a href=\"https:\/\/amblesideschools.org\/faith-commitment\/\">Faith Commitment<\/a>\n    <a href=\"https:\/\/amblesideschools.org\/accreditation\/\">Accreditation<\/a>\n    <a 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Mason<\/a>\n    <a href=\"https:\/\/amblesideschools.org\/blog\/\">Articles & Magazine<\/a>\n    <a href=\"https:\/\/amblesideschools.org\/the-ambleside-difference\/\">Video Series<\/a>\n    <a href=\"https:\/\/amblesideschools.sharepoint.com\/sites\/ASIAllMember\">Member Resources<\/a>\n  <\/div>\n<\/div> \n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>[\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row full_width=&#8221;stretch_row_content&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;true&#8221; custom_padding_t=&#8221;45&#8243; custom_padding_b=&#8221;45&#8243;][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/4&#8243;][vc_single_image source=&#8221;featured_image&#8221; img_size=&#8221;300&#215;300&#8243;][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;30&#8243;][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][rdy_button text=&#8221;Download Watchwords PDF&#8221; font_size=&#8221;13&#8243; margin_top=&#8221;0&#8243; margin_bottom=&#8221;0&#8243; background=&#8221;#a94425&#8243; background_hover=&#8221;#cd8029&#8243; border_radius=&#8221;0&#8243; link=&#8221;url:https%3A%2F%2Famblesideschools.org%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2022%2F09%2FASI-Watchwords-Read-Aloud.pdf|target:_blank&#8221;][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;30&#8243;][vc_separator width_in_percentages=&#8221;yes&#8221;][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;30&#8243;][vc_column_text]Browse more Ambleside Schools International <strong>Resources<\/strong>.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;30&#8243;][vc_separator width_in_percentages=&#8221;yes&#8221;][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;30&#8243;]<div class=\"templatera_shortcode\"><div class=\"container row_section vc_row_cp_lr_15 vc_row_cp_t_0\"><div  class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid vc_column-gap-30 vc_row-6953b178810fc143617187\"   style=' text-align:left; z-index:0;'><div class=\"row-container container-fluid\"><div class=\"row-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-12 vc_column_container_6953b178811ae456905360\" style=\"z-index:0\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner \"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><div class=\"vc_custom_heading vc_custom_heading_6953b17881300780050887\" ><h5 style=\"font-size: 17px;color: #000000;text-align: left\"><span class=\"hilight\"  ><a href=\"https:\/\/amblesideschools.org\/resources\/\">Resource Library<\/a><\/span><\/h5><\/div><div class=\"vc_empty_space  vc_empty_space_2\"   style=\"height: 10px\" ><span class=\"vc_empty_space_inner\"><\/span><\/div>\r\n<div class=\"vc_custom_heading vc_custom_heading_6953b1788146b731331943\" ><h5 style=\"font-size: 17px;color: #000000;text-align: left\"><span class=\"hilight\"  ><a href=\"https:\/\/amblesideschools.org\/charlotte-mason\/\">Charlotte M. Mason<\/a><\/span><\/h5><\/div><div class=\"vc_empty_space  vc_empty_space_3\"   style=\"height: 10px\" ><span class=\"vc_empty_space_inner\"><\/span><\/div>\r\n<div class=\"vc_custom_heading vc_custom_heading_6953b17881570377556832\" ><h5 style=\"font-size: 17px;color: #000000;text-align: left\"><span class=\"hilight\"  ><a href=\"https:\/\/amblesideschools.org\/blog\/\">Articles<\/a><\/span><\/h5><\/div><div class=\"vc_empty_space  vc_empty_space_4\"   style=\"height: 10px\" ><span class=\"vc_empty_space_inner\"><\/span><\/div>\r\n<div class=\"vc_custom_heading vc_custom_heading_6953b17881686082675983\" ><h5 style=\"font-size: 17px;color: #000000;text-align: left\"><span class=\"hilight\"  ><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amblesideschools.com\/main\/educator-support\" target=\"_blank\">Members<\/a><\/span><\/h5><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>[\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;3\/4&#8243;][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h4><a href=\"https:\/\/amblesideschools.org\/blog\/\"><span style=\"color: #003865;\">&gt; Return to Articles<\/span><\/a><\/h4>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;30&#8243;][vc_custom_heading text=&#8221;Watchwords \u2014 Read Aloud&#8221; use_theme_fonts=&#8221;yes&#8221; font_container=&#8221;tag:h1|font_size:30|text_align:left|color:%23020202&#8243;][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;30&#8243;][vc_separator width_in_percentages=&#8221;yes&#8221;][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;30&#8243;][vc_column_text css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1662414006365{padding-right: 30px !important;padding-left: 30px !important;}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #63513d;\">There are few stronger family bonds than this habit of devoting an occasional hour to reading aloud. <sup>\u00a01<\/sup><\/span><\/h1>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;30&#8243;][vc_separator width_in_percentages=&#8221;yes&#8221;][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;30&#8243;][vc_column_text css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1646686528650{padding-right: 30px !important;padding-left: 30px !important;}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">\u2014\u00a0 MARYELLEN ST.CYR \u2014<\/h2>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;25&#8243;][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<p class=\"rtejustify\">Charlotte Mason speaks of the family read aloud as a habit, 1-2 evenings each week for an hour. &#8220;In the first place, to get information is <em>not<\/em> the object of the family reading, but to make the young people acquainted with the flavor of, to give them a <em>taste<\/em> for a real &#8220;<em>book<\/em>&#8220;\u2013\u2013that is, roughly speaking, a work of so much literary merit, that it should be read and valued for the sake of that alone, whatever its subject-matter.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p class=\"rteindent1 rtejustify\">This rule makes a clean sweep of the literature to be found in nine houses out of ten\u2013\u2013twaddling storybooks, funny or &#8220;good&#8221;; worthless novels; second-rate writing, whether in works of history or of general literature; compendiums, abstracts, short sketches of great lives, useful information in whatever form. None of these should be admitted \u2026 and, indeed, the less they are <em>read<\/em> at all, the better.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p class=\"rtejustify\">Mason contends for the <em>real;<\/em> real books impress upon the reader embodied ideas through interesting characters and human relations, well-chosen language, literary in nature, and themes central to life, embedded in story. This shared time of reading aloud and active listening provides a formative time for each family member, often revelational, as the text stimulates thought and discussion.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p class=\"rteindent1 rtejustify\">The practice is pleasant at the time, and pleasant in the retrospect, it gives occasion for much bright talk, merry and wise, and quickens family affection by means of intellectual sympathy. Indeed, the wonder is that any family should neglect such a simple means of pure enjoyment, and of moral, as well as intellectual culture. But this, of reading aloud, is not a practice to be taken up and laid down at pleasure. Let the habit drop, and it is difficult to take it up again, because everyone has in the meantime struck a vein of intellectual entertainment for himself\u2013\u2013trashy stuff, it may be,\u2013\u2013which makes him an unwilling listener to the family &#8220;book.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Questions to Consider<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>How can our family create a family read aloud with opportunities \u201cfor bright talk, merry and wise, and family affection by means of intellectual sympathy?<\/li>\n<li>What hinders us?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;30&#8243;][vc_separator width_in_percentages=&#8221;yes&#8221;][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;30&#8243;][vc_column_text]<sup>1 <\/sup>Charlotte, Mason, <em>Formation of Character<\/em>, (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 1989), 220[\/vc_column_text][vc_raw_html]JTVCeWFycHAlNUQ=[\/vc_raw_html][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Charlotte Mason speaks of the family read aloud as a habit, 1-2 evenings each week for an hour. 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