M. Myers- Recitation Literacy

From reading this blog, I understand that Recitation Literacy was meant to suit the social environment and needs of the time. However, after all that I have experienced at Kent State and from my few experiences in the classroom, I cannot fathom how anyone thought that recitation meant understanding. Experience based learning was second or third in the hierarchy. I can picture this classroom scenario, with students standing and reciting lines or writing lines repeatedly. That would be a horrible way to learn, because memorization means next to nothing.

I can remember going to a bible camp that would give you a candy bar if you could recite every book of the bible. Well, I did it... but I can remember about 1/4 of the books today. I have no idea what these books were about of what the names meant (but at least I got my Hershey bar).

I think that recitation still exists. Diagramming sentences and copying sentences is probably still done. However, I really hope we all know that experience and hands-on-learning is how we can help our students understand and apply meaning. Teachers are no longer authoritative sources of all wisdom, but guides to learning and discovery.