This series of literature readers is edited by the president of the University of Chicago Harry Pratt Judson, as to supply almost the only reading of many children, and stimulate their taste for good literature and awaken interest in a wide range of subjects.
In the Graded Literature Readers good literature has been presented as early as possible, and the classical tales and fables are largely used. Nature study has received due attention. The lessons on scientific subjects, though necessarily simple at first, preserve always a strict accuracy.
These books have been prepared with the hearty sympathy and very practical assistance of many distinguished educators in different part of the United States, including some of the most successful teachers of reading in primary, intermediated, and advanced grades.
We believe that Graded Literature Readers disclose a broader knowledge of literature, better taste and judgment in its selections.
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A great consideration governing the choice of all selections has been that they shall interest children. The difficulty of learning to read is to minimized when the interest is aroused. School readers, which supply almost the only reading of many children, should stimulate a taste for good literature and awaken interest in a wide range of subjects.
Harry Pratt Judson (1849 – 1927) was an American educator and historian, born at Jamestown, New York, and educated at Williams College. He taught in the Troy High School in Troy, New York in 1870-1885 and was professor of history and lecturer on pedagogic at the University of Minnesota in 1885-1892. At the University of Chicago he became professor of political science and head dean of the colleges in 1892 and head of the political science department and dean of the faculties of arts, literature, and science in 1894.
He served as the acting president of the University of Chicago between 1906 and 1907 and as the president of the University of Chicago from 1907 until 1923. Judson became a member of the General Education Board in 1906 and of the Rockefeller Foundation in 1913. He edited a series of readers for school students, and wrote some great books.
出版《美国语文》之后,便想到应该让国内孩子读些经典的文学读物,让他们从Story English /Interesting English 向 Literature English / Good English 过度。后来找到了这套芝大第二任校长主编的分级文学读本,全书内容同样以课文形式,便于学生利用零碎时间阅读,甚至大声朗读。分级读本,更有利于孩子水平的提高。
也许侧重点不同吧。美国语文如果能认真读下来是不错的。我现在担心贪多嚼不烂。各种读物如何搭配使用,需要合理安排。