Although many modern educators do away with standards and rules to encourage greater participation among students, this abandonment of standards does not encourage participation, but laxity. Children that are aware of the standards before they begin are not discouraged in reciting. We should always in every subject strive to instill in our children the ethic of putting forth our best effort in every circumstance. Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. Recitation begins in 1st grade or earlier with the alphabet and counting to ten or a hundred.
Students can take the floor formally once a week or even daily as part of memorization drill.
Even if it is only drill, the enunciation should still be precise. Recitation is a worthwhile exercise to continue throughout the grammar stage, with the length and the complexity of the passages or poetry increasing as the child increases in his skills. Doing over does not have to mean the same as failure unless the child is made to feel that it is. In our homeschool, we prefer to remember that practice makes perfect, and doing again is one more chance to practice towards perfection. Once a child has learned to read, give him regular opportunities to read aloud.