Teaching Literature (Plus Book List) with Dr. Laura Eidt and Robin Johnston (pt. 2)

Guest Biographies

Dr. Laura Eidt received her BA in English Literature and Linguistics from the University of Hamburg (Germany) and her MA and Ph.D. in Comparative Literature from the University of Texas at Austin. She has been teaching Spanish, German, Comparative Literature, and Humanities at the University of Dallas since 2006 and has published on German and Spanish poetry and on ekphrasis. For many years she taught an applied foreign language pedagogy class that sent students to local area schools to teach their language to elementary children, and she was a mentor at a bilingual school in Dallas for four years. Her courses include classes on foreign language pedagogy, teaching classical children’s literature, and great works in the modern world. She is the faculty advisor for UD's Classical Curriculum team and is currently writing a Latin curriculum for K-5rd grade.

Robin Johnston

Robin Ann Johnston is a daughter, sister, wife, mother of five, grandmother of four (so far,) and a convert to Catholicism.  She graduated from Loyola University of New Orleans in 1985, cum laude, with a bachelor's degree in Cognitive Psychology and a minor in music. When her children were all old enough to go to school, she returned to the workforce as a teacher for Mount St. Michael Catholic School (MSMCS) in south Dallas. Robin taught mostly ELAR and World History during her years there, for grades ranging from 4th to 12th. As the lead middle-school teacher, she was instrumental in transitioning the school’s culture and curriculum instruction to a classical model. During those decades, Robin was given the “Work of Heart” award for excellence in teaching (twice) by the Catholic Diocese of Dallas.  After retiring from teaching full time, she began writing classical ELAR and Humanities curriculum lessons and novel study guides. Robin’s passion is for igniting students’ hearts with a love for learning and helping teachers have a toolbox of ideas that are easy to use while making a real difference in the classroom.  She is now working on a master's degree in Humanities and Classical Education. In her free time, she likes to craft, read, swim, and, along with her husband of 35 years, babysit the grandchildren. 

Show Notes

In this episode, Adrienne, Robin, and Laura continue their conversation on teaching literature. They delve deep into the art of narration, responding to common objections, and ways to use narration as a life-giving assessment.     

Some topics and ideas in this episode include:

• How to Assess Narrations
• Read-Aloud Recommendations
• Modeling Delight and Play Through Narration 
• What is a “living book”?
• Is Narration Just a Tool? 
• What About Violence in Fairy Tales? 
• Book Recommendations for Pre-K - Elementary, Middle School, and High School  

Resources and Books & Mentioned In This Episode

• The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
• Institutes of Oratory: or, Education of an Orator by Quintilian 

Pre-K - 5 

• Eric Carle 
• Jan Brett
• Tasha Tudor 
• Jerry Pickney 
• Astrid Lindgren (Dr. Eidt’s favorite) 
• George MacDonald 
  • The Princess and the Goblin (Librivox Recording) 
  • The Wise Women 
  • Undine 
• The Complete Tales of Winnie The Pooh by A.A. Milne 
  • Audio Drama with Judy Dench, Stephen Fry, et al. 
• Rabbit Ears Radio 
• Barbara Cooney 
• Ingrid D'Aulaires
• William Steig 
• Beatrix Potter