“The more that you read, the more things you know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” Dr Seuss
At Generations Christian Homeschool, we use Literature-Based Learning for subjects such as Social Studies and Language Arts. By reading literature (fiction, non-fiction, biographies, plays, etc) rather than only textbooks students learn by entering into the story of the characters. They learn information while also building empathy and a broader understanding of how events are experienced by those living in them.
Question: So give me an example? What will my child be reading and learning? Does this kind of reading really achieve the school’s goal for academic excellence?
Answer: Sure! At the lower levels, students will read a variety of age-appropriate books hand-picked by our excellent teachers. Some of which will be engaging biographies of missionaries around the world. These books help our students connect the faith they see at home with the story of Jesus going out to people in homes around the world. Middle School looks like learning about the life of two Sudanese children in A Long Walk to Water (Linda Sue Park). This will be followed by meaningful discussions and writing assignments that allow the students to connect in personal ways with the real-world experiences of Sudanese families and cultures. In High School, it might be reading Charles Colson’s autobiography Born Again and understanding that even recent events are history. Reading first-hand accounts like Colson’s or Frederick Douglass’ also helps us think more clearly about how history is written and helps us to engage with authors in a way that is active, rather than passive. As Elbert Hubbard has said, “I do not read a book; I hold a conversation with the author.” At Generations Christian Homeschool, we want our students to know how to be active in the conversations around them.
“Once you have read a book you care about, some part of it is always with you.” - Louis
L’Amour
“A parent or a teacher has only his lifetime; a good book can teach forever.” - L’Amour
“Once you learn to read you will be forever free.” - Frederick Douglass
“We read to know we are not alone.” - William Nicholson
“Books and doors are the same thing. You go through and into another world.” - Jeannette Winterson
“You learn most things by looking. But reading gives you understanding. Reading will make you free.” - Paul Rand
“I am a part of everything I have ever read.” - Theodore Roosevelt
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