Why you should teach using real books
A savvy homeschool teacher with a library of good books (from your bookshelf at home or the public library down the street) has the potential to teach almost anything. And with your or your library’s collection of excellent children’s literature, it’s even better.
Using real books has the power to transform your kids’ lives. This is why you should ditch the textbooks and teach with real books in your homeschool instead.
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My adult children still remember several of the hundreds of incredible stories we read during their homeschool years. From the nail-biting true story, The Courage of Sarah Noble, to the hysterical wordplay in The Phantom Tollbooth, to the harrowing, heart-rending but ultimately redemptive WWII story Enemy Brothers, our individual and family read-aloud time was our favorite part of homeschooling.
And you may not realize it, but gripping, emotional stories notably impact memory. When you add an emotional component to learning, it helps make it stick! Excellent literature is essential to learning.
And if you want to bring your kids’ homeschool education to life, make sure to teach as many subjects as you can with excellent literature.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Not Only can Real Books Whisk Your Kids Away on Unforgettable Adventures, but Excellent Books Teach us so Much More
- Why You Should Use Real Books (and Literature-based Curriculum) to Teach Academics
- How to Use Real Books When You Teach Your Children Language Arts
- Using History and Science Books for Teaching Language Arts is a Painless Way to Review
 Not Only Can Real Books Whisk Your Kids Away on Unforgettable Adventures, but Excellent Books Teach us so Much More!
Excellent children’s literature can:
And these days when so many kids keep better company with their screens than with flesh and blood, kids need all the help they can get learning how people think and why they do what they do.
Boost their social intelligence by reading.
Now that we’ve covered the crucial stuff, why should you use real books to teach history and other subjects? In other words, why should you choose a literature-based homeschool curriculum?
Why You Should Use Real Books (and Literature-based curriculum) to Teach Academics
Real books, also called living books, are books written by authors with knowledge and passion for their subjects. This includes nonfiction as well as fiction books. And there’s room for fiction and non-fiction when teaching history, science, and other academic subjects.
What’s unique about these books is that they are often full of stories. And stories are what we remember, not facts and dates!
An excellent history book, full of stories about real people and events, can open your children’s worlds!
A good story can transport them to faraway lands and long-ago places. It can immerse your kids in the burning sand of the Judean Desert and the terror and lawlessness of the French Revolution much more effectively than any textbook.
The same goes for a living science book. Your child can experience the excitement of Benjamin Franklin’s kite experiment with electricity during a thunderstorm.
Or be a virtual explorer with Lewis and Clark during their incredible journey of discovery of strange new plants and animals and different tribes of Native Americans across the western United States.
Not to mention how much top-notch activity books can add fascinating hands-on activities making these subjects come alive to your learners.
How to Use Real Books When You Teach Your Children Language Arts
No matter what age your children are, using history, science, and other academic books to teach language arts is a winning combination.
Yes, phonics readers certainly have their place to help your child learn to read. But as soon as you can, work in attention-grabbing stories at your children’s level that will draw them in emotionally and intellectually.
And did you know that your kids’ history and science books could do double duty and be used for teaching reading, spelling, vocabulary, copy work, handwriting, grammar, and composition?
Related Post: 15 Creative Language Arts Lessons Using Real Books
There’s something about using a published book of well-put-together words when teaching English, grammar, and writing skills that screams authenticity and meaning to kids. As opposed to slapping down endless grammar worksheets for your kids. (Yawn.)
Not only are books more effective for teaching language arts than dull worksheets. There’s another fantastic benefit to using history and science books to teach language arts.Â
 Using History and Science Books for Teaching Language Arts is a Painless Way to Review
Teaching language arts using your history and science books allows your kids to review what they’ve read and learned about in history and science. Â Typical language arts assignments using history and science books could include:
Typical topics from history and science that would be perfect for language arts assignments:
*This is from our 1st Grade Daily Lesson Plans
Homeschooling using real books can help you bring your kids’ homeschool education to life, and also maximizes your time. Win-win! So start using real books to homeschool, at least with history.
Happy Homeschooling!
I wholeheartedly agree with how important physical books are to support your child’s learning. Even if you don’t homeschool! We’re huge bookworms in our family, and I found myself nodding along to all your points. Thank you for encouraging families!
You’re so welcome, Kelly. I’m so glad you agree about the importance of books in our kids’ learning. Thanks for visiting and taking the time to comment. And thank YOU for encouraging families!