Literature-based learning works! It's also called the natural approach to language arts. In this episode, product specialist Lynn Woodley explains the ins and outs of how a natural lit-based education works. She also tackles the common objections to this style of homeschooling, demonstrating that it produces children and teens who can think critically and write expressively.
★★★ LISTENER COUPON CODE Request your coupon code to use on any purchase at bookshark.com.
QUOTABLES
Janna: "And I think one of our goals is to create lifelong learners. And so as we're going through this process, I think when parents are uncomfortable with something that they don't quite understand it's a beautiful opportunity to say, you know what? I'm not quite sure. Let me look back and let me see what my instructions are. Let me see where I need to take a step back and maybe readjust how I'm explaining it to you. My children are so good at telling me that I'm not doing it right. And instead of being offended, or taken aback by that, I've really had to humble myself. I think homeschooling and humility should really be synonymous to know that you're right, I made a mistake there. I'm going to go ahead and do some research because as an adult I am still a lifelong learner."
Lynn: "I would encourage all of you to remove the negative labels. Don't say that they're behind because they're not. They're just placed where they are. Nobody has to know, not even your friends, not even your family. If they can't accept it that a child is taking a little longer to read they don't have to know where they're at because you really want that approach, this natural approach to be able to just naturally move along. The natural approach really is a solid, very solid approach. You will create children who can cognitively, logically think through life, have compassion and empathy just because of the manner of the philosophy."
TIMESTAMPS
04:57 Lynn shares how her son's writing blossomed with a natural approach to language arts.
06:21 A natural, literature-based approach helps children and teens think more critically and more logically.
07:50 Ruth Beechick PhD is the educator who best explained this method.
08:48 The ultimate goal of language arts is communication, especially writing. That's why the natural approach uses copywork to teach writing.
12:32 Tips for troubleshooting the child who balks at copywork or dictation.
15:26 With the natural approach, grammar is taught indirectly through examples and through the books children ingest.
19:31 What if your kids don't like to read?
20:30 The power of mimicking good role models of literature.
25:47 Reading aloud means your can provide your children with higher level academic content (like history and science) regardless of their own reading level.
30:11 Forget about negative labels. Don't even think of your child as behind. Instead embrace your child's pace as the right rate of development.
SPECIAL SEGMENTS
01:44 Self-care Your Way
Gluten free muffins at Sprouts, devoured in the parking lot!
24:48 What We’re Reading
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
The HeLa cell was taken from Henrietta Lacks without her knowledge in 1951, and became the most important tool in medicine vital for developing the polio vaccine, cloning, gene mapping, and more. To date, her family has never been compensated for the gift her cells have given to the medical field.
Thanks to show sponsor BookShark. Request a homeschool curriculum catalog or download samples at bookshark.com.
