Yesterday, I gave you a list of twenty-five ways to stir the pot and cultivate curiosity.
Today, I want to dissect #25: Read great books together.
Read.
Which means exactly that. Read. Read-read-read-read-read. And then read some more. Do it often and frequently and much. Read!
Great books.
Not just any book will do; it needs to be great. You know a book is great because it transports you; delights and surprises you; awakens you; captures, challenges, and changes you. It keeps your mind and soul from starvation. And a great book is worth reading. Twice.
Together.
Don’t consistently send your student off alone to chew wonderfully written works. Read aloud to your child. Experience Narnia. Meet Paddington. Visit Digitopolis. Journey in a box. Do it all together from the comfort of your own couch. Be there to ask questions. Be there to answer questions. Be there to wonder and discover.
I implore you to do this.
Reading aloud expands vocabulary. It develops linguistic patterns which shape excellent writing and speaking habits. It also creates a family culture and forges relationships. All of that is good. Actually, all of that is grand. But the reason I beg is because great books cultivate curiosity.
I’ve witnessed
- a child inspired to learn Latin (Carry On, Mr. Bowditch)
- a boy journey to the jungle and inspired to read an entire series (My Father’s Dragon)
- a kid dig deep and deeper about the American Revolution (Toliver’s Secret)
- a preschooler struggle through the truths of good and evil (101 Dalmatians)
- a son wander in Wonderland (Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland)
All of this (and more . . . much more) simply because we
read
great books
together.
If you need a compass to point you to books that transport, delight, surprise, awaken, capture, challenge, and change, you will find guidance in my post: Choosing Books for Your Homeschool.
If you need more reasons to read aloud with your kids, check out this list of 101 reasons!
You know how much I agree with this, Ami.
I am loving your picture and quote to go with each day!
The Reading Rainbow song is stuck in my head now 🙂
I think we have have to pull out some old episodes on DVD and watch them today.
We love books!!
My oldest has a “read it once” policy — “Mom, I remember everything that happened in it..”
I just read to her your line about a great book being worth reading, twice, and it started a good conversation about books. =) She might actually have a couple she’d be willing to read again. This boggles me. I love books! I have MANY that I’ve read again and again!