Recent studies show that literacy rates are dropping in the U.S. Fewer college students and adults are reading then ever before. This is concerning. Literacy and reading rates have a direct correlation on how people interact in society, how they participate in the political arena, and more. So how do homeschool families cultivate a love for reading in our teens?

In this episode of Journey Through Homeschooling, Jami and Adonna share practical tips on helping your child fall in love with reading both for information and pleasure.

READ THE BIBLE AS LITERATURE

Adonna mentioned that her family began with the Bible. the Bible is a religious work, but it is mainly a work of history. It is the history of how God interacts with his creation.

Reading the Bible as a book of history, and intertwining what was going on in the world during each story is fascinating. It brings the Bible to life in a way that most Christians have experienced it.

READ HISTORICAL FICTION & NON-FICTION

Whether you are using a history curriculum or a timeline approach, introduce your teens to both historical fiction and non-fiction written during the particular time period you are studying. The lives of men and women who lived throughout history bring the time they lived in alive.

While many standard school curriculum focus on dates, what really brings history to life are the people who lived. Children are fascinated by real people who lived real adventures. Cultivating a love of reading is done through reading about these people and their adventures.

When we look at history through the lens of real people and their adventures we also come to see ourselves, our weaknesses, our strengths, and our potential for both good and evil. Reading marks us in a way that few other activities can.

SUPPLEMENT WITH GREAT MOVIES

Adonna’s family enjoyed finding movie versions (if they were done well) that were inspired by the great books they were reading.

Using movies in your homeschool are a wonderful way to bring the book and time to life. It can spark lengthy discussions about the book, or it can be a source of compare and contrast. Adonna’s family would discuss the author’s intent verses the producer’s intent and why certain decisions to alter the story were made.

This can be particularly helpful when you encounter a book or play that is hard to understand. For Adonna, Shakespeare truly came to life through watching well made movies of such classics as Hamlet and Romeo and Juliet.

CHOOSE BOOKS THAT MIRROR THEIR EXPERIENCES

A love of reading can be cultivated in your teen when they are able to read about a fictional character going through a similar experience to their own.

In Rudine Sims Bishop’s Mirrors, Windows, and Sliding Glass Doors, Bishop says, “Books are mirrors when readers see their own lives reflected in the pages. Books are windows when they allow readers a view of lives and stories that are different from their own. Books become sliding glass doors when readers feel transported into the world of the story and when they feel empathy for the characters.”

In this way, our children can be challenged to see their circumstance in a different light. They can grasp that no matter what they are going through there are opportunities to learn and grow because they see the character before them learning and growing. They can also see potential in choices they are faced with.

CHOOSE BOOKS TO BUILD RELATIONSHIP

Shared reading experiences build relationships. The teen years are packed with activity, so cultivating a love of reading in these years is about building a life-long relationship. You’re not just building a relationship with a book or character, but you are building family relationships. You do this by talking about what your children are reading. It is important not to quiz your children on the books; you are not looking to grade their comprehension. This is the time to let them talk, let them practice reasoning. This is an important part of cultivating readers.

If you missed the first article in this two part series, read HERE

To listen to the full episode of Journey Through Homeschooling, click the button below.