Children's Books - Using Literature To Teach And Learn
By Kent Johnson
Using children’s books and children’s literature as a teaching tool is
nothing new – even some elite colleges employ literature-based learning.
Literature can be used to teach history, philosophy, geography, writing and
vocabulary skills, and more. History, for example, comes alive for the read
when it’s the backdrop of a great play or story. And new words have more
substance and meaning when uttered by memorable characters in literature.
One way to use children’s books and literature to teach is through the
so-called “Charlotte Mason” method. In this method of teaching, the child
“tells back,” in his or her own words, a short book or poem, or a chapter of
a longer book. The child is forced to focus on the story, and understand its
meaning. This type of verbal narration is especially effective in younger
children who may not have the writing skills necessary to put their thoughts
down on paper.
The child should be encouraged to express themselves fully,
without judging their word choices or syntax. This "tell back" technique is also
effective in building English and speech skills, and imprinting information
firmly in the child’s base of knowledge.
Tips on using children’s books and children’s literature as teaching aids:
- Select a number of well chosen children’s books and literature titles.
- Set a schedule, a particular time to read each book.
- Encourage discussion and research to create interest.
- Ask thoughtful questions that encourage stimulating discussion and learning.
In addition, each child should have the opportunity to read aloud each day. Reading aloud from a children's book or other book of literature forces the young student to process the language, and focus on the story and its meaning. Not only will the child learn important reading and language skills, but literature also provides valuable lessons in history, philosophy, geography, and more.
