"Stories are the lifeblood of existence. They are the heartbeat that pumps vision into a child's developing imagination and hope into his or her soul."
~Sarah Clarkson, Caught Up in a Story
~Sarah Clarkson, Caught Up in a Story
Stories
Order your days around story. What better way to experience the true, good, and beautiful than through the sharing of a story.
An ordered education includes stories, stories, and more stories! If our aim is to order the affections of our children, then we need great examples of truth, beauty, and goodness to give them. One of the best places to find those examples are in the pages of a good book.
First, stories draw us in close. They catch our attention and captivate us. Children are naturally drawn to story. So, when I pick up a book and start reading it out loud, my children all gather around, and I know that they are eager to experience all that the story has to offer.
Matt Bianco of the Circe Institute says "a story is the most powerful tool for communicating truth". I would also add that it is the most powerful tool for communicating any virtue. Truth, goodness, and beauty are ideas that are hard to understand unless we have a "living" example. A story makes these ideas come alive and really mean something. Children need books filled with characters and places and adventures that tug at their emotions, fire their imaginations, and show them what these ideas really are all about. Stories have the power to shape the hearts of our children. Good stories will teach our children what to love and how to love. Here are three great examples...
An ordered education includes stories, stories, and more stories! If our aim is to order the affections of our children, then we need great examples of truth, beauty, and goodness to give them. One of the best places to find those examples are in the pages of a good book.
First, stories draw us in close. They catch our attention and captivate us. Children are naturally drawn to story. So, when I pick up a book and start reading it out loud, my children all gather around, and I know that they are eager to experience all that the story has to offer.
Matt Bianco of the Circe Institute says "a story is the most powerful tool for communicating truth". I would also add that it is the most powerful tool for communicating any virtue. Truth, goodness, and beauty are ideas that are hard to understand unless we have a "living" example. A story makes these ideas come alive and really mean something. Children need books filled with characters and places and adventures that tug at their emotions, fire their imaginations, and show them what these ideas really are all about. Stories have the power to shape the hearts of our children. Good stories will teach our children what to love and how to love. Here are three great examples...
Miss Rumphius
Written and Illustrated by Barbara Cooney This lovely story is a perfect example of a book that helps our children see and understand beauty. When Miss Rumphius was a little girl, she desired to travel the world and live by the sea, just as her grandfather had done. Her grandfather told her that she must also make the world a more beautiful place. When Miss Rumphius grew up, she did travel the world, and she did settle down by the sea. However, she still had to make the world a more beautiful place. At first, she was unsure how to do this. Then, quite by accident, she noticed her lupine flowers out the window, spreading where she had not meant for them to grow. It was then, she decided she would make the world a more beautiful place by spreading lupine seeds everywhere she went. |
Mossy
By Jan Brett This intricately illustrated story is the perfect example of book that shows our children what goodness means. Mossy is an eastern box turtle with a gorgeous garden growing on her shell. Dr. Carolina, a biologist, finds Mossy and brings her to her natural history museum. One day, Dr. Carolina's little niece, Tory, notices that Mossy is sad. So Dr. Carolina and Tory bring Mossy back to her home at Lilypad Pond. |
The Stories We share
I take great care when choosing the stories I read to my family. In choosing the books to read aloud and place on our bookshelves, I look for...
*Living books are books that are written in a narrative style or story form by an author that has a passion for the subject. Living books teach the facts in a way that makes the subject come alive.
There are just two very important points I would like to make about reading aloud. You probably already know them.
First, all children, regardless of their age or reading level, should be read aloud to as often as possible. Reading aloud forms strong family connections and builds lasting bonds. Andrew Pudewa of The Institute for Excellence in Writing says, reading aloud is one of the very best ways to give children "reliably correct and sophisticated language patterns" to store in their heads and use for speaking and writing. Reading aloud also increases background knowledge and vocabulary. If you want your child to be a good reader and a good writer, one of the best things you can do is read aloud. So, we should never stop reading aloud to our children. I know that I plan to read aloud to my children until they are all grown up and move out of our house. Even then, I will read aloud to them whenever they come to visit!
Second, I believe a good story is a good story no matter your age or reading level. What I mean is, a child does not ever outgrow picture books. There are many reasons to read picture books. Picture books are so excellent for communicating the ideas of truth, beauty, and goodness. Picture books give you beautiful language and beautiful artwork at the same time. You can read a large variety of subjects and genres when using picture books because they are shorter. Then you can have even more great conversations about the ideas and topics in those books.
For these reasons, and many more, we order our days around stories.
- Stories that communicate truth, beauty, and goodness in ideas, words, and pictures
- Stories that promote great ideas
- Stories that fire the imagination
- Stories of heroes doing heroic deeds
- Stories in which good triumphs over evil
- Stories that carry the message of hope
- Living science and history books*
*Living books are books that are written in a narrative style or story form by an author that has a passion for the subject. Living books teach the facts in a way that makes the subject come alive.
There are just two very important points I would like to make about reading aloud. You probably already know them.
First, all children, regardless of their age or reading level, should be read aloud to as often as possible. Reading aloud forms strong family connections and builds lasting bonds. Andrew Pudewa of The Institute for Excellence in Writing says, reading aloud is one of the very best ways to give children "reliably correct and sophisticated language patterns" to store in their heads and use for speaking and writing. Reading aloud also increases background knowledge and vocabulary. If you want your child to be a good reader and a good writer, one of the best things you can do is read aloud. So, we should never stop reading aloud to our children. I know that I plan to read aloud to my children until they are all grown up and move out of our house. Even then, I will read aloud to them whenever they come to visit!
Second, I believe a good story is a good story no matter your age or reading level. What I mean is, a child does not ever outgrow picture books. There are many reasons to read picture books. Picture books are so excellent for communicating the ideas of truth, beauty, and goodness. Picture books give you beautiful language and beautiful artwork at the same time. You can read a large variety of subjects and genres when using picture books because they are shorter. Then you can have even more great conversations about the ideas and topics in those books.
For these reasons, and many more, we order our days around stories.
Order your days with stories
Our days are ordered around story. I plan five read aloud times each day. This may sound a little over the top, but it is actually quite simple. Each day of our week (M-F) follows the same pattern. So every day, the five read aloud times are a sure thing. We all know they will happen, and we all know when they will happen. Each one of our five read aloud times has a specific kind of read aloud tied to it. I created a book list for each kind of read aloud, so I just pick a book from the specified book list and read it. It looks like this...
So, two of our read aloud times are with chapter books and two are using picture books. One read aloud uses a living book to teach science or history.
Independent Reading Time and Book Baskets
After our Story Time Treasures read aloud, we have a time for independent reading for all, including me! The little ones look at books in their beds just before they nap, and the two big ones read on the couch next to me. This is one of my favorite times of the day because we can all snuggle up on the couch with each other and our own books. I also light a candle that flickers and crackles for an extra touch of comfort and coziness.
We all choose our own books. I help my children choose books if they need something new to read or just a little guidance. I also fill a book basket for each child with books that I know are at their independent reading level or would be of special interest to them. My children have the final say as to what book they read during this time. And I know that whatever they choose will be okay because I make sure that only good books come into our home.
- Morning Time: Reading of a children's classic chapter book
- Seasonal Story Time: Reading of a seasonal themed picture book (to go with our celebration)
- Story Time Treasures (Just before nap time and quiet time): Reading of picture books by well-loved authors
- History and Science Lesson Time: Reading of a history or science living book
- Bedtime Story: Reading of a fantasy chapter book (My children love fantasies!)
So, two of our read aloud times are with chapter books and two are using picture books. One read aloud uses a living book to teach science or history.
Independent Reading Time and Book Baskets
After our Story Time Treasures read aloud, we have a time for independent reading for all, including me! The little ones look at books in their beds just before they nap, and the two big ones read on the couch next to me. This is one of my favorite times of the day because we can all snuggle up on the couch with each other and our own books. I also light a candle that flickers and crackles for an extra touch of comfort and coziness.
We all choose our own books. I help my children choose books if they need something new to read or just a little guidance. I also fill a book basket for each child with books that I know are at their independent reading level or would be of special interest to them. My children have the final say as to what book they read during this time. And I know that whatever they choose will be okay because I make sure that only good books come into our home.
Keep it simple, effective, and joyful!
Pick a time, pick a book, and enjoy!
Click the "Book Lists" button.
Click the "Book Lists" button.