FACTS Parent Login
By: Angie McNichols
Literature is an integral part of classical, Christian education. I recently had the privilege of observing fifth graders dig into King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. The teacher not only wove biblical truths into discussions of the knight’s code of chivalry but also had students reflect and write on the virtues of humility, teachability, and friendliness exhibited by specific characters in the novel.
Those virtues, along with respect, are being used school-wide for this year as we focus on cultivating a good and noble heart. This is the epitome of the education we are striving for–allowing students to delve deep and participate in conversations that encourage godly wisdom. This is only one example of the life-forming work that takes place every day in lower school classrooms.
Reading timeless books with big messages that apply across time and generations is invaluable. These long-favored, familiar books–Goodnight Moon; Make Way for the Ducklings; Charlotte’s Web; The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe; and King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table are just a few of the high-interest books that are read to students or used for English study classes in lower school.
It has been said that books are like a fine-dining meal: memorable and meant to be savored and enjoyed with friends and family. Unfortunately, in this fast-paced tech world, novels can be easily dismissed when read only in excerpts, articles, or abridged versions. Being mindful that one of our goals at CCA is to emphasize the cultivation of wisdom rather than just teaching facts and skills, the deep dive into unabridged classics helps accomplish that goal. Here at CCA, an excellent curriculum is utilized that is laid out with great thoughtfulness. Intentionally chosen books for students reflect not only our mission and purpose but also the goal of teaching students how to think, not what to think.
Beginning in Pre-K, students are read time-tested books that fuel students’ imaginations and facilitate rich discussions concerning both virtue and vice. This will progress from picture books to reading full-length novels beginning in second grade during their English Studies block. To name a few chapter books that second graders read: Amelia Bedelia, Brambly Hedge, and Tales from Beatrix Potter. Wonderful books with humor, adventure, and the development of our students' love for the written word.
From the Pre-K read-aloud, The Tales of Peter Rabbit, to reading the actual Beatrix Potter chapter books in second grade, the books are sequentially selected for each grade to capture students’ interests, develop an appetite for rich literature, and build on previously read books while exposing them to great classical works. With this intentionality, reading is not just a skill to be taught but an enjoyable, lifelong adventure to be taken by our students.
