As we begin our second month of school, it is without a doubt that you may be noticing differences between Hozho Academy and most schools. Being a classical school, Hozho Academy offers intentional educational practices with the intention of forming the whole student.
One of these practices includes little to no 'homework' in lower school. A teacher may send home practice recommendations, work that was not completed during the school day, or assign a project meant to enrich your child's understanding of the curriculum. However, you will likely not see your child come home with daily worksheets, assignments, and spelling lists to practice.
You will however, hear teachers asking you to have your children read.
Most, if not all teachers at Hozho Academy require reading time as homework. It is such a critical part to our curriculum that a reading log is included in student planners. So why this emphasis on reading at home?
It can feel defeating, asking your teacher what you can do at home to help your student and the response you receive is "reading." We want that traditional spelling list that we can help our students memorize, we want worksheets and workbooks, we want tutors. All of those things can be wonderful resources, but they will not help in the long run if students are not taught basic common sense, critical thinking, and background knowledge. Reading, backed by a lot of research, provides just that.
Reading opens your child's mind to a world of knowledge. Students gain a vast background understanding of people, places and events simply through a book. Children's brains are literal sponges, they have the ability to soak up new information, even more than an adult.
It exercises the brain. Just like the rest of our body, our brains needs exercise in order to stay strong and healthy. Research has shown that reading stimulates the circuits and nerves within the brain.
It improves focus! Do you often hear from your teacher that your child is not focused in class, cannot stay on task...etc? Reading improves that naturally. It teaches our brains to concentrate and focus for periods of time, making them do the work of imagining and inferencing that overstimulating technology usually does for us.
It improves syntax (grammar structure of a sentence) and vocabulary. Through good, quality literature, children learn how to put their thoughts into concrete, well formed sentences using more intricate vocabulary.
Students learn to empathize. Reading allows children to see the point of view of multiple character or people in history. They learn to think from other peoples' perspective and as a result, it translates to real life.
Lastly, good readers are good writers. Books (usually) go through copious amounts of editing before publication. A child who reads develops the ear for a sentence that does not make sense, or a paragraph that feels out of place.
Those things being said, quality, classical literature also plays a key role. This is not to say your child can never read a graphic novel, a book with pictures, or anything 'modern'. They can be wonderful, engaging stories that encourage your child to read. However, they should be used as stepping stones to a higher level of reading. Children need to be appropriately challenged in order to truly learn. Classical literature is literature that has withstood the test of time, its values are always applicable, teaching true virtue. It allows us to look behind at continuous themes and patterns and look ahead to where we are going, if we see any of those similar patterns. Themes of inner strength, perseverance and forgiveness are constantly circled throughout these beautiful stories.
So how can you encourage your child to read this school year? On top of that, how can you add reading time into a busy schedule? Below are some ideas for ways to make reading a natural part of your daily routine.
Encouraging Your Child to Read
Have books in sight and easily accessible to your child
Have a cozy reading space in your home.
Take note of their interests, there is a book for everything, there is even a classical book for everything!
Find a book series they enjoy. Books like the Percy Jackson Series or The Chronicles of Narnia are engaging and have multiple books that engage the readers.
Read stories that have movie or show adaptations. Readers love comparing them to the book.
How to Encourage Reading With Busy Schedules
Establish a reading routine. This takes work at first, but eventually it becomes second nature to children! Find the time that works best in your schedule, maybe it's right before or after dinner or right when they come home from school. It could even be the car ride to and from school. Set the expectation that this time is reading time.
Read on the Go! A book can be taken anywhere, but they now come in multiple formats that make this even easier. The Libby App allows you to rent books for free through your local library in a digital format that can be used on most devices, kindles and nooks allow you to purchase books through Amazon and Barnes and Noble (most classics are free and they are constantly having deals and sales!). Spotify, Audible and YouTube also have plenty of free audio books. Yes, audio books count as reading! Read in the car, waiting in line at the grocery start or while waiting during a siblings' sports practice.
It Doesn't Have to Just Be Books! While we encourage having your child read beautiful literature, there are other forms of reading that could fit a busy lifestyle. Magazines, newspapers, signs on the road or grocery store all provide your child with the opportunity to practice reading in different environments.
Have Your Child Read to Anyone Available. Set up a phone call with your child's best friend where they can read to each other. They can read to a babysitter, little sibling or even a pet or stuffed animal!
Below is a link to books recommended by Barney Charter Schools. There are abridged versions of nearly every classical book as well, so if your child is interested in one of these stories but need something closer to their reading level, that is always an option.
Now, what if we are really busy or our children do not like reading? Next newsletter, we will discuss how to encourage your child to read and how you can accommodate reading in a busy household.
I love discussing literature, so if you ever need suggestions or have more questions, do not hesitate to contact me.
For more information on any topics discussed, general questions, or even suggestions for future topics, I can be reached at efarrell@hozhoacademy.org
Hózhó Academy Charter School
Principal: Juliane Hillock principal@hozhoacademy.org
Email: office@hozhoacademy.org
Website: https://hozhoacademy.org/
Location: 515 Park Ave, Gallup, NM, USA
Phone: (505) 722-8922
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hozhoacademy
Twitter: @HozhoA