Dec. 11, 2020

5 Keys to Help You & Your Spouse Decide to Homeschool

By Deana Wood
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5 Keys To Help You And Your Spouse Make the Decision to Homeschool

When you feel in your heart that God is calling you to homeschool, it’s tempting to plow ahead and make the decision, leaving your spouse behind. I understand...I’ve been there too. When I began feeling that God was calling us to homeschool, I was a few months ahead of my husband in getting on board. I’d been thinking about it much longer than he had, and I had already been through all the “What if…” scenarios. 

Being a public school graduate and a public school teacher, I had tried to talk myself out of it several times. 

However, even with these questions swirling around in my head, I felt strongly that God was leading us to become a homeschool family, so I decided to talk to my husband about it. I’m so glad I did. That conversation began our homeschooling journey as a family, and I could not do what I do without his unwavering support. 

There is no formula for getting your spouse on board with homeschooling, but there are some key actions that can help you talk through the process of deciding your child’s educational path. 

1. Ask Your Spouse to Pray About It

Prayer is the most important element of this decision. I do not recommend going ahead with plans to homeschool without first bathing your future conversations in prayer. You are setting yourself and your spouse up for failure if you go into the discussion without talking to God first. So the very first action you need to take is simply to ask your spouse to pray with you about it. Here’s what I asked my husband:

“I’ve been thinking a lot lately about homeschooling. I feel that it’s something we need to consider and discuss at some point, but I’m not sure. I have a lot of questions about it. Would you just pray with me about it for a week or more?”

2. Discuss It With Pros and Cons

After a week or more of prayer, make a time to sit down and talk over the pros and cons. On your list, write down everything you think would be good about homeschooling and all your concerns. 

Then use these lists to talk about homeschooling. First, start with your pros and share your heart. Tell your spouse why you began considering homeschooling. Then give your spouse uninterrupted time to share what their pros are. Then repeat the process for cons.

Be sure that you allow your spouse to freely share concerns without you feeling the need to defend homeschooling. Remember, your concerns are legitimate. Your spouse’s concerns are too, so listen accordingly. Once you get through your lists, agree to continue praying about it and set up a time to talk again.

3. List Your Goals for Your Children

This next step is pretty important. At your next discussion, you’ll need to bring your pros/cons list once again, but before you begin, spend some time writing down three to five goals for your children. Use this as your guiding thought:

When our children grow up, we will consider their childhood a success if these three things are true of them.

Once you decide on your goals, look at your pros list. Do your pros match up with your goals? How about your cons list? 

Thinking about your goals can help you process how homeschooling could help you reach those goals. Share openly with each other how you are feeling about the decision. 

5 Keys to Help You & Your Spouse Decide to Homeschool

4. Discuss the Cost

There are plenty of costs to consider in homeschooling. Of course, possibly the most pressing is the financial cost. It can be a pretty big adjustment to go from public school, which is free, to homeschooling where you pay for your curriculum, and you feed your children every meal at home.

When my husband and I had this conversation, we were just finishing up a year of public school kindergarten with our oldest child. We sat down and counted up the cost of curriculum. It was a little surprising, but then, we discussed how much money we had spent on public school. That was even more surprising.

We realized that we had contributed hundreds of dollars to fundraisers through the course of the year. Then, we considered how much we spent on new school clothes and shoes. We had noticed that our kindergartener was even showing an interest in name brand clothing already. We added in the cost of backpacks and lunches.

When we really examined how much we had spent, we were surprised to see that what we had spent on kindergarten in public school was close to the cost of homeschool curriculum.

We knew these public school costs would only continue to rise as our children got older. When we crunched some numbers, we saw that, in homeschooling, we could go without buying new school clothes every year. We knew we could stop participating in fundraisers, and we even realized that we would be able to reuse the curriculum with our younger kids coming up. By our estimate, we felt like after our first few years, we might even end up saving money.

We evaluated many different programs and landed on Sonlight, feeling even better about our financial decision. Having a home library has always been important for us, so we knew the books in Sonlight would be worth the investment.

Finally we considered the fact that if we continued homeschooling, I would not be going back to work full time. This was tough, especially for me. I had always visualized myself back in the classroom once our children reached school age. However, when my husband and I looked at our goals and considered how homeschooling could help us reach those goals, it gave us the clear answer that we needed. For us, homeschooling would be worth all the sacrifices we would make.

5. Wait For Your Spouse

I have an incredibly supportive husband. We went through the process I outlined above, and once we both decided to homeschool, he was with me 100%. However, I know the journey is not that way for every couple. For those moms and dads who can’t quite get the other spouse on board, my advice is simple:

Wait.

I could not homeschool without my husband’s support. On tough days, I need my husband to remind me why we chose this life. I need my husband to troubleshoot problems with me and to back me up on discipline matters. 

If your spouse is not on board, wait and pray. Don’t nag or coerce. Don’t even try to persuade. Don’t say, “I told you this would happen if…” Pray that God will align both of your hearts to His perfect will for your family. And then, wait.

Homeschooling is a lifestyle. It goes against the norms of society and takes courage. Be patient with your spouse. It can be a lot to process. More importantly, trust God, and know that if it is His will, He will make it so in His perfect timing. 

Compare curriculum with this handy checklist.

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Dec. 9, 2020

13 Ways to Change Your Child's Attitude Toward Copywork

By Deana Wood
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13 Ways to Change Your Child's Attitude Toward Copywork

Copywork...some kids love it. Some kids hate it. If your child is in the hate camp, you might be wondering how to make it more enjoyable for them. I’m here to help!

Copywork doesn’t have to be a drudgery. It can be a vibrant part of your Language Arts curriculum. Thankfully, Sonlight does the hard part by choosing the copywork for each week. It’s even sweeter because it comes from a reading passage in the curriculum. So, really, all you need to do is keep your copywork methods fresh with these 13 techniques.

1. Reserve Special Pens

We’ve always had a caddy with special pens for our copywork. We really love PaperMate Flair Pens, but any pretty pen will do the trick. You might even include fine tipped markers. Older children may enjoy trying their hand at calligraphy. Whatever tools you decide to use, just remember that the trick is to keep it fresh. Change your pens every month, and pull out the special pen caddy only for copywork. 

2. Use Highlighters to Examine the Passage

In Sonlight, the copywork is used primarily for Language Arts instruction, so it pays to spend some time dissecting the passage. I have my children go through the passage with several different colored highlighters. For example, if we have been focusing on punctuation, I would have my child highlight all the periods blue, all the question marks yellow, and all the exclamation points orange. 

You might have your child highlight the different types of sentences. If your child is struggling with a particular phonetic sound, have them find those sounds in the copywork. Older children can highlight independent clauses and prepositional phrases. Many times, children have a hard time finding the purpose behind copywork, so examining the passage can really help.

3. Change It Up

Have your child use a thesaurus to change up the passage. Then let them compare their version with the original. Which one do they like better? Help them consider how word choice affects a passage. 

4. Use Whiteboards or Chalkboard

Paper can get old. Sometimes a change makes a big difference, so consider allowing your child to do their copywork on a whiteboard. I’ve even heard of ideas like using dry erase markers on a window or sliding glass door. 

5. Use Special Paper

Bring out the pretty paper for copywork! Collect old scrapbook or stationary paper, and let your child choose a really pretty piece of paper for their copywork. You might even use decorative scissors to cut a border around the page. If your child is studying an older time period, let them soak their paper in tea and help them burn the edges. 

6. Decorate Your Copywork

Stickers! Magazine cutouts! Your child can make their copywork stand out by embellishing it. Your child may prefer their own artwork. Go for it! Give them some colored pencils and let them sketch their own border or draw a beautiful picture at the bottom. 

7. Spread It Out

Is copywork a precursor to a meltdown? Then spread it out. Some kids just get overwhelmed by the amount of writing at one time. Try doing one sentence per day, slowly adding to the passage until it is complete. 

8. Set the Mood

Set the mood for a relaxing copywork time in your day. Copywork can be very peaceful, so help set the environment for tranquility by dimming the lights, lighting a candle, and turning on some classical music. This change can make copywork time a break in your child’s day-a special time to look forward to.

It can also help to carefully choose a good time during the day to do copywork. I would recommend choosing a time when your child is ready for a rest. You might consider doing copywork after a recess break or during snacktime, so they can snack while they work. 

9. Display Your Child’s Work

Sometimes it can be hard to give your best when you know that your work will just be put away into a portfolio. So consider making a prominent space to display your child’s copywork each week.

10. Change the Scenery

Sometimes, we get stuck in a rut. Always doing your work at a desk or table can crush our creativity. So try changing up the scenery. Let your child go outside to do their copywork. Or use a magnet and let your child do copywork standing up next to the refrigerator. 

11. Use Invisible Ink

Let your child explore with magic. Have them write their copywork in white crayon. Then, have them color over it with a washable marker. Their copywork will magically appear! You can also purchase a simple invisible ink pen that shows up under LED light. 

12. Share the Copywork

Company makes work more bearable. It’s a principle for life. Everyone knows that cleaning the kitchen is easier with a buddy. The same is true with copywork. Consider sharing the copywork task with your child. This can be done in a number of ways. You can alternate writing every other word. 

You could each write the copywork, or you could simply sit beside your child while he works. Sometimes, this support is all that’s needed. 

13. Type It

Yes, this is probably an odd suggestion. Most people consider copywork to be important handwriting practice. I would agree with that; however, if you are using a handwriting program, your child might feel that copywork is an added burden. In that case, consider viewing copywork as strictly a language arts task. Your child can pay close attention to the grammar while he or she is typing it. You can also use this time to teach keyboarding skills. Play with the alignment, change the font, and learn to print. These are skills that children need today, so copywork can be a great time to incorporate those.

These are just a few of the many ways to make copywork more enjoyable. Remember the old saying, “A change is as good as a rest.” This can be so true in homeschooling.

Sometimes, the most challenging part of being a homeschool parent is keeping things fresh and helping your child find the purpose behind the tasks. Your child may not ever look forward to copywork time, but showing them a purpose behind it and being creative with the way your child is asked to complete the task can really change your child’s attitude and make it easier on everyone.

Each complete Sonlight® All-Subjects Package and History / Bible / Literature package comes with our Love to Learn, Love to Teach™ Guarantee.  

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Dec. 7, 2020

Enjoy Your Life More: Add One Good Habit

By Sarita
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Enjoy Your Life More: Add One Good Habit

A recent study showed that Americans spend eight minutes a day looking for their keys. Sound familiar?

If that’s you, it could be easy to berate yourself for that reality. When we think of habits, we tend to think of the negative, like a bad habit of losing things.

But I find it much more encouraging to think of the positive side: what good habits would I like to add to my life? Just as bad habits can drag us down, good habits can point us in the right direction.

Good habits can save us time if we want them to. If a homeschool mom could get back 40 minutes a week by cultivating the habit of hanging her keys by the door, or figuring out why she loses her keys and changing it, wouldn’t that be a good thing?  

Homeschool moms carry so much responsibility. If we can put some of that on autopilot so we just do it automatically, it can really make life easier. When it comes to dishes, laundry, cleaning and cooking, could a few simple logistical habits make your life easier? Could you put something on autopilot so you just do it automatically and don’t have to fuss about it?

Define a Good Day, Week, and Month

Or for more inspiration, try this. Answer these questions to help you clarify a good habit you might like to add to your life:  

Dream about what you want to do with your life. Consider:

  • What you want a good day to look like?
  • What do you want a good week to look like?
  • What does a good month look like to you?
  • What about a good year? 10 years?

A Good Day

For me, a good day includes a 30-minute walk and a quiet time. It includes a few minutes at mid-day to listen to Christian music, which helps refocus and reset my day. And of course a good day for me includes reading. If I don’t read, I feel like I had a terrible day!

A Good Week

A good week for me includes a Sabbath rest. A few weeks ago, John and I were at a conference that lasted all day Friday through Sunday. When we got home I felt like I’d never catch up. When I take a day of rest the entire week goes better. I feel more focused, more energized, more able to meet life with perspective. A good week for me also includes time at church, which is so good for my soul. It includes time for John and me to sit under the tree talking with the kids as we laugh and eat together. What does a good week look like for you?

A Good Year

A good year for me includes two opportunities to get away and gain perspective on my everyday life. One of those is a week of fun with all the kids and grandkids, and another might be a trip to visit ministry partners in another part of the world and see what God is doing among them. Even if you can’t get away twice in a year, does a good year for you include some sort of intentional family week?

Ponder those questions and see what you might want to add. For me, that was adding a walk every day. I had wanted to do this for a while but I’d leave it to the evening and then feel too tired to go out and do it. So now I get up first thing in the morning, throw on yesterday’s clothes, run a comb through my hair and go walk. If I do it first thing I actually get it done. Plus, the beauty of the mornings has really surprised me—the sky, the air, it all has such a special quality first thing in the morning.

I also added a green smoothie for breakfast every day – I just fill the blender with greens, throw in a protein, some juice, some fruit, and some coconut oil. What an easy way to honor my body and get more vegetables in my life! My daughter Jonelle started cleaning up her room every evening. It gives her a brand-new start on the day in the morning.

Allow Enough Time to Establish the Habit

Experts say it takes 30 days to build a habit. It seems so easy to us. Just decide to do something and then do it. But it’s always an uphill climb. We are creatures of habit, so to build a brand new habit takes incredible perseverance and push. You have to plan to say every day “I’m just going to grit my teeth and get it done.” And eventually it’s almost automatic.

Start with Just One Habit

Experts also recommend just adding one habit at a time. I recently added five, and I’m here to tell you it felt like my efforts were going to take over my life. It was too much to think about, too much will power to exert every day in addition to my normal tasks.

Enjoy Your Newfound Freedom

Of course, we shouldn’t let habits rob us of our ability to be free and flexible. But I actually think many habits allow us more freedom in the world. Here’s an example. We used to camp a lot as a family. Camping, as you know, is a messy and dirty business. You come home and the temptation is to just throw all the equipment in a corner to deal with it later. But I got in the habit of taking the tub of cooking equipment and setting it on the kitchen counter as soon as we got home. I’d refill the salt and sugar containers, clean everything, change out the dirty towels for clean ones, and repack it all. Then when someone suggested we should go camping, I’d give the kids their packing checklists and we could get out the door surprisingly fast. Because of some good habits we were free to be flexible and go camping more often.

As another example, keeping your house a little cleaner (or accepting a lower standard of cleanliness) can mean you feel free to invite company over more often. Likewise, meal planning can help you feel free to play with your kids outside more afternoons instead of scrambling to pull something together for dinner at the last minute.

So dream about how you want your life to look and pick one new habit to start today. Don’t overwhelm yourself with five new habits like I did. But enjoy the freedom your one new habit provides!

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Dec. 2, 2020

The Difference between Reluctant and Hungry Eaters (and Learners)

By Sarita
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The Difference between Reluctant and Hungry Eaters (and Learners)

Have you ever tried to feed a toddler who doesn't want to eat? You don't get very far. It's a lot of work, and most of the food ends up on the floor.

But if that same toddler is hungry? That's a different story. She will happily take the food you give and feed herself. Though she'll still get some in her hair, most of it hits the mark.

I think the same is true of learning. When kids are uninterested, any type of schoolwork is a chore. Most of what they learn doesn't stick.

Force-feeding an Education

Yet the common approach to most education is to feed information to kids who don't want it. Most schools, textbooks and curricula are primarily designed to deliver as much information as possible over a limited, prescribed time frame. Then standardized tests check how much the students retain. If students score well, their education is deemed successful.

But what is the real result here?

  • Most children either learn to play the game, or they stop trying.
  • They forget what they learned after the test.
  • Most quickly decide that learning is boring.
  • Some kids will still thrive, but many just wither away academically.

Is there another way? I believe so.

I definitely want children to learn information. But that is actually not Sonlight's number one goal.

Creating a Love of Learning

Sonlight's main educational goal is to create a true love of learning. Instead of force-feeding children an education, we create an insatiable hunger to learn.

We can't possibly give children all the knowledge they need for life by the time they are 18 years old. But we can get them on the right path, where they keep learning their entire lives. With God's help, children can see learning as a delight. They can learn how to find the information they need. They can be ready to pursue whatever God calls them to, because they love to keep growing.

It's the difference between forcing a reluctant child to eat a vegetable at each meal, and having a child who simply loves vegetables. Which child do you think will eat more vegetables over a lifetime?

I can't help you with the literal vegetables. But I believe I can help you have children who love to learn.

A Curriculum that Lays a Delicious Educational Meal

That is why all of Sonlight's curriculum is deliberately designed to keep children engaged in the learning process. The books we include and the way we weave them together are just that good.

We like it when Sonlight students achieve high SAT scores and win intellectual debates. But we love it even more when we hear testimonies like these, about a healthy appetite to learn!

"You know what my daughter's first words were this morning? 'Mommy, get up. Can we do school now?'"

Or,

"When I received the Sonlight catalog, it was like God came to my mailbox and gave me a present. Every day, even the harder ones, seems like a miracle to me. The woman who swore that she would never homeschool LOVES it. Not to mention my KIDS!!!

"The other day they were watching Reading Rainbow and LeVar Burton asked 'Have you ever read a book that was so good that you couldn't put it down?' My son responded loudly, 'OHHHH, YES!'

"Thanks, Sonlight!"

Or,

"Close to the end of the school year, we talked about picking up where we have left off in HBL G at the beginning of next school year. There was a gasp from the girls! 'Why can't we just keep going? We want to read Bloody Mary! We can't wait 'til the fall!'

"And it went on!

"'Can we finish our math books this summer?'

"'But we haven't done Shakespeare yet!'

"'Can we keep doing Story of the World? We're almost done with it!'

"Thank you, Sonlight, for stoking the fire of learning throughout our first year of homeschooling. And thank you for quality literature and products and the Instructor's Guide that led me through the year as well."

I wish I had the space to quote two or three dozen more of these kinds of testimonials. We receive a steady stream of them, and they warm my heart.

Can you imagine anyone saying these kinds of things about a textbook or workbook-based program? You might hear positive reviews, but I doubt you'll hear anything about a passion to learn.

So thank you for choosing Sonlight to come beside you and help your children love to learn. Please let us know if we can help you in your journey.

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Nov. 11, 2020

8 Ways for Homeschool Moms to Get More Sleep

By Sarita
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8 ways for homeschool moms to get more sleep

For many families, homeschooling means more sleep. And that is good news for kids.

But what about moms? Sleep deprivation seems like part of the job description. And let's be honest: It is hard to serve your family well when you're downright exhausted. Though God will give you strength in the midst of a sleep-deprived season, I encourage you to embrace opportunities to help your body catch up.

Where can you find such opportunities? Though homeschooling won't help your baby sleep through the night (if only!), it does provide flexibility. Here are eight ideas to help you use homeschooling to your advantage to get more sleep.

1. Ditch the Alarm Clock

Wake up when you or the kids are ready instead.

2. Start School When You Want to

If you're out late one night, let school start later the next day.

3. Declare a Quiet Hour Each Afternoon

Little ones can nap, older kids can read or play silently, and you can try to grab a power nap on the couch.

4. Take Care of Yourself as Best You Can

Even when you simply can't get adequate sleep, care for your body in other ways.

  • Choose real food instead of junk.
  • Drink plenty of water.
  • Do things that help you feel energized. That could mean starting the day with a shower, mascara, or a few minutes outside.
  • Cut out the extra obligations that deplete you.

5. Tweak Your Homeschool Day for Yourself, Too

Use your homeschool day to meet your own needs as well as your kids'. It could be that you share your quiet time with your kids as you read the Bible together. And if something you assume you're supposed to do adds stress to your life (perhaps a separate exercise regime), set it aside for this season and take a nature walk with your children instead.

6. Ask Your Partner to Help You Get More Sleep

Maybe your husband could take the kids outside on Saturday morning so you can sleep in. Maybe he could take the baby when you're ready to sleep at night, so you can at least get an hour or two of uninterrupted rest. Ask for the help you need.

7. Close Your Computer an Hour Prior to Bed

This is one conventional piece of sleep advice that can actually work for moms. TV, smartphone and computer screens make it harder to sleep well when you're ready. So unwind at night with a book, a rhythmic handicraft like knitting, herbal tea, or conversation instead.

8. Choose Curriculum that Gives You More Time to Sleep

I designed Sonlight to give moms the freedom to open and go each morning. If you stay up late at night planning lessons for tomorrow, ask yourself if it's really worth it. I want moms to be able to give their best to their children and spend their homeschool time teaching, not prepping.

This quote from a longtime Sonlight mom makes me smile:

"Thank you, Sonlight, for allowing me a good night's sleep! When I wake up in the morning, I know exactly what each student needs to do that day. The well-organized Instructor's Guide is one of the big factors that has kept us with Sonlight all these years."

Laronda S. of Denver, PA

In the end, remember that this is indeed a season. Your kids will not be young forever. They will move out someday, and you will sleep again. This is your calling for now, and God will give you the grace for the task at hand. Keep pressing on, mom. (And if you can, go take a nap!)

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Nov. 9, 2020

The Four Levels of Rest Homeschool Parents Need

By Sarita
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The Four Levels of Rest Homeschool Parents Need

God seems to take rest pretty seriously.

In this strange year of 2020, you might be more aware than usual of your need for deep rest. Perhaps you don't just feel body tired, but tired in your soul. That's more than a good night of sleep will fix.

Have you ever delineated the different kinds of rest you need? Consider this concrete example from the world of work. Good employers give their employees breaks in the middle of their shifts, time off each day, two days off each week, and vacation time each year. I would never say to a Sonlight employee, "Well, you've had every weekend off this year, why in the world do you also want to take a vacation week with your family?" In fact, I regularly check in with the staff at Sonlight to ensure they're taking time off to rejuvenate.

As a stay-at-home parent, do you respect yourself in the same way? Do you honor the different types of rest your body and soul need? I know it's not always possible, and that certain seasons require different sacrifices. But simply being aware of this concept can help you care for yourself so that you can keep caring well for others.

Consider these four levels of rest and see if you'd like to be more intentional with one or more of them.

1. Daily Rest

A good night's sleep feels elusive to many moms. I know you don't choose to get up in the middle of the night just for the fun of it. But wherever you can, prioritizing a good night's sleep helps you feel your best.

You can be more present to your family and more productive throughout the day if you consistently do what you can to get the sleep you need. If you need to have a daily quiet or nap time in the middle of your homeschool day, do it!

2. Weekly Rest

Jesus made it clear that we are not bound to the Old Testament law regarding the Sabbath. But that doesn't mean we should throw the whole concept out the window.

John and I almost always take a Sabbath rest.

  • When I do, I feel ready to take on the world the following week.
  • When I don't, I feel disoriented and behind all week long.

It's an act of trust to rest on the Sabbath and know that the world will not end. Of course, you'll still need to feed your family and be present for your children, but could you experiment with making one day of the week more of a day of rest for you and your family? Come up with a Sabbath that works for you. It's a rest homeschool parents need!

3. Yearly Rest

I need a vacation each year. I actually take two—one with my family and one just with John where we visit ministry partners around the world. Our annual Family Fun Week means that we set aside our ordinary schedules and take up the primary goal of reconnecting as family. It is a true gift to us all.

I know that especially with young children, vacations may not be relaxing, but perhaps there are ways to decrease the stress and make them more meaningful. (Maybe you could all go tech-free for 3 days, or just spend more time relaxing in nature.) When the kids were little, we'd all go camping a few times a year. When we'd leave, you could just see John setting aside his burdens as we climbed in the car with tent and supplies. It was restorative and life-giving for our family.

4. Long-term Rest

Did you know that in the Old Testament, God commanded the Israelites to let the land rest completely every seventh year? No planting, no harvesting. That's a radical leap of trust for an agricultural society. And every 50th year was to be a Jubilee Year—an extraordinary year of rest for the land, forgiveness of debts, a time to free slaves, and reconciliation.

We don't think either of these special times were ever practiced much, but the concept should tell us something. Every year of our lives was not meant to be the same. There are occasions for exceptional years or seasons. And 2020 is certainly such an unusual year. Could God be using this year to force you to new habits of rest?

I know long-term rest sounds too impractical for most people to ever pull off. But this could be an aspirational goal for your family.

  • Could you ever take a semester, a summer or even a year somewhere else?
  • Maybe an opportunity will arise for your spouse to work in a new location for a semester.
  • Maybe you've saved up to road trip out West for a few months.
  • Maybe you could finally take Grandma up on her offer to spend the summer at her cabin at the lake.
  • Or maybe you could just keep this in mind for a future season of your life. Perhaps when you're done homeschooling, you could do something extraordinary to reconnect and refocus for the new season ahead.

A season of long-term rest could be a gift to yourself and your family that would have benefits for the rest of your lives.

So what do you think? Does one or two of these suggestions stir something in you? Is there something you could do to make them happen?

The world will not fall apart if you plan rest into your life. Your spouse and children will be better for it. And truly, I believe we are in a better place to receive God's love for us and others when we are choosing to regularly step back and rest in the midst of the chaos.

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Nov. 4, 2020

Want to Boost Emotional Intelligence? Read Literature.

By Sarita
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Want to Boost Emotional Intelligence? Read Literature.

Is reading good for more than academic development?

Absolutely.

You may already know that reading good books (like those in Sonlight curriculum) helps your children develop good character, grow in leadership skills, develop empathy, and even talk with you about tricky topics like racism.

Reading Literary Fiction Builds Emotional Intelligence

Well, you can add to that list now. Research shows that reading literary fiction boosts people's abilities to read other people's emotions. It's a new angle on the idea that reading fiction helps people grow in empathy.

Participants were assigned a short excerpt of literary fiction, popular fiction, or non-fiction to read. Some received nothing to read. Then they took a test of emotional intelligence skills, such as guessing people's emotions based on pictures of their eyes. Those who read the literary fiction performed markedly better than the other groups.

Literary Fiction Makes the Reader an Active Participant

One explanation for this is that literary fiction requires more active participation from the reader. One of the researchers says:

"Some writing is what you call 'writerly', you fill in the gaps and participate, and some is 'readerly', and you're entertained. We tend to see 'readerly' more in genre fiction like adventure, romance and thrillers, where the author dictates your experience as a reader. Literary [writerly] fiction lets you go into a new environment and you have to find your own way."

In other words, when you read pop fiction (such as the latest Danielle Steel novel), "the writer is in control, and the reader has a more passive role." It reminds me of television. The author/producer spells things out so you know what people are thinking and feeling. You just sit back and enjoy the entertainment.

But in literary fiction–such as most Sonlight books, or what you'd read in a college English class–the writer tends to show, not tell. The author doesn't spell out every motivation, thought and feeling. Instead, the writer draws you into the story as a participant. Without even realizing it, you fill in gaps and imagine what characters must be feeling. You get outside yourself and walk in another's shoes.

Sonlight is a Literature-Based Curriculum

According to this study, these emotional intelligence skills seem to transfer to real life.

Through Sonlight's literature-based curriculum, your children read real literature. I believe this builds their emotional intelligence every day.

While it's fine for kids to read the occasional work of children's pop-fiction (what Charlotte Mason would call twaddle), I believe we should primarily feed them a solid diet of real, living books. I certainly aim to fill each Sonlight program with such worthy literature.

In discussing this study, one Sonlight mom wrote:

"This article is one of the main reasons I want a heavy literature education. I consider teaching my children humanities to be very important. I want them to really learn about other people from various perspectives, circumstances and times in history."

I agree! So just add this to your list of benefits of using Sonlight and reading real books. You can actually foster emotional intelligence through literature! The practice helps your kids read other people and become more emotionally aware. Not a bad payoff for enjoying great books!

WHAT IS LIT-BASED LEARNING?
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