Posted in Non-Traditional Schooling

What are real and living books?

  We owe it to every child to put him in communication with great minds that he may get at great thoughts; with the minds, that is, of those who have left us great works…Charlotte Mason

 Teaching Living Curriculum

            “Teaching Living Curriculum” is about teaching with “living” books.  But what are “living books”?  It is a concept you’ll hear often in classical circles.  A “living book” is any literature or work that captures a time period or individual and makes it or they “come alive”.  You begin a journey into the strengths and weaknesses of men and women. 

            George Washington becomes more that the 1^st President of the United States but a man of deep spiritual conviction.  Where can we learn about his compassion for his men at Valley Forge, but through his words:  “For the want of shoes their marches through frost and snow might be traced by the blood from their feet, and they were almost as often without provisions as with them.” ¹   Where can we learn about his dependence in God? “Many…gave testimony of Washington frequently visiting secluded groves to lay the cause of his bleeding country at the throne of grace.”² Lastly, when God miraculously met the needs of the soldiers at Valley Forge, where do we learn Washington’s viewpoint?  “The hand of Providence has been so conspicuous in all this, that he must be worse than an infidel, and more than wicked, that has not gratitude enough to acknowledge his obligation.”³

            Benjamin Franklin becomes more than an inventor.  He mentions little of his inventions in his autobiography but his heart was passionate about statesmanship.  He desired little or no compensation for his inventions but felt they were for the benefit of mankind.  What great strengths to teach our children. 

            We can also teach by weaknesses.  Although Ben Franklin was a great statesman, he was with his family very little.  It cost him strained relationships.  He failed to balance family and work.  However, John and Abigail Adams, were placed in that same situation and were able to come through still as a tight family through their utter dependence on God.

            I would much rather my children choose heroes according to their character strengths like David Livingston, missionary to Africa, and Abraham Lincoln.  I would much rather they learn to judge a person’s character by reading about the “strengths and weaknesses” of people; so that hopefully, they can look at our “heroes” of today and admire good character, statesmanship or even a homerun record but not ungodly character traits.  Who do you want your children to emulate?  Saturate them with biographies of godly men and women. 

            Other benefits to teaching with living books is that the information is retained so much better when a student is actually interested in what they are reading.  Living books also make it possible to teach multiple grade levels utilizing the same subject matter, simply with books at their grade level.  Living books can promote great reading habits.  They can be fiction or non-fiction…real individuals or characters…anything of literary value.

            So how do you get started with a living curriculum? 

One Good Book at a Time

¹Bankcroft, George, History of the United States. 6 volumes. Boston: Little, Brown, and Co., 1878, pg. 153; 156; 158. ; ²Ibid, pg. 156;  ³Ibid, pg. 158