(This article by Lisa Lewis, one of the founders and current Directors of SLO Classical Academy, was originally printed in the April 2006 edition of our monthly newsletter, the SLOCA SCOOP.)

One of the many connections of the Classical education model is the centrality of good literature.  Let us clarify the definition of literature we will be referring to in this article.  Literature is defined as “written works such as fiction, poetry, drama, and criticism that are recognized as having important or permanent artistic value”.  It is further defined as “the body of written works of a culture, language, people, or period of time.”  For the purposes of this article we will think of literature as the combined emphasis of these two definitions.

If we keep in mind the goal of educating our children to become literate, thoughtful, individuals contributing to their local community and eventually the world community as well, it becomes easier to see how big ideas fit into place when your child is yet seven years old.  Reading good literature provides support for these long-term goals in several ways.  One of these is by showing a model of well-written material for their learning experiences.  Research has shown that children who are read the classics develop more expanded vocabulary at earlier years than their peers who have not been exposed to good literature. The act of parents reading to their young children is associated with enhanced language development (High, et al., 2000).

Another benefit from reading good literature is the child is shown a model of character traits you hope they will emulate, as they grow older. Children are able to expand their backgrounds through exposure to literature (High, LaGasse, Becker, Ahlgren, & Gardner, 2000).   When you place before them a character in a story that engages their emotions, children will respond to the events of the character’s life in ways that allow you to discuss how similar situations might be handled in their own life.

As families of SLO Classical Academy, we need to be reading good literature to and with our children for the reasons mentioned above as well as for the pure enjoyment of great stories.  Living books, as Charlotte Mason refers to good literature, stimulate our imaginations and connect us to the greater story of humanity.  Learning about the history of a particular culture through mere facts and figures does not engage the mind in the ways good historical fiction does.  

At SLO Classical Academy, we do not provide a long list of required books, but we do make suggestions for your family’s reading list. We hope you recognize there is an extensive amount of well written literature for your children to enjoy and that it truly could take a lifetime to learn from all of the wonderful selections.   Keep reading!