10 Biography Series to Build Your History Curriculum

Considering homeschooling history?

These biography series may be used to supplement a curriculum or be combined organically with experiential learning opportunities—museums, art projects, dioramas, co-op classes, re-enactments, or tours—to create-your-own history unit studies based on the age and interests of the learner.

Early elementary learners

A Picture Book of….

David A. Adler’s been writing biographies for decades. His treasures were among the first of our biography discoveries when our oldest was a Kindergartener asking to learn about the people he’d heard mentioned in conversation—George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Louis Braille. More readily more available in the library then some of our other finds, these books invited us to look closely at the illustrations and listen carefully to the text—formatted as picture books with detailed illustrations. Mr. Adler’s books are a great means to introduce children to presidents, heroes, inventors, and world-changers. We’ve added these to our home library as we find them at thrift stores and garage sales. We’ve read and enjoyed:

A Picture Book of Daniel Boone

A Picture Book of George Washington

A Picture Book of Helen Keller

A Picture Book of Lewis and Clark

A Picture Book of Louis Braille

A Picture Book of John and Abigail Adams

A Picture Book of Paul Revere

A Picture Book of Thomas Alva Edison

and more on listed on his site.

Step-Up Books

We’ve LOVED these books, again, featuring real people with whom young children are familiar or have heard mention: John F. Kennedy, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin and more! Written on the first to second grade reading comprehension level, these gems make great read-alouds. For us, these read-alouds equate to more than history. Reading them, we saw learning strides in vocabulary development and comprehension. They also prompted discussions about geography. In addition, some of our learners used the contents for copy work to practice handwriting. The larger font and line spacing of the text, hardcovers and chapters, make these books a welcomed treat for young eyes as well as reluctant or late readers. Step-Up books are equally rewarding for middle to upper grade elementary. The titles are out-of-print, but worth searching for and adding to the home library. You can read more about this series here.

Garrard Discovery Books

Once our children read independently, these books allow for fast, quick, and satisfying gains in fluency. Hardcovers divided into chapters, these books give children a feel and satisfaction for reading “real books”. These well-written biographies begin with the main character’s early childhood and continue through adulthood, providing insight to historical events and geographical influences that impacted their lives. Though fluent second graders could read the books in this series, middle to late elementary learners also love them, especially in situations where gaining fluency and independent reading skills are goals. These are definitely some our most loved biographies for reading aloud (I often hear, “Just one more chapter!”) and independent reading. Out of print but great adds to the home library. You can learn more here.

Early to Middle Elementary

Childhood of Famous Americans

First published in the 1940s and reprinted several times in both hardcover and paperback, these titles have spanned generations of readers. I remember having these available in my elementary school library and likewise my children have chosen these treasures from our home library shelves. Though these biographies are fictionalized, there is merit to the content as it places individuals, and their impact on America and the world, in the minds of learners. These biographies definitely invite children to dig deeper as often the book tells of the childhood and growing up years with a chapter or two at the end focusing on the contributions made as an adult. For more information, you can read this blog post. Occasionally, have these available in my store.

Who IQ

This series began in 2002 and with over 200 titles, this series is easier to find at the local libraries. We’ve enjoyed many of the ones we’ve read and had many great conversations when content provided a different perspective. In our discussions, we’ve talked about interconnected concepts in history, science, geography, and even theology. Great read-alouds and independent reads for upper elementary and even younger middle schoolers. Like the Childhood of Famous Americans, I have some of these titles available in my store.

If You (history-related, not biographies but work in tandem well)

This non-fiction series, though not biographical, has been a welcomed addition to our elementary history studies. The books offer color illustrations and answer questions children may ask about specific eras and events. This series definitely rounds out our history units.

If You Grew Up with George Washington

If You Lived in Colonial Times

If You Sailed on the Mayflower

If You Traveled West in A Covered Wagon

If You Were There When They Signed the Constitution

Middle to Late Elementary

Margaret Davidson Biographies

Middle elementary readers love Margaret Davidson biographies. These engaging, short chapter books enable young readers to devour a book in a day or a few, offering a sense of accomplishment and the personal satisfaction of "I did it!" Thankfully, unlike many older biography series, some libraries are keeping Margaret Davidson treasures on the shelves, making them readily available--at least for now! Check out your library. Maybe you will find on these gems living on the shelves. If so, borrow it!

Margaret Davidson penned the stories of world changers; real people (and in some cases animals) solving real problems. As a child, Margaret was an eager reader. Her love for story shines through her work. Her biographies include:

Abraham Lincoln, Margaret Davidson and Robert Shore 

Balto: The Dog Who Saved Nome, Margaret Davidson and Cathie Bleck 

Frederick Douglass Fights for Freedom, Margaret Davidson

Helen Keller, Margaret Davidson and Wendy Watson 

Helen Keller's Teacher, Margaret Davidson and Wayne Blickenstaff 

I Have A Dream: The Story of Martin Luther King, Margaret Davidson

Louis Braille: The Boy Who Invented Books for the Blind, Margaret Davidson and Janet Compere 

My Lords Richard, Margaret Davidson

The Adventures of George Washington, Margaret Davidson

The Story of Alexander Graham Bell: Inventor of the Telephone, Margaret Davidson and Stephen Marchesi (Illustrator)

The Story of Benjamin Franklin: Amazing American, Margaret Davidson and John Speirs (Illustrator)

The Story of Eleanor Roosevelt, Margaret Davidson

The Golda Meir Story, Margaret Davidson

The Story of Jackie Robinson: Bravest Man in Baseball, Margaret Davidson

The Story of Thomas Alva Edison, Inventor: The Wizard of Menlo Park, Margaret Davidson

Landmark Books

Originally published in the 1950’s and 60’s by Random House, these works were penned by some of greatest children’s authors in history: Sterling North (Rascal), Armstrong Sperry (Call it Courage), C. S. Forrester (Horatio Hornblower series), and Wyatt Blassingame (also authored Discovery Biography titles). Others were written by experts in their field, for example, Captain Ted Lawson. This series of over 200 titles, both American and world, is well-known in homeschooling circles for the wealth of topics in areas of history and science. Typically the average reading level is fifth grade. Though some in the series are now out-of-print, others have been edited and republished in paperback.

Middle and High School

Signature Series

This has been a favorite for several of our learners. Grosset & Dunlap originally published this series in the 1950’s and 60’s; the contents often narrated by the main character. These dialogue-packed chapter books engage middle grade learners (fifth to eighth grade, though some high schoolers appreciate the depth of content). These books are harder to find, but worth the search.

Messner Biographies

These classics are some of the best-written biographies—featuring more obscure (not often studied), yet pivotal leaders in the fields of science, history, politics, and the arts—for older readers. We found these books more difficult to find, but the content depth is inviting to high schoolers, especially since many of the biographies are about lesser known (but not any lesser influence) individuals in history. We’ve enjoyed

What learning awaits in the biographies your learners will read? Start with one—someone your child is intrigued with or someone who was influential in the period of history you family is studying. You may find reading biographies a rewarding supplement or your learner may insist on reading “just one more” in the series and soon you discover you’ve built your entire year around biographies. We’ve had this happen in our home: a child starts with one book and suddenly wants to work his or her way through a whole series! In those seasons, I had to make sure there was time in our day for independent study and digging deeper. I’ve been amazed how one book can lead to a year-long study. With the help of some of these reads, maybe the same will happen in your home.

Using Living Books in High School

When we started our homeschooling high school journey in 2003, I was determined not to leave the learning power of Living Books behind in the elementary and middle school years. 

YOU can use Living Books in high school.

Our high school learners were greatly impacted by the Living Books they chose. In fact, several titles greatly influenced their career choices and life goals.

When we began our high school journey, the first content area in which we incorporated Living Books was history. This seemed a natural choice since we had been using Living Books--biographies, autobiographies, and historical fiction--to accent our history studies in the elementary and middle school years. 

History

Aristotle. Complete Works of Aristotle, Vol. 1. Princeton University Press, 1984.

De Tocqueville, Alexis. Democracy in America and Two Essays on America. Penguin Classics, 2003.

Franklin, Benjamin. The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin. 1790.

McCullough, David. John Adams. Simon &Schuster, 2002.

McCullough, David. The Wright Brothers. Simon &Schuster, 2015.

Metaxas, Eric. Amazing Grace: William Wilberforce and the Heroic Campaign to End Slavery. Harper One, 2007.

Rousseau, Jean-Jacques. On the Social Contract. Dover Publications, 2003.

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The next content area in which we chose to incorporate Living Books was science. It was also a natural fit, especially for learners who had interest in specialty areas or who wanted to dig deeper to learn more about scientists and inventors. As our young adults advanced through the high school years, we included adult and college level materials. 

Science

Burton, Mary June. Louis Pasteur: Founder of Microbiology. Franklin Watts, 1963.

Carson, Ben, and Cecil Murphey. Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story. Zondervan, 1996.

Douty, Esther. America’s First Woman Chemist: Ellen Richards. Julian Messner, 1961.

Einstein, Albert. The Meaning of Relativity: Four Lectures Delivered at Princeton University, May 1921 (Classic Reprint). Forgotten Books, 2017.

Keller, Helen. The Story of My Life. 1903. Signet, 2010.

Williams, Beryl, and Samuel Epstein. Medicine from Microbes: The Story of Antibiotics. Julian Messner, 1965.

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Reaching our creatives with written materials was challenging at times, unless the reading was related their artistic gifting or interest. Perhaps you find yourself in that quandary. The effort you put forth to help your high schoolers find books, matters. Make suggestions. Go to the bookstore together. Visit the library and browse the shelf. Find out who influences or has influenced the field. The effort speaks to your interest in what matters to your teen.

I did discover I had to let go of my rigid definition of what a Living Book was in order to be open to the plethora of possibilities I would  have otherwise discounted.

The Arts

Astaire, Fred. Steps in Time: An Autobiography. Cooper Square Press, 2000.

Kistler, Mark. You Can Draw in 30 Days: The Fun, Easy Way to Learn to Draw in One Month or Less. Da Capo Lifelong Books, 2011.

Tada, Joni Eareckson, Joni. Bantum Books. 1978.

Trapp, Maria. The Story of the Trapp Family Singers: The Story Which Inspired The Sound of Music. William Morrow Paperbacks, 2001.

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What about an athlete who loves to read? How can Living Books be interwoven in a personal fitness or weight training course? And, what about an athlete who would rather play ball than read?

Sports

Dorman, H. A., and Karl Kuehl. The Mental Game of Baseball. Diamond Communications, 2002.

Hershiser, Orel, and Jerry B. Jenkins. Out of the Blue. Wolgemuth & Hyatt Publishers, 1989.

Kilmeade, Brian. The Games Do Count: America’s Best and Brightest on the Power of Sports. HarperCollins, 2004.

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Living Books have the power to pull in even the most reluctant reader!

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Living Books can give life to any subject, if we allow them the opportunity to do so. Recently, one daughter began to lean toward personal growth and leadership materials. I worked on ways to incorporate what she was reading into an elective: Personal Development and Career Exploration. I could have also titled the course Interpersonal Communication, based on the resources she chose. When I wrote More Than Credits, I included the books and activities into an elective framework. It is one of five electives featured in the book.

Ride the West with Living Books

I didn’t see it coming.

Recently, I was reminded that some of the best learning “units” we’ve enjoyed were unplanned and unexpected. They were birthed by questions raised from learning a new word, being involved in an intriguing moment, or engaging in a fascinating event. One of our most recent learning tangents evolved after reading a few chapters of The Pony Express by Samuel Hopkins Adams (Random House, 1950) to my middle schooler. In the process, the elementary learner wondered what the excitement was about and she, too, was hooked. Before we knew it we were all riding the routes of the Pony Express (Mom included after realizing she didn’t know as much as she wished she did), racing through mountain passes, stopping at rest stations, and outwitting bandits.

I remembered we had a few more books about riders on our home library shelf—as well as books about the period of history. I invited my youngest to join me at the bookshelf to find other resources she might enjoy. She was intrigued by the cover of one in particular, Buffalo Bill and the Pony Express by Eleanor Coerr (HarperCollins,1995). Upon opening the book and fanning through the pages—seeing the larger font—she was even more excited. Large font. Easy, enjoyable reading. Unintimidating. We began reading and she immediately recognized some of the rider’s names and station stops from listening to me read to her sister. Learning about the Pony Express just got a bit more personal for her.

Three weeks later, looking back, the “unit” was more than I could have imagined, mostly because of the level of engagement. There was interest and they fully “owned” what they were learning, because they were interested. The more we read, the more involved my learners became. When they had questions, we did our best to find answers. This paved the way to practice research skills.

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Language arts. Study skills. History.

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I know my girls remember a large percentage of what they learned. That makes my heart smile. But, there was something else that grew along with their knowledge…a relationship. They had something in common, a mutual interest, something they could talk and wonder about. They shared what they learned; got excited together.

I could never have manufactured or orchestrated that aspect of the process.

Even after 26 years of homeschooling, I didn’t see a “unit” growing from this book.

But, it did!!

And, I am grateful.

Today, because of that deeper care for one another, they are outside reading in the fort. That’s another story for another day.

Related resources for riding and exploring the west:

Buffalo Bill, Augusta Stevenson (Childhood of Famous Americans)

Buffalo Bill: Wild West Showman, Mary R. Davidson (Discovery biography series, Garrard Publishers)

The California Gold Rush, May McNeer (Landmark series)

Annie Oakley: The Shooting Star, Charles P. Graves (Discovery biography series, Garrard Publishers)

Jim Bridger: Man of the Mountains, Willard and Celia Luce (Discovery biography series, Garrard Publishers)

Kit Carson: Pathfinder of the West, Nardi Reeder Campion (Discovery biography series, Garrard Publishers)

Daniel Boone: The Opening of the Wilderness, John Mason Brown (Landmark series)

Daniel Boone: Young Hunter, Augusta Stevenson (Childhood of Famous Americans)

The Story of Daniel Boone, William O’Steele (Signature series)

Breathing Life Into High School American Literature

I've had great literature teachers. I've had not so great literature teachers. 

How about you? 

What do you remember about the really great literature teachers who taught you? 

I am a people person.

Perhaps you are? And, maybe your high schooler is, too?

We've had people-person high schoolers learning in our home. These young adults needed to meet people--the real people who changed their field, maybe even changed the world--in order to remember. In the case of literature, some of our learners needed to meet the authors.

Imagine our delight when we found this vintage treasure? 

Famous American Authors by Sarah K. Bolton

Biographies of the lives of authors brought our literature studies to life. 

Reading the biographies of authors helped my high schooler understand how life events influenced their writing. Truly fascinating!

There was life in our high school learning. 

With this resource, our current high schooler was able to read about Louisa May Alcott and then read the classic, Little Women. The people connection had brought literature to life while earning our high schoolers credit. 

Famous American Authors was a welcome addition to our high school American Literature course. It may be to yours as well. 

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High School Photography Elective

Several years ago, our daughter began researching camera and announced her interest in photography.

A real interest—one she thought about every day and one that did not go away!

She spent time studying and talking through her ideas; about what she wanted to learn. Being part of a homeschooling family gave her freedom to explore her interest as part of her day—every day—if she desired to do so.

Though I enjoy photography and have a "creative" bent, I admit I had no idea what concepts and skills would be included in a high school level photography course. But she did! Therefore, when she asked me what areas I thought would be included in a photography course, I knew I would have to join in the learning. 

First, I searched the Internet for syllabi of high school level photography courses. Reading, I discovered common threads. This was a starting point.

Second, my daughter and I brainstormed additional content she wanted to learn. For example, she wanted to upgrade her camera. Researching the pros and cons of brands and features was definitely something she could include in her course.

Third, we talked about what real-life experiences could be added: job shadowing, taking pictures of family members, learning and using editing programs, and shooting seconds for a professional photographer.

Clearly, my daughter’s interest drove the learning. I simply had to be open to the ideas and be ready to encourage her progress.

Before we knew it we had accumulated not only content but resources.

Here is a snapshot of the content we developed. 

Course Content

I. History of photography

• the pinhole camera, daguerreotype, Kodak Brownie camera, film development, darkrooms, Polaroid cameras, flash cubes, and flash bars

II. People of Influence

• Joseph Nicephore Niepce, Loius Daguerre, R.L. Maddox, George Eastman

III. Types of Photography

• portrait, children, pets, landscapes, macro, food, nature, architectural, forensic, sport, science,

IV. Parts of a Camera

• parts and components

V. How Cameras Work

VI. Lighting, Shutter Speed, Aperture, Depth of field

• filters

VII. Composition, Color, Contrast, Brightness, Sharpness, and Special Techniques

VIII. Photo Editing

• Photo Shop, Paint Shop Pro, Photo Plus, Pixlr

IX. Analyzing and Critiquing Photography

X. Documentary and Photojournalism 

XI. Famous Photographers and Photojournalists 

• Ansel Adams (another link), Dorothea Lange (another link), Alfred Eisenstaedt

XII. Mounting and Displaying Photography 

• enter photography in contests or county fairs

XIII. Digital Photography

• Using digital photography as graphics

XIV. Photography Careers

• portrait photography, commercial photography, fine art photography, wedding photography, scientific photography, sports photography, medical photography, forensic photography, nature photography, aerial photography, photojournalism

XV. Photography Licenses

• royalty free, rights managed, stock photography

XVI. Legal, Ethical and Copyright

• fair use, buildings protected by copyright, difference between photography for personal use or commercial use, model/copyright releases, editorial photography as a profession in regards to rights and fair use

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The outline above was the jumping off point. Once we had the major areas of study--at least a plan--we could adjust as we went along. YOU can to! Create your own course; your learner’s interest will be the springboard.

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We added experiential learning. Our list of considerations were

• Job shadowing a photographer or interning as a photographer's assistant

• Working in a camera store

• Setting up a darkroom

• Creating a yearbook for a school or co-op

• Working with a blogger to communicate content visually

• Learning mounting techniques.

YOU can come up with a list of your own…with your high schooler’s help!

For learners who appreciate the power of a story, these Living Books may be just the ingredient to bring additional life to the course. 

• Cameras and Courage, Margaret Bourke-White by Iris Noble, Julian Messner biography

• Joseph Pulitzer, Front Page Pioneer by Iris Noble, Julian Messner biography

Likely your learner will have suggestions and ideas.

My daughter's interest led to elective credits, not one but TWO! When she finished these studies, she decided to take an online course. 

Once the interest is sparked, there is no limit to where the learning path may lead. Sometimes it is an elective. Other times the study leads to employment. The possibilities of high school electives is endless! 

If you will be attending Florida Parent Educators Association (FPEA) conference May 25-27, you may be interested in the two high school workshops I have been invited to share: Keeping High School ALIVE with Living Books and High School: Mission Possible. In addition, my husband Mike will join me at the podium to share The Real-Life Influence of Family Conversation and my oldest son and I will present an encouraging session, Thank You, Mom!

FPEA is always a highlight of our speaking calendar. Can't wait to see you there! 

 This blog post is not intended as legal or educational advice. It is our experience and the author recognizes parents have the sole responsibility for the education of their children. Check your state statutes to learn more.

Teaching High School American History and American Literature with Living Books

I am often asked how we teach American History and American Literature in high school. 

Actually, we have used different means and methods with each of our high school learners, dependent on their interests, learning styles, and in some cases, learning challenges. 

This blog post addresses one of those methods; the method we used with our reader who LOVED history. 

With our son's interest in reading and history, we divided American History into Early American (to 1850) and Modern (from 1850 to present) so we could allow time for him to dig deeper. After extensive research (based on my love for education as well as the fear I was doing enough--yes, I have been there!), I developed literature lists for American, British, and World Literature courses. These lists provided my son with reading suggestions to get him started, a springboard of sorts. His desire to learn history prompted him to seek out additional titles. My motto became, 

"You read it, I will give you credit."

For readers interested in the list of works from which we used toward either American History or Survey of American Literature, our reading list (remember it was a springboard from which he could jump in for more) is below. The American, British, and World literature lists are included in my book, Celebrate High School. 

Please keep in mind as you read through this list, our son was a self-motivated reader with an interest in the subject. Not all young adults will share this interest or learning preference. In addition to his independent reading, we used a textbook as a spine of topics. Though he started the year reading some of the text, by the end of the year he was reading more primary source documents, living history selections, and biographical pieces than text. He also had amazing opportunities to tour many of the Civil War battlefields and visited Washington, D. C., Boston, Plymouth, Philadelphia, and New York City. God provided for his love of history through many experiential opportunities. We realize not all learners will have these experiences but trust there will be other provisions for your family. 

This method worked for our oldest son. I tweak the process for each young adult, asking for their input. Please, don't use what is written here as a comparison for what your student should or shouldn't be doing. Learners are unique and high school is not a one-size-fits-all experience. 

Comparing ourselves or our children to others leads to discouragement and discontent, neither of which are valuable.

Our examples are only intended as encouragement, to give an idea of what worked for us and what you might be able to create (or adjust) for your high schooler. Our young adult was (and still is) a reader, but your young adult may have an opportunity to intern with a local historical site or job shadow a museum curator. Use what God provides for your learner and pray about how he is preparing your young adult for the future plans He has, not for the ones we best intention.

Our American Literature list:

Alcott, Louisa May, Little Men

Alcott, Louisa May, Little Women

Barton, David, Bulletproof George Washington

Baum, L. Frank, The Wizard of Oz

Bierce, Ambrose, Civil War Stories

Cather, Willa, My Antonia*

Cather, Willa, O Pioneers!*

Cooper, James Fenimore, The Last of the Mohicans*

Crane, Stephen, The Red Badge of Courage*    

de Tocqueville, Alexis, Democracy in America*

Dewey, John, Democracy and Education*

Douglass, Frederick, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass*

Edwards, Jonathan, Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God*

Faulkner, William, The Sound and the Fury*

Fitzgerald, F. Scott, The Great Gatsby*

Franklin, Benjamin, The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin*

Hawthorne, Nathaniel, The Scarlet Letter

Hemingway, Ernest, A Farewell to Arms*

Hemingway, Ernest, For Whom the Bell Tolls*

Hemingway, Ernest, The Old Man and the Sea*

Hemingway, Ernest, The Sun Also Rises*

Hurston, Zora Neale, Their Eyes Were Watching God*

Irving, Washington, The Legend of Rip Van Winkle

Keller, Helen, The Story of My Life*

Lee, Harper, To Kill a Mockingbird

McCullough, David, 1776

McCullough, David, John Adams

McCullough, David, The Wright Brothers

Melville, Herman, Moby Dick

Miller, Arthur, The Crucible

Miller, Arthur, The Death of a Salesman

Rawlings, Marjorie Kinnan, The Yearling

O.Henry, The Gift of the Magi

Steinbeck, John, Of Mice and Men*

Steinbeck, John, The Grapes of Wrath*

Stowe, Harriet Beecher, Uncle Tom’s Cabin*

Thoreau, Henry David, Civil Disobedience*

Thoreau, Henry David, Walden*

Thurber, James, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

Twain, Mark, Life on the Mississippi

Washington, Booker T., Up From Slavery

Wilder, Thornton, Our Town*

Williams, Tennessee, The Glass Menagerie*

In addition to this literature list, we use primary source documents including speeches and journals.

Here are some examples. There are plenty of resources available on the internet (which could be a great catalyst for a discussion on reliable sources.

50 Core Documents, Teaching AmericanHistory.org

Primary Source Documents in American History

National Archives

Journals of Lewis and Clark

The Story of A Common Soldier- Kindle ebook

The Journal of James Audubon

Orville Wright's journal entry

This post is based on the experience of our oldest son. It is not intended as legal advice and is written with the knowledge that parents are ultimately responsible for the education of their children. 

Living Books in High School

When we started our homeschooling high school journey in 2003, I was determined not to leave the learning power of Living Books behind in the elementary and middle school years. 

Living Books belong in high school!

While preparing a workshop I will present at the 2017 FPEA Convention, May 25-27, I decided to give Celebrate Simple readers some quick ideas we used as we incorporated Living Books into high school course content. Our high school learners were greatly impacted by the Living Books they chose. In fact, several titles greatly impacted career choices and life goals.

When we began our high school journey, the first content area in which we incorporated Living Books was history. This seemed a natural choice since we had been using Living Books--biographies, autobiographies, and historical fiction--to accent our history studies in the elementary and middle school years. 

Adding Living Books to our science studies was also a natural fit, especially for learners who had interest in specialty areas or who wanted to dig deeper to learn more about scientists and inventors. As our young adults advanced through the high school years, we branched out into adult and college level materials. 

Reaching our creatives with written materials was a challenge at times, unless the reading was related their artistic gifting or interest. If you find yourself in that quandary, know that you are not alone and that your efforts are worth the time spent trying to find them great, applicable reads.

And, I had to let go of my more rigid definition of what a Living Book was in order to be open to the plethora of possibilities I would  have otherwise discounted.

The power of the story--not my definition of Living Book--impacted the life of the reader. 

What about an athlete who loves to read? How can Living Books be interwoven in a personal fitness or weight training course? And, what about an athlete who would rather play ball than read?

Living Books have the power to pull in even the most reluctant reader! 

Living Books can give life to any subject, if we allow them the opportunity to do so. Recently, one daughter began to lean toward personal growth and leadership materials, while another continued on her pursuit of all things medical. Why not include Living Books in that area, too!

If you are in Orlando over Memorial Day weekend, I would love for you to join me in my workshop, Keeping High School Alive with Living Books, at the FPEA Convention. This workshop will offer insight as to how Living Books bring high school studies to life and influence choices learners make beyond the tassel turning. The workshop will be packed with specific ideas in regards course content, book titles, and life-learning experiences. Hope to see you there! 

Interests Fuel Life-Long Learning

Dogs.

It's everything dogs for our littlest learner. 

She's curious about what dogs eat (getting eye level--but not too close--to watch ours furry friend eat). She's curious about how why they pant, how they feel to touch. She wants to know everything about every dog she sees, large or small.

Sitting in the dentist office last week, waiting for big sister to finish her appointment, I found a treasure--an attention grabbing-just-what-we-needed-at-that-moment treasure. 

A book featuring photographs of dogs. 

I handed it to our youngest. I knew it would keep her attention. 

It was a "mom hung the moon" moment.

She looked at me. Her eyes seemed to say, "Thank you for caring about my interest!"

The excitement on her face. The eagerness in her learning. The pure joy!

As she paged through the book, I engaged with her about the pictures on each page. She'd look at me and smile. With every smile, I thought about two workshops I have been writing for an upcoming speaking engagement; one workshop for parents of elementary learners and one workshop for parents of middle schoolers.

Relationships and curiosity fuel learning.

Like adults, children need relationships. Couple that with natural curiosity--questioning anything and everything--and there is a recipe for building a love for life-long learning. 

How do we keep a person's natural curiosity aflame for life?

Ask questions. When the art of questioning is modeled, it is readily available for learning.

I am not natural questioner. I like to teach; to tell. As a consequence, the parenting years hit me hard. The more I told and commanded, the more frustrated my children became. And, I noticed they stopped asking questions and waited to be told to do things--waiting to do school work and chores until they were told. Stepping back from the situation (and asking for Mike's input) I realized my children had valuable ideas, valid questions. They needed a mom who listen and then ask questions; a who would practice the art of questioning. At that point, I decided to be intentional about asking more questions and encouraging my children to to the same. I asked questions like:

• I wonder how that works?
• I wonder why the hermit crab needed a new shell?
• I wonder what will happen if we add more soap?

I had to work hard at replacing my teaching/telling bent (saving it for where that bent was really needed) with an intentionality to listen and engage my children in thoughtful questioning. Though it took a bit of time to turn the cart around, I began to hear my children returning to their natural bent of asking questions. Definitely worth my effort.

Find answers. With questioning comes the need to find answers.

If I was going to be intent on encouraging critical thinking skills and the art questioning, I would also have to purposeful in helping my children find answers. And, as the children grew we had to have conversations about where to find accurate information; to ponder whether an author had the knowledge and experience to speak to a topic. 

We began to build a home library of reference and resource materials--field guides, a Magiscope, a heavy-duty magnifying glass, kitchen scales, history books, classic literature. In some cases, we found apps to be the best resource, for example Sky View and Sky Map. We talked to our children about the importance of primary source documents and role played how to carry on conversations with people--should they want to ask questions of someone. In addition, as our children entered middle and high school, we discussed volunteering and job shadowing. These opportunities encouraged our young adults to answer their questions about career interests by talking to professionals in the field.

Be observant. Interests are not always obvious.

Some interests are obvious, like my daughter's curiosity with dogs. Others are a bit more hidden, sometimes even unknown to the beholder! To discover the interests of some of my children, I had to watch, listen, and be open to how they spent their time (versus controlling every minute of their day).  In my watching and listening, I began to ask myself questions. 

• Was my child wanting to take things apart and put them back together?
• Was a particular career intriguing to my child?
• When we were at a church event or field trip who did my child gravitate toward certain people--children or adult?
• What did my child do to fill extra time in the day?
• Did my child have an ability to put together colors, lines and shapes or craft inspirational poetry?

My littlest learner is not yet old enough to verbalize her questions, yet her curiosity is evident in her facial expressions and gestures, through her hand clapping and dancing. Her reaction--her joy in learning--invites us to ask her questions, interact with her excitement, and fuel her curiosity by providing resources (like finding her dog books at the library). In doing so, her siblings, Mike and I are learning to help her dig deeper into her interest. As a result, our curiosity about how she learns is fostered. It is a cycle of interest-fueling learning. 

And it is a beautiful life-learning cycle. 

It's intentional, real, and relational. 

Vintage Science Readers for the WIN!

There is something to be said about tried and true. That's one reason our family enjoys older books.

This week we rediscovered Follett Beginning Science Books. 

Three learners, Kindergarten to middle school, have been glued to content as I read aloud Frogs and Toads by Charles A. Schoenknecht. During our time together, I heard "I never knew that." and "That's so interesting!" more times than I can count. YAY!

In fact, I am still learning. I didn't know that frogs pull in their eyes to help swallow caught insects--which they ingest WHOLE! Fascinating!

There's more I love about this series--at least the ones we have managed to find. Large font, simple text packed with content, invited my budding reader to give independent reading a try. I mean-- interesting content, large font, hardcover--she was excited!  

"It's a real book and I want to read it!"

She is motivated to become a more fluent reader and will learn science in the process.

That's a WIN!

I will add, these gems are difficult to find--published by Follett Publishing Company in the 1960s--but well worth the hunt. In fact, we have more coming this week! And, my learners can't wait.

In case you've been intrigued to find one to find out if your learners will be enjoy this series, here is a list to help your quest. Consider starting with a title of interest. For example, my learners are more interested in the animal titles, hence our beginning point. 

• Air by Edna Mitchell Preston      
• Animals without Backbones by Robert E. Pfadt   
• Ants by Charles A. Schoenknecht            
• Beavers by F. Dorothy Wood     
• Birds by Isabel B. Wasson             
• Birds That Hunt by Willard Luce
• Butterflies by Jeanne S. Brouillette          
• Climate by Julian May   
• Comets and Meteors by Isaac Asimov           
• Deer by John Feilen       
• Electricity by Edward Victor        
• Friction by Edward Victor             
• Frogs and Toads by Charles A. Schoenknecht     
• Galaxies by Isaac Asimov             
• Grasshoppers by Robert E. Pfadt              
• Heat by Edward Victor  
• Hummingbirds by Betty John     
• Insects by Jeanne S. Brouillette
• Light by Isaac Asimov    
• Machines by Edward Victor        
• Magnets by Edward Victor          
• Mammals by Esther K. Meeks   
• Molecules and Atoms by Edward Victor
• The Moon by Isaac Asimov         
• Moths by Jeanne S. Brouillette  
• Plants with Seeds by F. Dorothy Wood  
• Robins by Edwin A. Mason           
• Rocks and Minerals by Lou Page
• Snakes by Esther K. Meeks         
• Soil by Richard Cromer  
• The Solar System by Isaac Asimov           
• Sound by Charles D. Neal            
• Space by Marian Tellander          
• Spiders by Ramona Stewart Dupre          
• Squirrels by John Feilen               
• The Sun by Isaac Asimov              
• Trees by George Sullivan             
• Tropical Fish by Loren P. Woods               
• Weather by Julian May
• Whales by Val Gendron               
• Your Wonderful Brain by Mary Jane Keene  

Reading and science? Yes, please. And that's a WIN! WIN! 

Living Books and Independent Studies

"Mom, do we have any nurse books?"

That question. 

An interest.

I started with what I knew. My knowledge of nursing minimal at best. 

A Florence Nightingale biography; I knew we had one in our biography section. I  eagerly motioned her over to the shelves. 

A week. She read; late into the evenings. I could tell she was engaged. She had accepted the author's invitation to walk hospital ward halls where Florence served, cared. My daughter experienced the Crimean War, through the pages of that biography.

The final evening, sprawled across the recliner, she closed the book and pulled it close to her chest. A sigh. I inquired. 

"I love that book! I know Florence. She persevered. She solved problems to help others. I know Florence."

My daughter had been invited into a life, into a life that mattered.  

"Do we have any other nurse books?"

That question.

An interest evolved into an independent study, a year-long learning adventure. 

I knew it would happen. I just didn't know exactly when or with which book. 

Stories have a way about beckoning us to places, meeting people we would never otherwise meet. While my daughter read the The Story of Florence Nightingale by Margaret Leighton, I heard a whisper, a quiet voice which suggested I build; build resources, other books related to nursing. In answering the call, I searched book lists. Bought used and asked knowledgeable people for ideas. All for a purpose. 

I found books. They were delivered to our door. My daughter read.

About three books into her reading, she started to recognize connections between these often heroic women. At dinner I heard about her ah-ha moments. My daughter commented, sharing stories of how one nurse inspired, trained, or mentored another. 

I was astounded by the understanding she was gaining, truly amazed!

My daughter's independent study began with one Living Book, a book about a real person who recognized a need, saw a problem and then found solutions. That one book led to an independent study, a study I didn't plan. My role was to foster her interest by finding resources--in this case books--and to be willing to listen--to process. There were many discussions, many summaries voluntarily shared because the learning intrigued and mattered. My daughter analyzed, compared, inferred, questioned.

Surprisingly, her independent study began with one book; an invitation into the life of one nurse.

One Living Book. One real story. An independent study.

---

What were the books?

In addition to The Story of Florence Nightingale by Margaret Leighton (a Signature series biography) the book which started the study, my daughter also enjoyed:

Great Women of Medicine by Ruth Fox Hume, a collective biography

Nurse Around the World: Alice Fitzgerald by Iris Noble, a Messner biography

The Story of Edith Cavell by Iris Vinton. a Signature series biography

First Woman Ambulance Surgeon: Emily Barringer by Iris Noble, borrowed from a friend who knew of my daughter's interest, also a Messner biography

Frontier Nurse: Mary Breckinridge by Katherine E. Wilkie

America's First Trained Nurse: Linda Richards by Rachel Baker, a Messner biography

Remember, some of these books are intended for older learners. My daughter was entering high school when she read these books. What one family deems appropriate may not be considered acceptable for another family. Parents should consider their family's guidelines for reading material, as well as the maturity of their reader, when offering titles for learning. 

This blog post is intended to offer an example of personal experience. It is in no way intended to be legal advice and should not be taken as such. Parents own the sole responsibility for the training and education of their children.