This post isn’t so much about a specific subject, but more of a “technique” I find both useful and memorable. We’ve always used “living books” where possible in homeschool (AmblesideOnline the early years, and Build Your Library now), and I initially wanted a method of reflecting on the books that we read. I think I may have read this suggestion somewhere years ago, but I don’t recall for sure, or even where I saw it (if I did read it somewhere, I apologize for not giving credit where due). A few years ago we started regular “book reviews”.
The format is simple:
First paragraph(s): Summarize the book in a “typical” book report style. Narrate the main points of the book
Second paragraph(s): Explain whether or not you liked the book and why.
The benefits:
- Creates “closure” to the reading of the book. While she may have written other essays or had tests on the book, the book review is the last step with it.
- Allows her to reflect on the entire book and recall its main points. “Narration” is key in a Charlotte Mason education, and while narrating an entire book isn’t standard practice (generally “narrations” are done for more manageable chunks), it is still an exercise in recall. Doing this allows the student to piece together all of the parts of the book and discern what the author is trying to say.
- An exercise in composition. I used all of the book reviews as part of her English/Language Arts grades, even if the book was for another subject. Writing effective and grammatically correct essays are important.
- Allows the student to honestly say why (or why not) she liked a particular book. Opinions and feedback should be always encouraged in school. This will also help me as an instructor in the future determine which types of books might be the best fit.
- Memorable record of the school year. Having the book reviews all together in a binder at the end of the year is a sort of time capsule. Since all book reviews will have the same format from year to year (though the required “length” increases each year), it will be easy to compare her writing/style from one year to the next by putting different reviews side-by-side.
We try to have her write the book review close to the time that she finishes the book, but to be honest, often we bulk some of them up at the end of the term. Doing it that way also puts a closure to the current term: exam week is 1) exams and 2) book reviews.
I know this was a short post, but wanted to share this “beloved” and useful technique that we use in our homeschool.
Top of Her Class of One 