How to Teach Your High Schooler to Read a Book

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How to Teach High School English to Your Homeschool Teen

Drama, poetry, prose, narrative essays, Oh my!

Teaching English, especially to high school students, can often feel like a daunting task. Even experienced English teacher, Calli Birch, shares how she, at one point, was intimidated by homeschooling English. So if the thought of teaching English makes you more scared than Frodo running from Orcs, don’t worry- you are in the right place.

In this episode of The Feast Life, I’m joined by Calli Birch from Storyweaver.co. If the thought of a red pen on your papers makes you want to cringe- let’s chat about a different approach. 

1. The Uniqueness of Teens

Remember they aren’t children anymore. Teens can think these higher level thoughts. That prefrontal cortex is really developing and working hard, but they're not adults either and they crave authenticity and meaning, but they can also sniff out an agenda and manipulation a mile away. Oh…and they hate being forced to do things.

Teens must have buy in. I'm not saying that everything we're always going to do is going to have their buy in. Sometimes we do have to encourage them and prod them along. But when we can get buy-in, it's a game changer.We can show them that classic literature gives them a safe place to ask big questions and to explore the universal qualities of the human experience and contemplate these big things that they are already contemplating, that they are already thinking about in their lives.

Literature gives teens a little bit of distance from their lives, helping them feel safe. Itt gives them the perfect opportunity to do this. Teaching literature is looking at it through the lens of theme and character.

My biggest tip is to not teach English as content mastery. Now of course, we want them to have a grasp on grammatical skills and having mastery of language and structure is going to make them a stronger writer. But specifically when we're talking about classic books and literature, we must treat it more like an invitation for experience and to discuss meaningful things instead of content to be memorized or content to learn.

What is essential is that they've learned how to read deeply, to think critically, and ask good questions. 

2. The Value of Classic Literature

While challengingly rich in structure, style, and language, classic literature provides an invaluable pool for students to draw timeless lessons. They present universal themes and stories that have stood the test of time, and this holds immeasurable importance. Despite their individual preferences, students need to have a taste of all literature types. Not only does this broaden their understanding, but it also gives them a solid foundation for comparison.

Parents often ask “What if I’ve never read the book myself?”

Learn to ask open ended questions about the text that students are reading and ask students their favorite passage from their reading. There are spark notes. There are YouTube summaries out there now. I think it's ideal to be able to read them if you can, usually in high school it's a book a month. Utilize audiobooks-you can listen to it while you're doing dishes or talking a walk.

Implementing an inclusive method of dialogue is fundamental in developing English writing skills. Rather than dominating the conversation with all-knowing answers, use open-ended discussions about the books they read. This method, known as the Socratic approach, entails asking questions that provoke a thoughtful response. This approach allows the student to think critically, boosting their engagement in writing about what interests them for their literature readings.

3. The Writing Process

In addition to initiating thought-provoking discussions, it is equally important to guide students through the writing process. This involves distinct stages - brainstorming, outlining, drafting, and revising. Drafts will typically be messy, and there may be several revisions before a student achieves a piece of excellence. However, it is essential not to be overly critical. Instead, help them cultivate their opinions and style without stifling their voice.

Personal narrative is the best starting point in high school English classes. Focusing on personal experiences resonates with teenagers' natural inclination to share about themselves. Personal narratives serve as a vital tool to help students identify their writing voice, which in turn reinforces their analytical and persuasive writing skills.

4. Preparing Students for College English

As we prepare our students for college English, consider how these nuances in teaching the subject can enhance their experiences. Implementing an inclusive discussion, emphasizing the drafting stages, focusing on personal narratives, and introducing thematic classic literature can be transformative in the learning journey. 

In essence, the goal is to foster their curiosity and ability to synthesize information. We want our students to be able to voice their opinions confidently, ethically, and kindly, drawing from the rich feast of knowledge that literature offers. Ultimately, we are raising our children not only to excel academically but also to be vibrant, compassionate individuals with a love for beautiful stories and a resilient, understanding voice.

Find Calli Birch at https://www.storyweaverco.com/