From words to wisdom: How to approach literature in Grades 7 to 12

Homeschooling allows parents the unique opportunity to tailor their child’s education, offering a more personalised learning experience. When it comes to teaching literature, you can create a rich and immersive learning environment that fosters a love for reading, critical thinking, and creative expression.

Why do we study literature?

Literature enriches our lives by promoting effective communication, emotional intelligence, and cultural understanding. It also develops your child’s ability to:

• Appreciate various forms of text.
• Discover different literary devices and how they add value to the deeper meaning of a text.
• Understand how an author’s background and the setting influence the text.
• Recognise the author’s intention to deliver a specific message and either agree or disagree with this.

Cultivating a love for reading

When you embark on the task of teaching literature, it’s essential to establish a strong foundation by cultivating a love for reading.

You can start by creating a reading-friendly environment and designating a cosy and inviting reading space in your home. Make sure that there is sufficient lighting, comfortable seating, and plenty of books within reach! Surround your learner with a rich variety of reading material, including comic books, young adult novels, and even magazines that pique their interest.

Make reading even more appealing and accessible by embracing digital resources: why not incorporate e-books or audiobooks? These platforms can provide a fresh and dynamic reading experience for learners who are drawn to technology.

Curate a collection of literature that appeals to your learner’s interests. Variety is key – expose them to different genres and authors. Consider their preferences and incorporate texts that tackle relevant, thought-provoking themes.

Also read: The love for reading starts early 

Igniting the imagination

Here are our top tips on how to approach teaching literature once you have set a solid foundation:

1. Encourage active reading

Teach your learner to actively engage with the text by making notes, highlighting key passages, and jotting down any questions they may have. Motivate them to express their opinions and interpretation while supporting these ideas with evidence from the text. By creating a safe and open environment where they can share their insights, questions, and observations, learners can develop better critical thinking and communication skills while improving their comprehension of the text.

2. Explore literary elements and techniques

Introduce your learner to different literary elements and techniques authors use to enhance their writing. It’s essential for them to understand key concepts such as plot structure, character development, symbolism, imagery, figurative language, and narrative styles. Help your learner develop a deeper understanding of literature – discuss how these elements contribute to the overall meaning and impact of the text by looking at specific examples.

3. Encourage creative expression

Literature provides one of the best platforms for creative expression. Encourage your learner to explore their creativity by writing their own stories, performing dramatic readings, or even creating visual representations inspired by the text. This fosters a connection with literature and enables your child to discover their own narrative voice.

4. Make use of supplementary materials

Impaq learners can find past literature papers and subject guidance sessions on the Optimi Learning Portal (OLP). You can also search for educational videos on YouTube, such as Crash Course, or buy literature guides on the Optimi Plus store to help your learner prepare for their tests and exams.