Literacy Is in Our Name—Here’s Why

At Lucas Literacy Lab, literacy isn’t a subject—it’s the method. Every question, project, and conversation is rooted in the power of language, story, and inquiry. You won’t find this approach anywhere else.

It’s in the way we read, the way we talk, the way we wonder out loud, and follow questions wherever they lead. Literacy lives in everything—from the books we curl up with to the way we label a hand-built bird nest or write a letter to our pen pals.

One of the most beloved parts of our day is our afternoon read-aloud. After hours of play, projects, and exploration, we wind down together with a shared story. It’s a time for connection, imagination, and reflection—and the kids never want it to end.

This spring, I read A Horse Named Sky to the group. I chose it to complement our Farm Thursdays, expecting it to be a cozy, engaging story to end the day. What I didn’t expect was for it to spark an entire unit of inquiry and discovery.

They were captivated. Questions poured out: “Do colts ever fight stallions on the farm?” “How do farmers keep horses from hurting each other?” "When colts grow up, do they have to leave?"

That one story opened a door.

Soon, we were surrounded by nonfiction texts on horse behavior, wild herds, domestication, and equine anatomy. The kids dove into independent research, filled pages with notes, new vocabulary words, and sketches, and debated ideas with each other. What began as a fictional read-aloud became a multi-day, child-led project that culminated in the creation of our own field guide on horses—complete with labeled diagrams, fun facts, and original writing.

This is what literacy looks like at LLL. It’s immersive. It’s meaningful. It’s driven by curiosity.

Every day includes quiet time for independent reading, so treasured that the kids often beg for more. We read aloud together at the end of the day, not because it’s required, but because we love it. And from that shared love of stories, incredible learning grows. They read, they write, they ask, they wonder, and they create.

We don’t rush. We don’t push. We build trust first, making space for coziness and connection. We watch the children thaw, and when they do, the learning takes off.

That’s the heart of microschooling. That’s the magic of literacy at Lucas Literacy Lab.

Want a tour? Email amanda@lucasliteracylab.com