A Blog from Ms. Z

Dear Bios families,

When sharing the name of our school with others, I am often met with an inquisitive look and asked to repeat the title. I am certain that some of you share my experience. After learning that “Bios” is the Greek word for “life”, the confusion turns to appreciation for the originality and the purpose behind the name.

This exchange continually reinforces the significance of our weekly study of Greek and Latin roots in our English language program at Bios Christian Academy. Along with our regular grammar lessons, literature study, and writing assignments, students are having fun, learning about the birth of words.

Did you know that 60 percent of the English language (that figure rises to over 90 percent in the vocabulary of sciences and technology) comes from Latin and Greek word origins? Understanding these origins helps to unlock a plethora of vocabulary. By learning the root and its derivation, students can decipher the meaning of new words, taking some of the guesswork out of unfamiliar terminology. Not only does this serve to expand their verbal skills, but also gives them a resource for understanding how the English language shapes our perceptions of God’s world around us.

Be mindful that words are the tools with which we think, learn, and communicate. The more words we know, the more we are able to explore thought, absorb knowledge, and get our points of view understood and expanded upon, regarding all things that are important to us.

So take a moment this week and ask your child to recite the Greek alphabet -in Greek!

Our very own school name reflects the necessity of learning our “roots”.

Bios brings “life” to learning, and learning to life!

Blessings,
Ms. Z