Enter new category name

the 'tired teacher talks about learning
May 20, 2009 9:50 am

Hi!




I am Melissa's mother, a retired teacher (or a 'tired teacher as my granddaughter calls me). I miss the daily challenges and the opportunity to impact so many lives. I am hoping, therefore, that what I have to say can be of value to you. After all, once a teacher always....



I think overall the biggest thing that parents don't "get" is the tremendous importance of the home attitude and environment for learning, that learning needn't take place in a structured situation, and that, probably, the best learning of all is "child-driven". What a mouthful, and what does it mean? It means, quite simply, this: that learning takes place all the time and everywhere...that talking to your child while driving your car will have consequences on what he not only remembers, but on what he himself observes...It's okay sometimes to talk to your child like a mini-'adult. He will be pleased with the respectful attention and you may be surprised at the concepts he grasps that you've been sure are "above his level".

Let me state quite clearly here that I am not about pushing a child...I believe, in fact, it's the worst thing you can do. Every time I hear a parent brag about a child's accomplishments, the number of classes in which he is enrolled, the learning at an early age of a second language I cringe. My concern, of course, is that although the effects of this may not be immediately visible, the long range consequences may certainly be unwanted and definitely undoable. A child, mostly, is like a sponge; think of the infancy period and all that your child absorbed. Curiosity, wonder, exploration, a desire to learn (yes, a desire to learn)are innate qualities of all children. Why are we trying so hard to squelch them? Why must we squeeze them at so early an age in to a predetermined mold? Isn't the precious God-given "desire to learn" equally, if not more, important than "what they learn" and "how early" they learned it?



Eduated affluent parents, sad to say, are often the worst perpetrators of "top-down" parenting.A plethora of opportunities at their disposal, they cannot do "enough" for their children. Every generation wants to do more, give more. There is something wonderful about that. But I hope we all remember that given the natural endowments, each child will thrive by the simplest exposures and our constant faith in not only their abilities but the natural processes of development in life. Why must a three year old color in the lines? And if we don't "teach" them to print their names, will they never learn to write?

So, in conclusion, what is my advice? Listen. Listen to your children. Hear their boredom. Hear their excitement. Encourage questioning, exploration, silliness, making a mess, and be there and be ready for when "the time is right".