kolmapäev, aprill 26, 2006
Educational Philosophy
The following is excerpted from http://www.sonlight.com/educational-philosophy.html
The world is out there to be marveled at, enjoyed, explored, and learned from. Once you catch on to this idea, you will find it easy to see educational value in almost everything you do.
No More Boring Textbooks!
We believe that most children respond more positively to great literature than they do to textbooks. Books—quality books—can distill the wisdom of an entire life into the span of a few pages. They can feed us with spiritual insight beyond imagination. Whether written by Christians or non-Christians, great books help us to develop critical thinking skills. They cause us to question the validity of our own values and beliefs in light of the author's perspective.
Once a good book grabs your child's attention, you'll find that the educational process becomes relatively painless—because your child will actually want to read!
Explore the Wonder of the World
Look for "teaching moments" throughout the day.
Our world is a place of wonder and exploration. Just take a look around—potential learning experiences can be found at every turn. Use your daily encounters with the unfamiliar to teach your children.
If they (or you) don't understand something, look it up. Use a dictionary or encyclopedia. Go to the library. Use the Internet. Do some research! Search for the answer together. Make it an adventure.
After you find an answer, expand the learning experience by looking for a practical application to reinforce the lesson. Remember: not everything your children need to know can be learned in books. Some things can only be learned by doing.
The World Needs the Gospel
Although God's plans are for all peoples, most children can't imagine that anyone lives differently than they do. Most have no idea that there is a big world around them filled with people who have completely different experiences from their own. We want to help children understand history as it looks from the perspective of these people who, for social or cultural reasons, see things differently than we do.
Balanced Perspectives
We can only speak persuasively to members of other groups if they are convinced that (1) we have listened to them, (2) we have understood what they are saying, and (3) we have empathized with their perspectives. Then, if we still hold a different perspective, it is despite our obvious understanding of and empathy with who they are and what they have said.
We want children to know that God is faithful—they can listen to other perspectives without having their faith destroyed. If our children can lead others to begin questioning their beliefs, they will have no shortage of people asking them "to give the reason for the hope that [they] have" (1 Peter 3:15). They can then approach a new and unfamiliar situation with the humility and grace that is appropriate to an ambassador of Christ.
They will have no need to fear because they will learn that the truth—God's truth—will prevail. He who is in us truly is greater than he who is in the world (cf. 1 John 4:4). And He who is by our side really will give us the right words to say when the time comes (cf. Matthew 10:18—20). Children come to know this not just in their heads, but also in their hearts, through experience.
Natural Learning
Children learn by discovery. They observe, analyze, and then seek to emulate what they have seen a master wordsmith do before them.
As Dr. Beechick has so strongly noted, this is the method by which Benjamin Franklin taught himself to write. It is the method by which many of the world's greatest authors have learned to put their words together.
The "natural learning" method is not as obviously logical as standard workbook methods. In "natural learning," children will make a discovery; we will reinforce it for them; but they won't find 50 similar "problems" neatly laid out for them to "solve." This method is, in some ways, slower than the traditional workbook method, and for a person who demands a linear path from one topic to another, it can certainly frustrate.
Children have to really puzzle things through and figure them out. They often have to use external resources to help. However, when they finally "get" a principle that they've been struggling to master, they will never forget it! They will understand it thoroughly and be able to apply it in almost any context.
An Engaging Process
You have the opportunity to serve as mentor to your own children. Don't waste the opportunity! Interact with your children. Ask questions. Point out similarities and contrasts between what you read in one book with what you read in another. If you find that two books disagree, point out the disagreement—and pursue a solution to the problem. Show your children by example how mature, well—educated people interact with materials they disagree with.
There are areas of life—skills, perspectives, attitudes—that can never be passed on to our children through words alone. These are the intangible qualities and elusive blessings we want our children to enjoy: things like a positive self-esteem; a sense of belonging and of being loved; a love for learning; and an appreciation for beauty. All of these are attitudes, values and methods you can pass on to your children that they will easily miss if you simply hand them a stack of books.
Testing
It is far better that your children should learn to be skilled educators than excellent test-takers!
The world is out there to be marveled at, enjoyed, explored, and learned from. Once you catch on to this idea, you will find it easy to see educational value in almost everything you do.
No More Boring Textbooks!
We believe that most children respond more positively to great literature than they do to textbooks. Books—quality books—can distill the wisdom of an entire life into the span of a few pages. They can feed us with spiritual insight beyond imagination. Whether written by Christians or non-Christians, great books help us to develop critical thinking skills. They cause us to question the validity of our own values and beliefs in light of the author's perspective.
Once a good book grabs your child's attention, you'll find that the educational process becomes relatively painless—because your child will actually want to read!
Explore the Wonder of the World
Look for "teaching moments" throughout the day.
Our world is a place of wonder and exploration. Just take a look around—potential learning experiences can be found at every turn. Use your daily encounters with the unfamiliar to teach your children.
If they (or you) don't understand something, look it up. Use a dictionary or encyclopedia. Go to the library. Use the Internet. Do some research! Search for the answer together. Make it an adventure.
After you find an answer, expand the learning experience by looking for a practical application to reinforce the lesson. Remember: not everything your children need to know can be learned in books. Some things can only be learned by doing.
The World Needs the Gospel
Although God's plans are for all peoples, most children can't imagine that anyone lives differently than they do. Most have no idea that there is a big world around them filled with people who have completely different experiences from their own. We want to help children understand history as it looks from the perspective of these people who, for social or cultural reasons, see things differently than we do.
Balanced Perspectives
We can only speak persuasively to members of other groups if they are convinced that (1) we have listened to them, (2) we have understood what they are saying, and (3) we have empathized with their perspectives. Then, if we still hold a different perspective, it is despite our obvious understanding of and empathy with who they are and what they have said.
We want children to know that God is faithful—they can listen to other perspectives without having their faith destroyed. If our children can lead others to begin questioning their beliefs, they will have no shortage of people asking them "to give the reason for the hope that [they] have" (1 Peter 3:15). They can then approach a new and unfamiliar situation with the humility and grace that is appropriate to an ambassador of Christ.
They will have no need to fear because they will learn that the truth—God's truth—will prevail. He who is in us truly is greater than he who is in the world (cf. 1 John 4:4). And He who is by our side really will give us the right words to say when the time comes (cf. Matthew 10:18—20). Children come to know this not just in their heads, but also in their hearts, through experience.
Natural Learning
Children learn by discovery. They observe, analyze, and then seek to emulate what they have seen a master wordsmith do before them.
As Dr. Beechick has so strongly noted, this is the method by which Benjamin Franklin taught himself to write. It is the method by which many of the world's greatest authors have learned to put their words together.
The "natural learning" method is not as obviously logical as standard workbook methods. In "natural learning," children will make a discovery; we will reinforce it for them; but they won't find 50 similar "problems" neatly laid out for them to "solve." This method is, in some ways, slower than the traditional workbook method, and for a person who demands a linear path from one topic to another, it can certainly frustrate.
Children have to really puzzle things through and figure them out. They often have to use external resources to help. However, when they finally "get" a principle that they've been struggling to master, they will never forget it! They will understand it thoroughly and be able to apply it in almost any context.
An Engaging Process
You have the opportunity to serve as mentor to your own children. Don't waste the opportunity! Interact with your children. Ask questions. Point out similarities and contrasts between what you read in one book with what you read in another. If you find that two books disagree, point out the disagreement—and pursue a solution to the problem. Show your children by example how mature, well—educated people interact with materials they disagree with.
There are areas of life—skills, perspectives, attitudes—that can never be passed on to our children through words alone. These are the intangible qualities and elusive blessings we want our children to enjoy: things like a positive self-esteem; a sense of belonging and of being loved; a love for learning; and an appreciation for beauty. All of these are attitudes, values and methods you can pass on to your children that they will easily miss if you simply hand them a stack of books.
Testing
It is far better that your children should learn to be skilled educators than excellent test-takers!
