Most teachable moments come in the routine of daily life — and take a special person to recognize and share them. Most of us are too busy or focused on ourselves to notice.IMy heart aches when I hear a small child ask a reasonable “Why?” question that gets shot down. Observing others and their sense of wonder are the ways they learn about the world.I get so aggravated with adults who spew out angry streams of words (especially, “how many times have I told you…?” like a pre-schooler keeps score!)All of this to say that learning goes beyond school and encouraging learning is both challenging and rewarding. I know from experience. At two, my son, always small for his age, would grab the “A” volume of the World Book, lug it over to where I was sitting and say, “Read me this.” I would either translate big words to something he could understand or use the word and explain it’s meaning. His love of aviation, which began with watching the tankers from Altus AFB (OK) do flyovers, expanded with each reading and led to his career. The readings also expanded his vocabulary.
P.S. It’s also funny that, now that I’m (much) older, I don’t mind at all spending hours on the net finding out about chemistry or archaeology or botany or microhistories. I listen to a lot of The Great Courses, and the best thing about them is that I don’t have to take a test. . .
I started reading my textbooks, cover-to-cover, at the beginning of the school year when I was about 10. This often meant I knew things the teachers didn’t get to for lack of time. In college, it gave me exposure to the new terminology for a course, before it was presented.
dlkrueger33 over 4 years ago
Ease into it with “How I Spent My Summer Vacation”. Isn’t that the standard “first essay of the year”?
jpayne4040 over 4 years ago
I still don’t see the point or the benefit of homework at all!
Thechildinme over 4 years ago
Most teachable moments come in the routine of daily life — and take a special person to recognize and share them. Most of us are too busy or focused on ourselves to notice.IMy heart aches when I hear a small child ask a reasonable “Why?” question that gets shot down. Observing others and their sense of wonder are the ways they learn about the world.I get so aggravated with adults who spew out angry streams of words (especially, “how many times have I told you…?” like a pre-schooler keeps score!)All of this to say that learning goes beyond school and encouraging learning is both challenging and rewarding. I know from experience. At two, my son, always small for his age, would grab the “A” volume of the World Book, lug it over to where I was sitting and say, “Read me this.” I would either translate big words to something he could understand or use the word and explain it’s meaning. His love of aviation, which began with watching the tankers from Altus AFB (OK) do flyovers, expanded with each reading and led to his career. The readings also expanded his vocabulary.
1953Baby over 4 years ago
Wait’ll you get to the 60-hour work week, kid.. .GAWD, I LUV retirement.
1953Baby over 4 years ago
P.S. It’s also funny that, now that I’m (much) older, I don’t mind at all spending hours on the net finding out about chemistry or archaeology or botany or microhistories. I listen to a lot of The Great Courses, and the best thing about them is that I don’t have to take a test. . .
WCraft Premium Member over 4 years ago
Let the procrastinating begin.
Gerard:D over 4 years ago
Gabby loves homework so much, she is walking on air!
david_42 over 4 years ago
I started reading my textbooks, cover-to-cover, at the beginning of the school year when I was about 10. This often meant I knew things the teachers didn’t get to for lack of time. In college, it gave me exposure to the new terminology for a course, before it was presented.
Night-Gaunt49[Bozo is Boffo] over 4 years ago
Strange how the revised education system in Finland doesn’t have homework. And they do as well as Japan and many parsecs better than the USA.