"What we want is to see the child in pursuit of knowledge, and not knowledge in pursuit of the child." - George Bernard Shaw
If there is one thing that I have learned about education, it is that no one can be forced to learn. Learning is a process that must be undertaken by the student himself; the aim of the teacher, then, is not only to direct and refine the direction of that learning, but to motivate the student to want to start the journey.
This is not something that a single teacher can do alone.
You, the parent, will be essential in the education of your child, perhaps more so in English class than in any other discipline. The study of language and literature is inherently less structured and more learner-directed than the study of, say, mathematics or foreign language, where one part builds on another, the whole structure needing to be in place lest the entirety collapse. In our classes, elements are added naturally as students choose their own reading, even as we seek to standardize learning by assigning papers and discussing form and grammar.
Studies have consistently shown that the best prediction of academic success is the amount that a student reads independently, and the foundation for independent reading is laid at home. Below, I have listed a few ways that you can partner with me to help make your child an independent and motivated learner. If you ever have any questions about these steps, or if you want to contact me for any reason, please visit the Contact page where you can send me an e-mail or find my school phone number and office hours. I would love to be in contact with you as often as our schedules permit!
This is not something that a single teacher can do alone.
You, the parent, will be essential in the education of your child, perhaps more so in English class than in any other discipline. The study of language and literature is inherently less structured and more learner-directed than the study of, say, mathematics or foreign language, where one part builds on another, the whole structure needing to be in place lest the entirety collapse. In our classes, elements are added naturally as students choose their own reading, even as we seek to standardize learning by assigning papers and discussing form and grammar.
Studies have consistently shown that the best prediction of academic success is the amount that a student reads independently, and the foundation for independent reading is laid at home. Below, I have listed a few ways that you can partner with me to help make your child an independent and motivated learner. If you ever have any questions about these steps, or if you want to contact me for any reason, please visit the Contact page where you can send me an e-mail or find my school phone number and office hours. I would love to be in contact with you as often as our schedules permit!
A few ways to be involved:
- Make sure your home is text-rich.
The importance of literacy cannot be overestimated! Having a text-rich home goes beyond simply having a lot of books. (Books are useless unless they are being read!) In fact, this can be accomplished even without having full bookshelves. Take your children to the library. Find an e-book reader, on which you can download books for low cost, and on which you can find very many books for free. Read books together, or read to your kids at night. You may find that even your older children love being read to. I know I still do! Making sure that you are reading something will make a difference, too.
- Let your child explore what they love.
Find ways to let your student explore high-interest material in any subject. Even people that "don't like school" love to learn about things that they're interested in. We live in an era where information is everywhere, and not only in books. Your child might explore their interest through a History channel miniseries or a Wikipedia binge. (I get lost on Wikipedia all the time!) Encourage it! Much of my non-academic family is able to tell you anything you want to know about hunting, fishing, firefighting, and mechanics, even though they have never "studied" formally after high school. Learning is a life-long pursuit, and in the age we live in, much can be done without school lessons and assignments.
- Have conversations with your child.
This might seem self-evident, but it is important. Find time every day to discuss what he or she is learning at school, what is going on socially, what their hopes and fears are. Take them along grocery shopping, have dinner together as a family, go mini-golfing, or just sit and talk, but find opportunities to share life on a regular basis.