What instills love of learning?

[nina_yyc]

I'm new to this forum and have read some of the recommended articles (i.e. Alfie Kohn) but I'm still a little confused about what exactly is wrong with 'traditional' education. I went to private and then public school and was never in any kind of special program, and it seems to me that the 'bad' things people are saying about traditional education (kids hate learning, not challenging themselves, etc.) could be more influenced by good or bad teachers, individual differences in learning styles, and attitudes in the peer group and at home rather than progressive v.s. traditional education. Any thoughts or experiences?

[simple living mama]

My quick answer is modeling it. If a child sees a parent run in to a problem and that parent, rather than getting frustrated or ticked, finds a way to get to the answer while enjoying the process, the child will see that problem solving is not a negative thing. Learning happens whether you are 45 years old or 12.

If a child sees their parent try new things then the child will most likely try new things. If a child asks a parent a question and that parent doesn't know the answer, looking it up with their child is a way to show the child not to be afraid of knowledge and information. It's all out there and the trick is knowing the most efficient way to look it up and how to find the most reliable source.

[Ms Apricot]

Originally Posted by nina_yyc

I'm new to this forum and have read some of the recommended articles (i.e. Alfie Kohn) but I'm still a little confused about what exactly is wrong with 'traditional' education. I went to private and then public school and was never in any kind of special program, and it seems to me that the 'bad' things people are saying about traditional education (kids hate learning, not challenging themselves, etc.) could be more influenced by good or bad teachers, individual differences in learning styles, and attitudes in the peer group and at home rather than progressive v.s. traditional education. Any thoughts or experiences?

Every student (and thus every parent/caregiver of that student) is responsible for his/her own learning - no matter what educational setting he/she is in. It's the most liberating concept I can offer.

The best way to inspire a love of learning is to make sure the child is given ownership of his/her learning and to follow his/her lead.

I don't think it's useful to get caught up in differences between progressive/traditional, public/private/homeschooling/unschooling, Waldorf/Montessori methods etc. Any of them may be the right option for a particular learner.

Once you take ownership of your learning, it doesn't matter as much if you have a bad teacher, or a poorly resourced classroom, or an inadequate curriculum. Of course it still matters some - I don't want to let the educational system off the hook for providing optimum learning environments. Eventually, though, any system, including homeschooling, is going to be inadequate in some way - and if the student/parents understand that it's up to them to find a solution, rather than be a victim of the situation, it's empowering.

I think parents and students understand that they are responsible for education - that's why there's the interest in Baby Einstein videos and hothousing and redshirting and the debates over "the best" program/schools/teaching methods and some parents coach their children with homework for hours and buy "educational" software and toys and find tutors when needed. I don't think the concept of educational responsibility has been articulated well though - there's still some passive attitude that it's all up to the schools to teach. Yes, it is, but it's all up to the student to learn.

[nina_yyc]

Originally Posted by simple living mama

My quick answer is modeling it. If a child sees a parent run in to a problem and that parent, rather than getting frustrated or ticked, finds a way to get to the answer while enjoying the process, the child will see that problem solving is not a negative thing. Learning happens whether you are 45 years old or 12.

If a child sees their parent try new things then the child will most likely try new things. If a child asks a parent a question and that parent doesn't know the answer, looking it up with their child is a way to show the child not to be afraid of knowledge and information. It's all out there and the trick is knowing the most efficient way to look it up and how to find the most reliable source.

That's a really interesting answer. I love the idea of DD coming to me with questions (I guess she does already but there hasn't been a lot I can't field at age 2.5) When I was in school I remember being proud to have my 'own' thing and wanting to exclude my parents from my school life whenever possible. I don't think I ever did homework with my parents. I'm not really sure how I arrived at that attitude but I hope when the time comes DD will be more open.

Originally Posted by Ms Apricot

Every student (and thus every parent/caregiver of that student) is responsible for his/her own learning - no matter what educational setting he/she is in. It's the most liberating concept I can offer.

The best way to inspire a love of learning is to make sure the child is given ownership of his/her learning and to follow his/her lead.

I don't think it's useful to get caught up in differences between progressive/traditional, public/private/homeschooling/unschooling, Waldorf/Montessori methods etc. Any of them may be the right option for a particular learner.

Well there's something that makes sense to me! I really haven't done my research yet, though, so it seems like my due dilligence as a parent to read up on all sides...even though I probably won't make my mind up until halfway through pre-K, when DD's learning style and abilities are more evident, and I can actually go to orientation nights for the options I'm considering.

In some ways it's difficult for me to get my head around ideas like Montessori because I am that freak-of-nature person that learns fine with someone up at the front of the classroom blabbing at you or teaches myself straight out of a textbook. When I myself was in school I found that good or bad teachers made the most difference, even though the teaching 'style' was pretty similar.

[MattBronsil]

In some ways it's difficult for me to get my head around ideas like Montessori because I am that freak-of-nature person that learns fine with someone up at the front of the classroom blabbing at you or teaches myself straight out of a textbook. When I myself was in school I found that good or bad teachers made the most difference, even though the teaching 'style' was pretty similar.

The answer to your question is kind of in this statement. You're essentially saying you're the small percentage of the population that acquired a love of schooling from having someone give you information all day rather than seeking it out as your curiosity lead you to it.

The problem with the current educational model is not that it fails to meet the needs of the children who are like this, but that it is a small percentage of students that are like this. Few students I have seen in this model miss school when it's called off or actively pursue an educational project that is not presented to them as a required part of the curriculum.

The teachers make a huge difference to be able to meet the needs of all the children in the class. I had fantastic traditional teachers. The problem is they had to really just have that natural skill to be able to get outside the system and boundaries they worked in to be able to achieve that. So it's really the system and the method limits itself to one particular type of child instead of the systems out there that, within the system, meet the needs of so many types of learning styles.

That's how I see it at least.

[Linda on the move]

I'm starting to doubt that even if we do everything just right, all our of children will always love learning at every stage of their lives. I have a 12 (almost 13) year old who was homeschooled in a relaxed, interest-driven way. She was read to, taken to museums, had access to science equipment and art supplies, etc. My DH and I like to learn new things. For most of my DDs life, she liked learning and the line between learning and playing was very blurred in her life.

In the last year though, that's changed. She likes to read vampire novels. And that's it. She isn't interested in learning any thing, and even when we went to fun but educational things on vacation acted bored. I talked to a therapist about it, and she assured me that everything my DD is doing right now is typical for her age. There isn't any thing wrong with her and we haven't screwed up. She's just separating herself from us and becoming a teen.

And all the attachment parenting, co-sleeping, tandem nursing, gentle discpline, and interest-driven homeschooling didn't stop it from happening!

My other DD, who is 11, started public school last year and was a much more motivated learner at school than she ever was at home. I don't think it is because of a love of learning, but rather the energy of everyone working on the same thing, wanting to do well compared to her peers, etc. She's learning well at traditional school, and while it might not be for the *best* reason, right now I'll take learning for the wrong reasons over laying around not caring about learning for any reason.

[MattBronsil]

Originally Posted by Linda on the move

In the last year though, that's changed. She likes to read vampire novels. And that's it. She isn't interested in learning any thing, and even when we went to fun but educational things on vacation acted bored. I talked to a therapist about it, and she assured me that everything my DD is doing right now is typical for her age. There isn't any thing wrong with her and we haven't screwed up. She's just separating herself from us and becoming a teen.

Why assume she's not learning from them?

[Linda on the move]

There is a limited amount to be learned from reading basically the same novel over and over. Although one could argue that she is learning reading and spelling from so much reading, she has already mastered those subjects, so there isn't any thing further to be gained by continueing to read pulp fiction.

And the OP asked how to instill a love of learning. My DD does not have a love of learning right now, inspite of me following all the advice of the experts. This isn't like following a recipe -- just because you do certain things doesn't mean that your child will turn out a certain way. They have free will.

Honestly, the last year has turned me into a fan of traditional education. It's obvious when you love and live with a child when their curiousity has gone into hibernation.

Does my DD who attends traditional school miss it when its called off? Of course not! She's a normal kid. But she is learning a great deal while she is there.

Both kids are headed off to school this fall. I've decided that spending one year laying around being sulky and reading pulp is enough. If my older DD continued to spend the next few years the same way she spent the last, she won't have any real options when she turns 18. If I felt that "interest driven" education was working for her, I'd be all for it. But since she is no longer interested in anything, it no longer works.

So, back to the OP, there are lots of books and advice on keeping a child's love of learning a live. But doing all the right things doesn't mean that the child will display a love of learning consistantly through their life. Perhaps all the great stuff that I did will show up again in her life when she is a little older and past this phase.

[nina_yyc]

Originally Posted by MattBronsil

The answer to your question is kind of in this statement. You're essentially saying you're the small percentage of the population that acquired a love of schooling from having someone give you information all day rather than seeking it out as your curiosity lead you to it.

The problem with the current educational model is not that it fails to meet the needs of the children who are like this, but that it is a small percentage of students that are like this. Few students I have seen in this model miss school when it's called off or actively pursue an educational project that is not presented to them as a required part of the curriculum.

I didn't say I acquired a love of learning...I said I learned fine By the time I was 18 I was done with it and threw out an early acceptance to university so I could go to technical school and learn a real world skill....ultimately a great decision, even if it was made for the wrong reasons.

I don't remember my problem being the teaching style. For me it had a lot more to do with my peer group. Doing well in school was something that made me different and I always thought of brains as a social liability.

On this basis, I am entertaining the thought of a traditional school program for DD, within the public system, but doing an advanced curriculum and with added opportunities for a second language and band. (Of course DD is too young for me to know if she would be a good fit, but if she is, I would consider it.) I like the idea of DD having a group of peers whose parents value education and achievement, and being adequately challenged. I can see lack of challenge being a big problem for DD since she is quick.

Originally Posted by Linda on the move

So, back to the OP, there are lots of books and advice on keeping a child's love of learning a live. But doing all the right things doesn't mean that the child will display a love of learning consistantly through their life. Perhaps all the great stuff that I did will show up again in her life when she is a little older and past this phase.

Ahhhhh...why am I already worrying at age 2.5?

[Linda on the move]

At 2.5, just enjoy life together. Go pick berries together, snuggle up with good books, finger paint.

2.5 is, in some ways, a lot more fun than 12.5!!

(I'm not recommending these things because they *will instill a love of learning* but because they are fun. Live in the moment with your little one!)

[MattBronsil]

Originally Posted by Linda on the move

There is a limited amount to be learned from reading basically the same novel over and over. Although one could argue that she is learning reading and spelling from so much reading, she has already mastered those subjects, so there isn't any thing further to be gained by continueing to read pulp fiction.

http://webpages.shepherd.edu/LBAKER/...7-18_11-58.pdf