I am so excited about this series (and blog hop with others from Heart of The Matter): Ten Days of Growing Leaders! Yesterday, we covered the WHY and Phase 1 (Core) of the learning process. Today, we are jumping into Phase 2: Love of Learning.
I think this is one Phase most of us will understand more….but, remember…the choice to grow Leaders means changing your Paradigm…your Pedagogy for teaching…getting OFF of the Conveyor Belt Methodology (that is NOT working) to teach our children….
Let’s get started…
Phase 2, Love Of Learning…(ages 10-16)
Once your child has experienced a successful Core Phase (Phase 1), they will naturally transition to “Love Of Learning”.
Side bar….I LOVE the name of this phase. Love of Learning…isn’t that what we truly desire; not just for our children, but for ourselves, as well???
“During this period, a child will commonly play at projects and skills which builds his repertoire of understanding and prowess.” A Thomas Jefferson Education pg 32)
What does that mean?
This is their smorgasbord time of learning. You provide a buffet of opportunities to learn and (ok…hold on to your seats) they select what they want to learn.
Ok…wait, PLEASE don’t leave yet. I know…I hear so many of you going… “UM..NO…that’s UNschooling….and I can’t go there!” I GET IT! I DO! If God ever created a Type A person on this earth…I am THAT PERSON!
But, just keep reading….through today and the next ten days. Keep your mind open and keep asking yourself…. “Is our current Pedagogy really working? Am I growing the next generation that will lead our country back to where we once were: a nation with leaders? Am I nurturing children I have a relationship with…who will have true relationships with others?”
“This is sooo not unschooling. There is a lot to this phase; structured education time, student accountability, parental interaction…..but it does take us down a path of liberty and choice in education that may be foreign to many of us.” (Shanon Brooks)
This phase is truly beautiful because the child builds upon what they learned in their Core Phase…. This is a time when they are ready to explore the ‘many areas of human knowledge, with a focus on that which the child can experience at their age. This is when they truly begin to grow the gifts and talents they were born with.’ (paraphrase A Thomas Jefferson Education pg 33)
Your child(ren) is/are a being(s) that naturally want(s) to learn. If we are rigid in telling them what they MUST learn….we may be driving them from the very thing they were created for.
As your child(ren) progress through a successful Love of Learning Phase, their desire to go deeper in learning will grow. Their own natural desire to truly LEARN and grow will take them to a place of beauty and Leadership…..and that is the next Phase: the Scholar and Depth Phase(s), which we will discuss tomorrow….
Be sure to visit these brilliant women during our 10 days adventure between November 7th-18th! I love these ladies and we know you will too.
10 days of Character Studies | Confessions of a Homeschooler
10 days of Christmas Countdown Ideas | Milk & Cookies
10 days of Creative Writing | Chocolate on My Cranium
10 days of Crockpot Meals | The Happy Housewife
10 Days to a Godly Marriage | Women Living Well
10 Days of Growing Leaders | Mom’s Mustard Seeds
10 Days of Homeschooling High School | Weird Unsocialized Homeschoolers
10 days of I Wish I Had Known | Fruit in Season
10 days of Keeping Your Marbles | The Tie That Binds Us
10 days of Kid-friendly Food | Planner Perfect
10 Days of Language Arts Lesson Planning | Jimmie’s Collage
10 Days of Learning Apps | Daze of Adventure
10 Days of a Mason Jar Christmas | Cajun Joie de Vivre
10 Days of More JESUS in Christmas | Preschoolers and Peace
10 Days to a Peaceful Home | Raising Arrows
10 Days of Raising a Life-Long-Learner | Bright Ideas Press
10 days of Science with Math | Blog, She Wrote
10 days of Teaching Values | Our Journey Westward
10 days of Winning your Child’s Heart | I Take Joy
I knew there was a reason we got along so well I am so TYPE A! I too have switched gears and am doing more unschooling. The children seem to respond better and one of my primary reasons for homeschooling was so that the kids would develop a love for learning. I want them to be able to think and do for themselves not be told how to think and do. Great post!