Posted in The Principle Approach: Self-Directed Study

Dear PA’ers,

            Since many of us were educated by “consuming”, it can be a challenge to implement a “producer-oriented” education for our children.  For a few, this will come very naturally, but for others, it will be a great challenge and a work in progress.  The best thing I believe to do is simply start the process and work out the concerns as you move along.  That is the beauty of “sdssupport” and “bibleprinciples”.  You can ask anytime. 

Karen

Week 4—Assignment

• Lesson 3
  • The Notebook Approach
• Supplemental Resources:  T&L, pages 90-102
• Assignments:  None— Next week we’ll start applying definitions to the Chart. 

Lesson 3—The Notebook Approach

Lesson Highlights

• The Notebook Method is a centuries old method found in the educational background of the greatest thinkers and leaders of history that makes the learner a “producer” as opposed to a “consumer”.
• The Notebook Approach is the tool and primary method used in PA to establish reasoning and academic discipline resulting in Christian Scholarship.
• It embraces the 4-R’s of research, reason, relate, & record represented in the notebook showing thinking and reasoning, writing thoughts, and making a record of study.
• “Mastery of learning requires that the student make a written record of his study, and the more detailed and exacting the record, the greater the mastery attained.”
• “The Notebook Approach is both spirit (internal or cause) and letter (external or effect).”
• Concrete aspect of the Notebook—includes notebook, tabs, etc., the giving of notes to be laboriously copied into the designated section of the notebook and maps, etc. reflecting what has been learned. 
• Value of the Notebook—revealing the student’s creativity and illustrations, providing a permanent record of the student’s productivity, and showing the student’s progress and exactly what is being taught.
• Don’t forget to review the chart comparing the Workbook Approach versus the Notebook Approach. 

Teaching & Learning, pgs. 90-102

            Here, there is a comparison between Christian and secular education.  It is very interesting and really clarifies what we are trying to accomplish, on the one hand, and exclude, on the other.  In fact, I think this is very valuable to read each year to continue to remind me of the difference between secular and Christian education.  Oftentimes, since our thoughts have been secularized through our education, without even realizing it, that secular conditioned learning creeps in so easily.