Jul. 18, 2009 - Who's Learning More Here? Me or the Kids?
I've been studying History for a long time. I studied it in school because I had to. I made good grades, and I even got a good score in History on the ACT test. It seemed like I had a lot of knowledge of History. The more I've been reading children's books on History that I get from the library for my kids, the more I realize I don't know nothin'! I don't know how I was able to do so well in this subject in school or on the ACT test.
I am constantly learning new things and making new connections and finding out how little I understood or cared about even the History that was happening around me during the '70's and '80's. I thought I was so mature and responsible when I was in high school. I'm realizing how clueless and out of touch with reality I was.
I'm trying to do things differently with my kids. I know they have to reach a certain stage of development before History really means anything to them, but I want it to be interesting and exciting to them, so that when they are ready for it to make sense, it will be something they're curious about and want to learn all they can about. I believe that we really do need to know history or we'll be doomed to repeat it.
I want my children to learn the lessons from past mistakes and past successes. I want them to benefit from seeing the fruits of different systems of government and economic models. I want them to be aware of the differences in worldviews and to be able to line things up scripturally so that they know what God thinks about the issues that are viewed so differently by societies and cultures based on their belief systems.
So our study of History is done using living books and the Bible and books about the Bible. We've read lots of missionary biographies and well-written stories based on the Bible. These stories draw us in and make an impression on us. I find books that have good plot and character development, and the kids never want me to stop reading. They care about the characters and they're eager to know what's going to happen next. We've read books about many different eras and countries. And they remember the stories later. Hence, they remember History. But it was never called History. In a way, they're living History vicariously, and they're being taught by a teacher who loves it - me!
My children are learning a lot through our History studies, but the person who's learning the most is me.
Comments
Jul. 29, 2009 - Homeschool
Posted by Anonymous
I always learn more. That's whats great about homeschooling!
Tweeted this.
Blessings,
Robin
HeartofWisdom.com
Aug. 10, 2009 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Anonymous
I have the same experience over here. I seem to be learning just as much as they are!
Jennifer
http://schoolingmemoirs.blogspot.com/
