Follow Their Lead…
October 18, 2010School teaches us to conform and give up our rights…
Our rights = our individualism, our identity, our strengths.
I believe that in order to teach to everyone, as everyone as we can… we first need to be open to listen. Listen to the youth.
Listen to the parents.
Listen to the people.
Collaborate!
To be aware that as we all are the same, we are also different. An oxymoron. An important one.
For some children, school works… works in so far as these children like to have a schedule, work with ‘to do’ lists, enjoy starting and finishing projects – especially the part where they hand them in for marking. And mostly these tests, reports or projects end up coming back with a star and a high letter grade. Why? Because these types of children love to produce stuff. It is important to acknowledge their needs for order and efficiency. My eldest daughter is like this. She has just graduated from high school. She loved going to school. When she didn’t, she figured out how to make the system work for her. I am very proud of her… And we are very different!
Then there are the types of children that need to be in their body to learn… they need to be moving. They may be seen as ADHD in the school system -moving to such a degree that it engages their brain. Some require lots of movement and some very little. Say, for example, jumping rope while learning the alphabet or quietly squishing silly putty while listening to a lecture at the front of the room. When their body is moving – their brain is actively learning. Ahh, yes, I also have another daughter who learns like this. She is a soccer player, a dancer, a leader at school, the dog walker of the family… She dazzles me.
Next I want to speak of the children that are more hands on… they need to be able to use experimentation in their subjects and activities. I have a son who is very high in this type of learning… he thrives in an atmosphere that encourages questioning, exploring, debating and especially unscheduled time to work independently. This boy never really ‘fit the system’… this, I was quietly told over the years… Until I really heard it – he was in grade 5. Sooooo, where does he fit? Now what? Hmmmm. These are very big questions to ponder… amongst running a household, being a single parent of 3 other children, starting a business and following my passion of enhancing the education system! By the way he is brilliant, just as my other 3 are… He is my ‘IT department’ at home building and maintaining our computers.
Up next are the children who need small group spaces to talk and discuss. These children love to talk, talk and talk. This helps them to process what they need to learn. They love personal attention… a great connection with the teacher, with all the kids in the class, in fact! Team building and team spirit… a focus on fairness and values is ever-present with these children. They are the rule followers… as long as those rules are inclusive of the peoples’ needs – not just for the sake of a system. I fall into this ‘category.’ I love to connect with people – above all else!
And finally, there are the children that need spaces that allow them to “escape” – to design, create, compose, formulate or think. Often in classroom settings, these children are mistaken for ‘not paying attention’ to what is being taught, for being the daydreamers… or being labeled ADD. I happen to have a child like this… He is so creative, in a quiet sort of way… he knows what he is thinking – I just don’t! Nor do his teachers, unless he has a safe relationship built with them… This boy has such a great imagination – he is fulfilled just by being with himself – he doesn’t need to hang out with his family or lots of friends all of the time… his world is complete. And I am so grateful to have come upon this understanding of him… As I was living in the place of feeling I was letting him down with what I thought was my lack of parenting – now, I realize that is not the case! We are all happier for it. And he comes and hangs out with me, now that I am not carrying that feeling around anymore. (At least for the next little while)
The children know what they need… We just need to follow their lead.
This brings me to the beginning… the beginning of our journey. I thought, ‘my first born daughter was not going to be a victim of the school system, as was I’. We homeschooled for the first 1 ½ years… until she asked me to take her to ‘real school’. I was devastated. Then I followed her lead. She knew what she needed.
I then assumed that the rest of my children would also thrive in this system and that it was just me that didn’t fit. Well, I was wrong.
I have since found an amazing alternative school that fits my 3 younger children really well… it offers them the freedom to create their own self-directed and fulfilling learning opportunities. We are all thriving in this environment… pushing edges… learning and growing… excited to be attending school! It is called Windsor House Learning Community… it was created 40 years ago by a Mom who saw that her daughter’s sparkle was leaving… This is another great story.
In short, I believe that we are all brilliant and in that brilliance we can find a way to create a fulfilling learning environment for every type of learner… by including every type of learner in the discussion.
Open to “listening” is a great start.
And… Seeing the brilliance in everyone!
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