Since our monthly meeting is on learning styles, I thought I would send you part of an interview with Mariaemma Willis, the author or Discover Your Child's Learning Style for the Midweek Motivation.
Joe:(interviewer)
As you know the homeschooling movement has grown considerably over the past few years and has in many circles achieved an unprecedented mainstream status. In contrast, school systems are spending ever increasing budgets without necessarily reaping the rewards in terms of test scores and student/parent satisfaction. In your opinion to what do you attribute this trend? Also, what advice would you give to a parent who chooses not to homeschool in the strict sense, but wants to develop a good "afterschool" program that can be compatible with traditional school systems.
Mariaemma:
This is an interesting question - especially since
many parents who help kids with homework after school realize that
they might as well be homeschooling, and eventually decide to do it
in the day time!
Actually, our book is aimed at all parents and is filled with tips and specific how-to's for the parent whose child attends traditional school.
First, let's address your comments regarding the homeschooling movement.
Homeschooling
continues to increase because
more and more parents think that they can do a better job than the
school system. Of course, there are other issues that come into play
- many families choose to homeschool for religious reasons or concern
over safety, for example - but, basically, I think that families are
deciding that their children's learning needs are better served at
home where they can get more individual attention and be free of peer
pressure. However, as mentioned previously, homeschoolers who are
caught in the "school mentality" trap try to educate for test scores
just as the schools do.
School systems are becoming
more and more obsessed
with testing.
As long as this is the goal, student / parent satisfaction
will continue to drop. You see, the effect to the opposite of what
is intended. Why? Because when standardized test scores become the
most important aspect of education, individual learning needs are
ignored.
Real learning isn't about test scores.
It's about students
making a meaningful connection with new information, concepts, and
ideas. If we concentrate on teaching each student the way he or she
learns best, drawing out talents and skills, developing confidence
and motivation, test scores will actually come up on their own. But
if we concentrate on raising test scores, using what I call the "cram
and drill" approach, there is no way that real learning can take place.
Consequently, the few who are good at cram and drill get the high
scores; but the majority of students fall into that unfortunate category
called "average" - the great de-motivator and dream killer.
Our message to parents is:
You are in charge of your child's education. You are your child's Learning-SuccessT Coach.
- Whether you are homeschooling or afterschooling, it is up to you to bring out the star in your child.
- You can do this by encouraging natural talents and interests, and you can do it by teaching strategies that make something that is difficult easier to learn.
- It could be as simple as encouraging a child to take picture notes instead of linear word notes, or pointing out that reading the directions out loud could help with understanding, or tossing a bean bag to help a child memorize math facts.
Parents of children in traditional school systems can coach for success by focusing on solutions such as these and by tracking successes rather than failures. Our book teaches parents how to be learning-success coaches, and we also offer 3-day programs leading to Learning-SuccessT Coach certification.
The
goal is success.
Success leads to confidence and confidence leads to
positive attitudes and making good choices. We can all help kids achieve
this by coaching for Learning-SuccessT!
Free Excerpt of book at http://www.homeschoolzone.com/hsz/willishodson5.htm
