We’ve all heard the saying, “You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink.” Learning is a lot like that.
You can try to force learning on your child – but the best learning definitely comes when it’s about something that interests your child.
I’ve definitely found that to be true for my sons. We’ll be reading something together and suddenly it sparks a question in one of my boys.
We Google the answer and that can lead to another question and another… and the next thing you know, we’re laughing, their eyes are sparkling, and we’re all learning.
The learning that happens in this way is very spontaneous. It is always off plan, and it is effortless.
I used to think that when my boys had a question that wasn’t related to what I was teaching them, they were trying to take me down a rabbit trail… that it was a mere distraction.
I now know that it is a spark of curiosity about something has been lit in them. When this happens, I need to be willing to drop whatever I’m doing and fan their desire to learn into a flame.
3 Top Tools for Learning:
1. The Internet – Keep a Kindle, an iPad, or some other device nearby while learning is taking place so that you can easily consult it when the spark of curiosity hits.
When my boys ask me a question for which I don’t know the answer, I say, “I don’t know. Let me consult my brain.” We Google the answer and discuss whatever it is about which they’re curious.
There are a couple of different things going on here. Using humor always helps increase a child’s willingness to learn. And trying to find out about something they are interested in ensures they will remember the information you’re presenting.
2. Flexibility – We need to have a willingness to be flexible. Be ready to pounce on any little spark of curiosity and dive into it.
We were reading about Thomas Edison one day when my youngest son asked, “So… who invented the toilet?” That led to an interesting study on the history of toilets.
It thrilled my boys to learn that Thomas Crapper was the plumber who popularized the flush toilet. That was the most exciting part of our day for sure!
And I doubt that either myself or my boys will ever forget that little tidbit of trivia. 🙂
3. Time – I’m famous for being a planner and being in a rush. I love to use lists and I love to check things off of those lists. These traits are NOT helpful for spontaneous learning.
I need to remind myself continually that it’s much more important to let my boys dive deep into things which interest them than it is for me to get everything checked off of my list for them.
As this new year of schoolwork begins, try to keep in mind the best way to learn and determine to take advantage of these opportunities whenever they present themselves.
The more you explore your son’s passions with him, the more inquisitive your son will become.
QUESTION: What do you think? Would you rather stay on task while teaching your son or do you try to follow his lead? Please leave a comment below.
I would love to follow my son’s interest and questions, but it gets me sidetracked very easily. I am focusing on doing it more though. He is inquisitive and I see how he does learn a lot by researching what interests him.
I also have trouble feeling like. I haven’t accomplished “enough”. So I figured out a way to track it a little better by writing down learning spots on a planner after-the -fact. Then I feel like I did something.
That’s a great idea, Debi. Tracking “learning spots” appeals to the planner in me! Thanks for commenting. 🙂
This is our FIRST day ever starting to homeschool my incredibly active 1st grader and I couldn’t be more excited! Thank you for these ideas, I have surrendered my own expectations for how this day is going to go, and will definitely remember to take some time to encourage this type of spur-of-the-moment learning!
How exciting, Aubrie!!! I’d love to have you check back in after your day is done to let us know how it goes. I hope and pray that your homeschool journey is filled with lots of joyful learning and many shared smiles! 🙂
Our day was wonderful!! Such a gift to spend that time with him!!
Awesome! Thanks for checking back in. I’m glad you had a wonderful day!
Hi! My preference is to follow those rabbit trails. The greatest and most joyous thing I hear is, “but mom, we can’t be done, we didn’t do any school!” HA! Gotcha, you just learned the history of WWI and how the end of WWI led almost inevitably to WWII! That’s education son…it doesn’t look much like school, but it is education!! 😉
My biggest block right now is with my learning challenged 13 year old. He is painstakingly learning to read and write. We are getting “help” from a SpEd public school program and I am questioning the continuing benefit…prayer for wisdom would be much appreciated! Thanks, and keep encouraging your sister box checkers. Life and learning often happen outside the box!
Yes. Isn’t it awesome when we have a full day of learning and no one feels like they were forced to sit down and “learn”?!?!? Love it!
I will pray for wisdom for you, Shelly. Have you ever read the book “The Spark” by Kristine Barnett? It’s pretty amazing. She talked about her journey with teaching her autistic son – and how he flourished after she took him out of the special programs and brought him home to teach him herself. It’s a great read for ALL moms – ones with struggling learners and ones without. It helped me to really see what was possible in educating our kids.
You Nailed It! I love your take on boys and learning:-)
Awwww, thank-you! Your sweet comment made my day! 🙂 <3
Love your article. We learn the neatest things when I follow my son’s interests–and the learning really sticks. I’m sure your sons will always remember who invented the toilet! 🙂 I have to share that one with my boy.
So true. I’m sure the toilet lesson will be one of the top 10 things they remember fondly from their entire homeschooling experience! LOL
I agree that so much is learned from spontaneous interests. I think that’s one of the many benefits of homeschooling. We have learned about many topics that aren’t in the textbooks because of my son’s curiosity. (For example, when your sister spots a woodchuck in her yard, you just have to do a quick lesson on woodchucks.) My son’s first go-to is the encyclopedias. He has also started to ask me to look things up on the internet when he wants more info. The battle between schedule and spontaneity can sometimes be solved by saying, “We’ll look it up after you finish what you’re working on.”
Thanks for sharing, Michelle! I really enjoy reading your blog, as I’m homeschooling a boy just a bit younger than your boys. My first graduate was a girl, so it’s a bit different this time.
Thanks so much for sharing your story! Yes, it’s important for us to find a way to incorporate the rabbit trails and still get our other work done as well – at least most of the time. (wink, wink) And thanks for your kind words about my blog. I really appreciate you taking the time to comment. 🙂