Archive for the ‘Principle Approach’ Category
What Do I Know?
Preparing to write another post in my series on mathematics, words neatly underlined in pencil arrested my thoughts. These words meant enough for me to highlight years ago, but they have more application today in the midst of my unofficial practicum.
A teacher must teach a subject from his own understanding of that subject. This premise is true in both the home and the school. The most deadening way to ‘teach’ is to hand a textbook or workbook to a student with instructions to sit down and do a certain lesson or certain number of pages per day. This method impedes both the imparting of a love of the subject, and the wonderful fellowship of teacher and student together learning the works of God.
Doesn’t that address the purpose of education? I want my children to have a love for the subject, not as an end in itself, or as a checklist of facts, but as a means of relationship with God and others. The relationship inspires. The time spent seeking, wondering, finding, and creating brings a smile, a memory of discussion, and a realization of the discovery. What young child doesn’t want to share what she knows? Think of the first time she sorts the blocks by color, or writes her name. She excitedly calls you close for praise. Her heart’s whisper is almost audible, “Mommy, I am learning to speak your language. Are you proud of me? Do you love me?”
Now it is my turn. I learn the language of subjects I may not particularly enjoy or understand to teach my children. An unashamed quest for applause no longer applies, but I do have a valuable audience though small in number and size. James Kilkenny advises:
The teacher who is deficient in a subject that he must teach has an opportunity to demonstrate love of learning and self-education. He can no more impart the knowledge of some learned textbook writer than David could slay Goliath with Saul’s armor. Each teacher must use his own sling and five smooth stones, his own knowledge, ability to learn and to ‘lead in advance of others.’
It is impossible to become a master teacher in every subject. However, I can learn the principles of each one and give my children a foundation to build on for the rest of their lives.
Using the stones from my soul, I draw my little ones close. Which stones are the most effective, the most powerful? I don’t know exactly, but I suspect it’s the brightest, smoothest, and heaviest. In my worn leather bag that stone is love: love for my children and love for the creation of God. It is the foundation stone. Everything else will build on that.
Quotes are found in A Guide to American Christian Education.
Dominion- Why Study Math Reason 2
Webster’s 1828 Dictionary defines arithmetic:
The science of numbers, or the art of computation. The various operations of arithmetic are performed by addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.
These operations are necessary to care for property. Every week, I gather payments from various labor, add them up, and write a bank deposit. Then I get the privilege of dividing the money between the bills. By the grace of God, I don’t usually deal with negative numbers, and because my husband and I have done the math, we know our limits and set our goals.
It is easy to see that finances deal with numbers, but math is important for more than balancing the checkbook. In A Guide to American Christian Education, James Kilkenny writes,
None of the vast varieties of the work of the world, either in planning, doing, or evaluating, could be done without arithmetic. It is an essential tool of dominion.
The very stuff of existence requires a knowledge of math. We need food, shelter, and clothing to survive. How can we get and keep those things without adding or subtracting, planning or evaluating? Our goals and dreams hinge upon the hard work of doing. Even the hours and minutes of life are counted “that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.” Psalm 90:12
Teaching our children arithmetic is imperative for without it they will be dependent upon someone to care for them and their property. However, equipping children with the “tool of dominion” grows good stewards prepared to live in freedom caring for the many blessings God bestows.
Exactly- Why Study Math Reason 1
During my Principle Approach training, a debate about math ensued. Why require students to study higher mathematics if they will never use it? We finally agreed. It is a discipline that develops the mind.
Emily replied to that part of a comment I left at Principled Discovery,
That’s so spot on! I am frustrated with the ‘I’ll never use it in the real world’ argument. It just makes no sense…Our brain is a muscle that needs to be exercised and learning is the way to do it.
I appreciate her enthusiasm. When it is time to practice math facts with my son, my excitement wanes. Cards games and manipulatives help, but I already know the multiplication tables. To combat my grumbling, I return to my educational philosophy. Knowing why arithmetic is valuable inspires me.
A stated goal for the study of arithmetic is to “train the reasoning abilities.” Benjamin Greenleaf, 1862, is quoted in A Guide to American Christian Education for the Home and School,
‘One of the principal benefits of the study of mathematics is to teach the learner how to reason with elegance and exactness.’
Reasoning from one point to another. Seeing the rational answer. Working through mistakes. These are merits my children receive through the concrete ideas of arithmetic. They learn a much needed life skill: logical thinking. That is worth the effort.
The Notebook as a Tool
The Principle Approach uses a notebook methodology. As a student reasons through lessons, her thoughts are recorded in various, creative ways. Notebooks are a tool for preserving scholarship, but they can, also, be used outside of school.
Years ago, I typed and printed recipes in constant use and placed them in a plain, black binder. My intention was to make a crafty cover to transform this workhorse, but, instead, our waffle recipe is protected by clear plastic. This humble notebook is used almost every day. Pages are easily added, and recipes can be stuffed in the front pockets until we try them.
A post about a Homemaking Binder reminded me of another notebook I made. It was going to organize my plethora of responsibilities. At the beginning of August, I placed lesson plans, calendar, and schedule into a 3 ring binder. The idea was noble, but I haven’t used it much. With 2008 imminent, I am ready to try again.
My theory is this notebook sat on the shelf because of my lack of investment. The workbook-type system I copied was too restrictive. I didn’t like it from the beginning, but refused to take the time to create my own. In opposition to inexertion, the Principle Approach teaches the notebook is the effort of the individual. It is personal property reflecting productivity. Filling-in-the-blank will not bring the same sense of fulfillment, understanding, and practicality that thinking and responding will.
As I think through the pages of a new notebook for a new year, the reward will be a tool fit for my heart and hand. May it be fashioned in wisdom by the grace of God.
If you want more ideas for homemaking binders, Hadias linked to numerous examples. Use the link in the post above, or follow this one.
Burn the Textbooks?
As I begin to plan school for next year, I peruse my crammed bookshelves to see what I’ve already gathered. I have a stack of literature, curriculum, and even a new white board.
The books are wonderful: Treasure Island; Bach,The Boy from Thuringia; Tales from Shakespeare; and Carry On, Mr. Bowditch. Curriculum includes RightStart Math, English from the Roots Up, The Mighty Works of God-Divine Providence, The Easy Spanish, and The Child’s Book of Nature. We also have a devotional, Small Talks on Big Questions, and I’m considering getting Noah Plan’s Walking with Jesus for Bible. Oh, and don’t I need a grammar book? I know that a stack of books does not equal education, but, somehow, I feel secure having a list of subjects to check off.
Looking at all these subjects I tend to get overwhelmed. Then I remember God has challenged me to renew my dependence on Him, and lessen my reliance on textbooks. Dependence on anything other than God leads to bondage. How many times have I tried to teach a lesson that has no life just to get school done? I have a tendency to plow through the textbooks and call that learning. However, the Creator who made us individually knows how we learn best. He will give me wisdom to infuse creativity into our lessons, if I’ll just ask.
So here I sit crying out for grace to use this curriculum as a reference for our lessons. The Bible is the source of truth, and the Holy Spirit is the guide to life. I want to walk through the valley of scope and sequence knowing that freedom.
