I am a mom of three children aged 10, 8 and 3. We are homeschooling now, after previous attempts of schooling through both public school and private school, trying out different pedagogical approaches (Montessori, Reggio Emilia, democratic school, Waldorf). None of them worked for us, so we finally registered the kids with a Romanian organization that is in the process of being authorized as an EOTAS (Education Other Than At School) institution by the UK Government. It is an interesting project that blends a wide array of approaches, ranging from schooling in small groups of children with daily frequency to unschooling. We have two evaluations per year with a team from UK (Penta International). I will provide more info if you think this might be a good fit for you, and maybe you can start your own organization in the Czech Rep.
I think of education in three main ways:
the WHAT (What do I want/need/think my kids should learn?)
the HOW (How do I make sure they learn the information I think/want them to learn?)
the WHY (Why do/should I want to make my kids learn anything?)
I believe your questions relate to all three ways to different extents (although the title of the post leans towards the HOW types of questions), but I found it useful to differentiate between these issues in order to make sure my time, money and efforts are well spent.
For me, the questions came in waves, I did not start pondering on them all at once. At the beginning of the process, I was mainly concerned with the HOW part, assuming that I was going to go by the the curricula (Romanian and UK). I bought the manuals and I started to work with the kids, but I soon realized that this was not a good approach. To my surprise, they already knew almost all the information they needed to know at their age, without being formally trained to do so, or with very little training. I have since then decided to focus on two main abilities: thinking critically and learning how to learn. Other than that, I have them explore each year learning new skills such as playing an instrument, learning a new sport and learning a foreign language (they get to choose what they want).
The HOW dealt with issues such as self-directed learning vs tutoring (we tried both), having a daily schedule or not, project-based learning, blended learning, and the list could go on. My kids are extremely different in terms of abilities, interests and preferred style of learning, so we had to adapt to each of their individualities. It is hard work, but I believe it is worth it, it is enriching to all of us.
The WHY questions came last, and I still don’t have answers to them. I want to provide my children with a proper education (meaning they will be able to pass some form of internationally recognized exams in order to go to college, should they decide to), but the reason I want this is more about me than about them. I feel the responsibility of their future on my shoulders, so I struggle with letting them be in control of their education, holding on to my hope that their abilities and their interests will meet the demand of the workforce market when they reach graduation age.
For me, it all comes down to the concept of backward design—identifying the goals first, and then deciding on the acceptable levels of evidence that those goals are achieved, and only lastly planning the learning experience and instruction approach. It is an ongoing process, a combination of finite and infinite games.
I would like to close my comment by emphasizing that children are born rational beings, but they just start taking over from their parents when they provide them with irrational explanations for things that happen or might happen to them (one of my favorites, here in Romania, is that “If you don’t stop crying, a big bad wolf will come and get you”), or they build defenses of their own that are irrational, to protect themselves from being hurt. I believe that our job as parents is, therefore, to be rational and predictive in relation to them, as well as gently making them aware of the instances when they use irrationality to run away from their feelings.
[...] I believe your questions relate to all three ways to different extents (although the title of the post leans towards the HOW types of questions), but I found it useful to differentiate between these issues in order to make sure my time, money and efforts are well spent.
Needless to say that I updated significantly in the past month since I posted this question and the “Why” and “What” has definitely enlarged. I agree with you that it’s a useful framework to have. I am also thankful for the practical bits.
I would like to close my comment by emphasizing that children are born rational beings, but they just start taking over from their parents when they provide them with irrational explanations for things that happen or might happen to them (one of my favorites, here in Romania, is that “If you don’t stop crying, a big bad wolf will come and get you”), or they build defenses of their own that are irrational, to protect themselves from being hurt. I believe that our job as parents is, therefore, to be rational and predictive in relation to them, as well as gently making them aware of the instances when they use irrationality to run away from their feelings.
I probably understand what you mean here and agree at least with my steelman version of your argument. But I would also like to emphasize that I want the “other” people which are important for me to understand “rationality” that I can’t imagine how one could “born” with. Examples are all the great knowledge of giants on which shoulders we stand on (like, say, probability), “simply” results of scientific progress (like how minds work, or some biases...), or practical guide of “you are a human, try to work with that fact in the best way you can”. At least I and virtually everyone I met didn’t born with these, nor they figure all that out by themselves.
I am a mom of three children aged 10, 8 and 3. We are homeschooling now, after previous attempts of schooling through both public school and private school, trying out different pedagogical approaches (Montessori, Reggio Emilia, democratic school, Waldorf). None of them worked for us, so we finally registered the kids with a Romanian organization that is in the process of being authorized as an EOTAS (Education Other Than At School) institution by the UK Government. It is an interesting project that blends a wide array of approaches, ranging from schooling in small groups of children with daily frequency to unschooling. We have two evaluations per year with a team from UK (Penta International). I will provide more info if you think this might be a good fit for you, and maybe you can start your own organization in the Czech Rep.
I think of education in three main ways:
the WHAT (What do I want/need/think my kids should learn?)
the HOW (How do I make sure they learn the information I think/want them to learn?)
the WHY (Why do/should I want to make my kids learn anything?)
I believe your questions relate to all three ways to different extents (although the title of the post leans towards the HOW types of questions), but I found it useful to differentiate between these issues in order to make sure my time, money and efforts are well spent.
For me, the questions came in waves, I did not start pondering on them all at once. At the beginning of the process, I was mainly concerned with the HOW part, assuming that I was going to go by the the curricula (Romanian and UK). I bought the manuals and I started to work with the kids, but I soon realized that this was not a good approach. To my surprise, they already knew almost all the information they needed to know at their age, without being formally trained to do so, or with very little training. I have since then decided to focus on two main abilities: thinking critically and learning how to learn. Other than that, I have them explore each year learning new skills such as playing an instrument, learning a new sport and learning a foreign language (they get to choose what they want).
The HOW dealt with issues such as self-directed learning vs tutoring (we tried both), having a daily schedule or not, project-based learning, blended learning, and the list could go on. My kids are extremely different in terms of abilities, interests and preferred style of learning, so we had to adapt to each of their individualities. It is hard work, but I believe it is worth it, it is enriching to all of us.
The WHY questions came last, and I still don’t have answers to them. I want to provide my children with a proper education (meaning they will be able to pass some form of internationally recognized exams in order to go to college, should they decide to), but the reason I want this is more about me than about them. I feel the responsibility of their future on my shoulders, so I struggle with letting them be in control of their education, holding on to my hope that their abilities and their interests will meet the demand of the workforce market when they reach graduation age.
For me, it all comes down to the concept of backward design—identifying the goals first, and then deciding on the acceptable levels of evidence that those goals are achieved, and only lastly planning the learning experience and instruction approach. It is an ongoing process, a combination of finite and infinite games.
I would like to close my comment by emphasizing that children are born rational beings, but they just start taking over from their parents when they provide them with irrational explanations for things that happen or might happen to them (one of my favorites, here in Romania, is that “If you don’t stop crying, a big bad wolf will come and get you”), or they build defenses of their own that are irrational, to protect themselves from being hurt. I believe that our job as parents is, therefore, to be rational and predictive in relation to them, as well as gently making them aware of the instances when they use irrationality to run away from their feelings.
Hi! This is an excellent answer, thanks.
Needless to say that I updated significantly in the past month since I posted this question and the “Why” and “What” has definitely enlarged. I agree with you that it’s a useful framework to have. I am also thankful for the practical bits.
I probably understand what you mean here and agree at least with my steelman version of your argument. But I would also like to emphasize that I want the “other” people which are important for me to understand “rationality” that I can’t imagine how one could “born” with. Examples are all the great knowledge of giants on which shoulders we stand on (like, say, probability), “simply” results of scientific progress (like how minds work, or some biases...), or practical guide of “you are a human, try to work with that fact in the best way you can”. At least I and virtually everyone I met didn’t born with these, nor they figure all that out by themselves.