A Love For Learning
As summer is drawing to an end and everyone is looking to the new school year, I have been thinking about an article I wrote many years ago for “The Magnum Opus Magazine” about instilling a love for learning in your children. I hope you enjoy it and are encouraged as you begin a new school year. —Megan L. Horst
Have you ever dreamed about your homeschool being the “picture perfect” homeschool? Perhaps you have imagined that each morning, promptly at 6:45 a.m., the children would neatly file into your beautifully equipped homeschool room, complete with a dry erase board in the front of the room, colorful maps, and charts surrounding each wall. Eagerly ready to begin their school work, they would sit quietly at their desks and begin their studies without ever being prompted or asked. Never picking on each other, of course, they would stay focused on their work until it was completed at a quality they knew would satisfy mom and dad. Does this describe a typical homeschool day in your family? Don’t feel bad, it does not describe how our homeschool was either.
Perhaps you might identify more with what a common homeschool day at our house looked like. Typically, our homeschool consisted of us rolling out of bed by 8:30 a.m., completing at least one subject in our pj’s before even bothering with breakfast, and then piling on the couch, the kids with hot chocolate and Mom with caffeine, to encounter history and science together. My most vivid and memorable homeschool memories are the times when we were all learning together.
Although we did not have the “picture perfect” homeschool by any means, from an early age, my parents instilled an authentic love for learning in each of us. Of course there were subjects (math for me) that were like pulling teeth to get through, but for the most part, learning was something fun that we did together. I will never forget the time when my brothers and I excitedly looked out the window and saw the UPS truck driving up our long driveway, which was literally a 10th of a mile. You must understand that in the farmlands of Indiana, we did not get much traffic, so any visitor would be welcomed; however, the UPS truck struck an entirely different level of excitement—especially since we knew what was being delivered. Enthusiastically, my brothers and I hurried onto our front porch to greet the deliveryman. Since the box was large and heavy, the three of us worked together to slide it into the house, while Mom signed for the package. Although it was apparent that the UPS worker was quite amused, he did not say anything until the following day when he delivered yet another large package. Again, my brothers and I anxiously pulled the box into our house.
“Are these early Christmas presents or something?” the UPS man asked Mom with a chuckle. Mom smiled.
“No, we homeschool, and these are their school books,” she explained. The man turned solemn.
“Ma’am, I don’t know what your kids have, but I wish my kids had some of it,” he replied before turning to go.
What we had was an authentic love for learning. Within the boxes we knew a whole new world would be opened to us. We would be reading books like Mr. Revere and I, where we would be learning about the American Revolution from the perspective of Paul Revere’s horse. Through books like Peace Child, we would travel in our minds with missionaries like the Richardson’s, who journeyed to New Guinea to share the love of Jesus Christ with the Sawi tribe. History would come to life through these books. Naturally we were not excited about every single subject and every single school book. Some things just have to be “suffered” through. Regardless, we still had a joy for learning that has lasted even into adulthood. How did this happen? Learning was fun, it was our lifestyle, and it was something we did together. More specifically:
1. We used “living books” – A unit study approach and a literature-based curriculum encourages “living books.” For example, when studying early American history, Mom would read aloud books like Carry on Mr. Bowditch, Johnny Tremain, Patriot’s Gold, and other books that would go along with the time period we were studying. Independently, we would read books on our own that were directed toward our age level. Would you rather read through a pictureless textbook or read Sarah, Plain and Tall when studying the West? “Living books” force the imagination to engage, and fill the mind with real stories, not just a textbook summary of what happened. Technically, the same information is being studied, yet in dramatically different ways.
2. Learning was fun, and we did it together: My mother tried to make school something that was enjoyable, and not a chore. Occasionally, we would sit outside, and other times we would go to the library or some fun place for a change of scenery. In my family, learning was not limited to books alone; learning could be hands-on, and it was a way of life. When we traveled, we made a point to stop and see places that were educational. Learning was something we did as a family. In our fast-paced culture, finding time to spend with family is becoming increasingly difficult. *According to statistics, the average American father only spends eight to ten minutes a day with his kids, 34 percent of families only eat one meal together, and only 12 percent of families say they spend time praying together. Spending time as a family is crucial, so why not make learning a family activity?
3. If you love it, they’ll love it: This obviously does not apply in every situation, but when mom and dad are excited about something, it passes on to the kids. I will never forget sitting next to my mom on the couch while she was reading a science textbook to us. At one point she looked up and exclaimed, “Isn’t that so cool!” The fact that Mom was enthralled piqued my interest, where it might not have if she was not excited about what we were studying.
As we continue moving forward through the spring semester, if you find yourself weary and looking forward to summer, know that we all have those moments. But if you are struggling to keep your student's attention, and school seems more like drudgery, take time to evaluate your curriculum and teaching methods. Or perhaps it is time for a change of scenery. The question is–Do your students love to learn? I hope so, but if not, consider taking a step back, change your approach, and bring the joy and excitement of learning into your home.
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Previously published by The Institute for Excellence in Writing.
* Pipes, Jerry, and Victor Lee. Family to family: families making a difference. (Alpharetta, GA: North American Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention, 1999), 6.
