Let’s Teach It — “Rite”???
contributed by Susan Foster
What approach to teaching should we use as we undertake the education of our children? Many parents and teachers want to know, “Just how do I present these new and wonderful materials which I have purchased for my child?”
A year ago, I was given a coffee mug by a dear friend who knew my heart for teaching. On it there is a German Proverb which I believe is pertinent to this question. It says. “A teacher is better than two books.” No matter how wonderful the books are, children need teachers. It is essential that we who are charged with the education of children, either our own or for others, do the teaching. We cannot sit our children in front of a workbook and expect the book to do our job.
With that firmly in mind, how do we teach the various subjects our children need? If we look to the Bible for our guidance, as we should in all matters, we will find that God gives us wonderful examples to follow in our teaching methods.
God has given us the answers to all the “tests” in life, if we will but read and study the Bible. As God gives us teachers in our Pastors and Bible teachers, and as we read and study the text book, our Bible, we find the answers are all there, ready for us to learn ahead of time for the test.
When you begin to think about your childs studies, ask yourself what is important on this page, in this chapter, or in this unit. Jot these ideas down. These are the concepts you must teach. Frequently, you will find these concepts at the beginning of new lessons. Write these concepts out in the form of questions and present them to your child as a study guide when you begin the lesson. Never test over anything that has not been put on that study sheet. You may add to this sheet as you work through your lessons and find important new concepts.
Next be sure that all the concepts are in the correct format. This is especially important for language arts. Unfortunately many books present concepts by showing the child the incorrect form. If one of your books presents concepts in the incorrect format, please DO NOT give this book to the child when teaching the concept.
Rewrite the exercise in the corrected format, and highlight, circle, or underline the specific things you are teaching. Teach this to the child, explaining why each item is the way it is, and then use the workbook or text questions only as a quiz or check point to check for mastery of the concept.
Before you begin to test, ask the child to tell you why something is correct. Show him correct items many times, asking him for explanations as daily review.
Be aware that the child remembers the last thing he sees when learning a new concept. This is why it is so essential that the child see only the correct format during the instructional period. Experts who teach bankers how to identify counterfeit money use this concept. A student is never exposed to the counterfeit bills while he is learning. He handles and studies only the real (correct) thing. By the time the student is finished with the program, he knows the real bills so well, he can spot a counterfeit immediately. It should be the same with our childs education. He should know the correct concept so well, that there is no question in his mind when he sees it in incorrect format.
Our children need to see the correct format over and over. They need to see it, handle it, speak it, and hear it. Be sure the exposure has been adequate to compensate for any memory weakness they may experience. Then you may need to reteach, again. Oral questioning will help you to know when the chid has mastered the new concept.
Once you feel confident the child understands the concepts, then and only then present the text book exercises, which need to be corrected, as a quiz, test or check point. When grading the tests, erase any wrong answers (do not let him see the incorrect format again) and then go back and reteach, showing him the same question in the correct form. Give him the quiz again and accept the final effort as his grade. After all, he did finally master the concept! When you baked your first cakes, or mowed your first lawn, did you want credit for the burnt sacrifice or for the crooked lines? You probably preferred that people remember the one that was perfect. Your child deserves the same encouragement.
When you have applied these strategies, you can say that you have taught it the right way! Congratulations on a job well done.
Note: Susan Foster is the Director of the Faith Christian Academy Satellite School, a service available to all Home Schoolers working with Dr. Paul Cates and Faith Christian Ministries.