The Passionate Learner : How Teachers and Parents Can Help Children Reclaim the Joy of Discovery

Rating:
Summary: Enjoying the Learning Process
Review: Enjoying the Learning Process

As an elementary school teacher for the last six years, I have witnessed students become excited and enthusiastic about learning new things, and have seen the light turn on when a skill or connection has been mastered in the learning process. I was glad to see that author Robert L. Fried shares the view that children and adults should always be passionate about the learning process. The author's goal for children is surely what all teachers in America would hope for. Children in our education system should never be sidelined because of ability or lack thereof, all should be challenged, hard work and determination is valued and of course children should develop confidence, just to name a few.

This book begins with interviews with parents of young toddlers reminiscing on how happy, innocent, enthusiastic, and explorative their young children are, and these parents hope that this kind of excitement about learning continues as the child grows in the school system, as well as outside of school learning. The author takes special care to also describe fifteen signs where passionate learning may break down. If your child exhibits some of the following, a breakdown or bump in the road has occurred: your child becomes discouraged after receiving low grades, he or she is distracted in class or bored by mundane or routine assignments, your child is working simply to please the teacher for that high grade, perfectionism, embarrassment by leveled groupings in certain subject areas, and perhaps your son or daughter may believe the teacher does not like them or the teacher is unfair. Other passionate breakdowns according to Mr. Fried include students becoming fearful of teasing by other students when a child excels at a certain skill level, and perhaps there may be language or cultural differences that inhibit or prohibit learning from taking place.

The book is broken down into chapters dedicated to what can be done to ameliorate some of these situations. Chapter 3 is dedicated to 'What Teachers Can Do to Reclaim the Promise.' Teachers can create strong relationships with students where all children are respected and attitudes are positive, celebrate each child as a learner inside the school walls and outside, and create a strong sense of worth and a community atmosphere. One of the strongest elements that stuck in my mind was the importance of communicating and discussing the relevance of activities and allowing the student to have input in the learning process. Students able to take ownership in projects by being allowed to generate ideas for projects, and even helping create the rubrics for how their work will be assessed was another element discussed as a way to keep the learning relevant and important. According to Mr. Fried, teachers should also provide ample opportunities for oral reports, story telling, discussion among peers about the learning process and topics learned, and also integrate reading and writing in all subject areas. In Chapter 12, titled 'Lift Every Voice', Mr. Fried does a great job of providing helpful hints to illicit responses from shy, aggressive, and even children who are resistant to oral speaking.

Mr. Fried also provides guidance for parents to aid in the growth of passionate learning. The author advises that parents become visible in the school community supporting teachers and support staff by assisting whenever possible. Parents can work on projects at home or school and aid in the classroom as volunteers. The author believes that the parent becoming a 'coach and guide' rather than a 'boss' in the child's learning is probably more beneficial to both the parent and child. Parents can be coaches by sitting near their child offering support, encouragement, and modeling the think aloud process while the child completes the assignment. One of the most important elements Mr. Fried spoke of was that all parents should read to their children at a young age, continue this practice, and also let the children see their parents enjoying reading. Reading should encompass many aspects of the family's life. In Chapter 10 titled, 'Words of Power' the author does a fantastic job of providing 'talking points' about the importance of literacy by giving rationales and reasons of why literacy achievement is crucial to the success of children.

One of my favorite sections was a small part of the book but it discusses something so very important - quality learning. It includes a conversation between parent and child discussing the value of making connections with lessons learned and your life and expending energy on meaningful activities. It also discusses the importance of becoming enthusiastic about projects or assignments by taking pride and ownership in the assignment, and understanding that quality learning has to come from the heart of the child. This book is packed with useful information for both the parent and teacher. Throughout the book the author relies on his experiences in various schools and reports about the teachers and students he encounters, and their ideas and philosophies about education. It is a good book that looks at the school end of learning as well as taking into consideration the awesome role parents obviously have in their child's life long learning process.

Rating:
Summary: Food for thought
Review: What makes a child's natural tendency to learn and discover shrivel up once they enter school? Author Robert Fried tells us. When he asked 3rd graders "What's the most important thing you're learning this year?", they answered, "Not to run in the halls", or "don't throw stuff on the floor". School becomes, not a place to learn and discover, but an unpleasant place where rules and regulations are stressed above all. Fried tells us how this huge gap develops between toddlerhood inquisitiveness and the reality of life in school. He then tells us how teachers and parents can work as allies to help these kids rediscover the joy of learning, no matter what their age. Fried allows those he's interviewed (teachers, parents, and the kids) speak out about their personal road blocks and offers reasonable, practical ideas to help kids, parents, and teachers work past frustration to enjoy learning once again. My favorite chapter is entitled "A Passion for Excellence- and how we undermine it".

My daughter is currently in the middle of Kindergarten, still a time where school is an indescribable wonder (she gets her clothes ready for Monday on Friday night). Before I purchased this book, I was expecting this little love affair to end sometime after 1st grade started. Now, I'm not so worried. Armed with the practical information I've received from this book, I intend to work with her teachers now and in the future to )hopefully) ensure her success in school, and eventually, in life.