2 posts tagged “john holt”

"It can't be said too often: We get better at using words, whether
hearing, speaking, reading, or writing, under one condition and only
one -- when we use those words to say something we want to say,
to people we want to say it to, for purposes that are our own." John Holt

The importance of  communication cannot be overstated. It is a basic human need to be heard and understood. It ties into our need to connect with others. I would add that it's equally vital to be informed; to have enough knowledge to not only communicate, but to have something worth saying. All the communication skills in the world won't mitigate the fact that you are talking about something vain or shallow. (Disney Inc. take note.)

One of the ways we have fostered not only communication but the aquisition of knowledge in our children is with a technique Sandra Dodd http://sandradodd.com/unschooling calls strewing. I came upon this term one day and have latched on to it. I happily realize I have been doing this forever and never had a term for it. So thanks Sandra.

Basically it means that I have thrown things at the kids forever. It's why we have countless shots of our little dear ones as toddlers with books, magazines, newspapers in their hands. It always made me laugh; they look so serious as if they could really read what was printed there. But the point is, they have all grown up from their earliest memories surrounded by the written word, the spoken word, art. They have listened to stories read to them, radio programs, and anything else of interest to them. We have magazines in the bathroom. (I actually got this from my friend P. who when asked how she got her boys to actually READ Smithsonian or National Geographic, replied that she leaves them in the bathroom because what else are they going to do in there?).

Strewing also applies to word games, jigsaw puzzles, music tapes. I realize my kids have very eclectic tastes and "strewing" is the reason why. N. who is 9, is equally happy belting out songs from "The Jewish Odyssey" in phonetic Hebrew, as she is singing along to Joan Baez or show tunes. All the while they are learning culture and history. 

It's all about broadening their horizons. Putting it out there. Making it available. Strewing their path with the interesting, appealing, unique, thought provoking and off beat.

The second and vital part of the whole equation is conversation. We talk about what we read, see and experience. Everyone gets to express an opinion, to ask questions. It's an amalgamation of Socrates and Charlotte Mason as we discuss, analyse, teach, dissect, debate. This not only helps us all to understand what we experience, but to decide what we think about it.  The added benefit is that I, as the facilitator, have a chance to see what to "strew" next to further the discussion or teach  something that's missing. 

Maybe my children won't become Renaissance people but that was never really the goal. If they become informed, responsible Muslims, interesting citizens of the world, it will be enough.

"It can't be said too often: We get better at using words, whether
hearing, speaking, reading, or writing, under one condition and only
one -- when we use those words to say something we want to say,
to people we want to say it to, for purposes that are our own." John Holt

The importance of  communication cannot be overstated. It is a basic human need to be heard and understood. It ties into our need to connect with others. I would add that it's equally vital to be informed; to have enough knowledge to not only communicate, but to have something worth saying. All the communication skills in the world won't mitigate the fact that you are talking about something vain or shallow. (Disney Inc. take note.)

One of the ways we have fostered not only communication but the aquisition of knowledge in our children is with a technique Sandra Dodd http://sandradodd.com/unschooling calls strewing. I came upon this term the other day and have latched on to it. I happily realize I have been doing this forever and never had a term for it. So thanks Sandra.

Basically it means that I have thrown things at the kids forever. It's why we have countless shots of our little dear ones as toddlers with books, magazines, newspapers in their hands. It always made me laugh; they look so serious as if they could really read what was printed there. But the point is, they have all grown up from their earliest memories surrounded by the written word, the spoken word, art. They have listened to stories read to them, radio programs, and anything else of interest to them. We have magazines in the bathroom. (I actually got this from my friend P. who when asked how she got her boys to actually READ Smithsonian or National Geographic, replied that she leaves them in the bathroom because what else are they going to do in there?).

Strewing also applies to word games, jigsaw puzzles, music tapes. I realize my kids have very eclectic tastes and "strewing" is the reason why. N. who is 9, is equally happy belting out songs from "The Jewish Odyssey" in phonetic Hebrew, as she is singing along to Joan Baez or show tunes. All the while they are learning culture and history. 

It's all about broadening their horizons. Putting it out there. Making it available. Strewing their path with the interesting, appealing, unique, thought provoking and off beat.

The second and vital part of the whole equation is conversation. We talk about what we read, see and experience. Everyone gets to express an opinion, to ask questions. It's an amalgamation of Socrates and Charlotte Mason as we discuss, analyse, teach, dissect, debate. This not only helps us all to understand what we experience, but to decide what we think about it.  The added benefit is that I, as the facilitator, have a chance to see what to "strew" next to further the discussion or teach  something that's missing. 

Maybe my children won't become Renaissance people but that was never really the goal. If they become informed, responsible Muslims, interesting citizens of the world, it will be enough.