Self-directed learning is a guaranteed way to develop our children's distinctive gifting.
Our children are individuals. Each one of them is uniquely created with a special combination of gifts and talents. And God has a wonderful plan for their lives.
Like each and every human being on this earth, our children have been given a special assignment. Each and every one of them is called to be a secret agent of God's love to a lost world, destined to make a difference and to leave a legacy for the generations to come.
Are we preparing them for this? Let's take a close look at the education most children receive nowadays.
Modern education sends every child through a program of study that is targeted toward a "generic" child.
It expects every student to be able to follow the same course of study in the same sequence, without considering innate aptitudes or individual differences that are crucial to a child's ability to learn.
Whether they are homeschooling or sending their child to a traditional school setting, most parents blindly trust a school curriculum's ability to impart an excellent education to their children. Curriculum's have become our "Educational Bibles."
When a child has difficulties in his learning process, parents will usually focus on the child. They will try to "fix" the child so he can accomplish the assignment dictated by the curriculum.
Parents need to consider that there may be something wrong with the educational methods they are exposing their children to.
Maybe it is not the right time. Maybe the approach is wrong. Maybe, just maybe, it might be something the child just isn't interested in and will never use in his or her whole life!
Children are all so different. It breaks my heart when I see them struggling at school with a subject that simply isn't their strength at all. We cannot put them into a cookie cutter!
That child may eventually give up trying and avoid any future effort of acquiring knowledge.
Learning has become boring. It has become something he'll want to have as little to do with as possible.
When he could be passionately pursuing his favorite subjects instead!
What can a parent do to help a child develop his gifts and talents successfully?
As always, the most important is the first step: We as parents have to realize that a curriculum, as good as it may be, is only a suggestion of what a child should learn. We have to be flexible and focus on what God put into each child.
Once a parent is aware of his child's individual gifting, he can be more sympathetic with the frustrations he faces at school and more helpful in finding alternative approaches.
Parents can identify their child's God-given talents and focus on these rather than on their weak areas.
Don't be afraid of learning gaps! Once your child has discovered that learning is fun, and has mastered the learning tools with a subject he loves, he will be a self-directed learner and feel confident enough to commit to his weaker areas.
Remember, the biggest learning gap any human being can ever have is that of not developing his God-given talents to their fullest potential so that he can successfully walk out God's plan for his life.
It is easy to teach your child to be a self-directed learner. Once you have decided to deeply respect his individuality, you will see him learn with passion.
Author Info:
I'd like to invite you to go for it! Visit http://www.Self-DirectedLearningForSuccess.com You'll find tips and tools for teaching your child to grow successfully in his own learning process. Learn how to unleash the power of your child's learning potential with my FREE e-book: "The Power of Self-Directed Learning". Additionally I will give you my FREE e-course: "Seven Steps to Consistently Change Your Life."
From Bettina Langerfeldt, who teaches people how to pursue their God-given gifts and talents by designing their own education with self-directed learning.
© 2008 Freedompioneer
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