Comments on: Positively Speaking — Commitment to Learning

By: Pass The Torch » Positively Speaking - Commitment to Learning

Pass The Torch » Positively Speaking - Commitment to Learning — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 17:24:20 +0000

[...] July Positively Speaking column is over at 5 Minutes for Mom. I write about commitment to learning this month, and share some tips [...]

By: SusanGaille

SusanGaille — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 07:31:38 +0000

Yet another approach I confess to using with my kids is fighting back. That is, be sure to ask questions of your own! Not the “why didn’t you clean your room?” style of questions but the ones to encourage thought.

For instance, I asked my four-year-old son what his favourite word was and why. His answer “kitten, because it makes me feel all furry on the inside.” Or you could ask during the drive to school, “What other ways could we have come to school?”

By: melody is Slurping Life

melody is Slurping Life — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 06:28:04 +0000

Teaching children HOW to learn is ultimately more important than WHAT they learn in my thinking. If they know how, they can teach themselves what they need to know throughout life.

By: Heidi

Heidi — Sun, 08 Jul 2007 08:48:26 +0000

Great column! I feel so wise, sometimes, when they find the answer on their own, yet think that I gave it to them, too!

Teaching how to think is so important.

My favorite question, still.. from 20+ years ago. My foster son brought me a handful of cotton batting. He asked “why is this in the phone?”

By: Karen

Karen — Sun, 08 Jul 2007 00:04:28 +0000

Thanks for reminding me that I don’t have to have all the answers. My children 7,5,and 3 (thank goodness the littlest one can’t talk yet – she’s just turned 1) all ask LOTS of questions & on very different levels. I love helping my oldest look up things in the computer – we discover all kinds of neat stuff!

By: Pass the Torch

Pass the Torch — Sat, 07 Jul 2007 23:04:33 +0000

Thank you all for your comments! I’m glad you enjoyed the column!

By: MorningSong

MorningSong — Sat, 07 Jul 2007 16:35:13 +0000

Great info!! Sometimes it is the obvious answers that fail us! I LOVE asking the child ‘What do you think?’ I will DEFINITELY put that to use!! Thanks again! I enjoyed this column!

By: Jennifer, Snapshot

Jennifer, Snapshot — Sat, 07 Jul 2007 16:16:11 +0000

I appreciate the positive spin on questions, because they can get irritating!! But I know that they are valuable, so I try not to get too irritated.

By: Jill

Jill — Sat, 07 Jul 2007 16:13:22 +0000

This is a great column. I especially loved how you pointed out you don’t have to have all the answers, but that helping your child find the answers for himself is just as valuable. I’m all about helping my son learn to do things for himself and this is another great example of how I can do that. Thanks.