PFE-PARENTING FOR EDUCATION

“LEARNING IN CIRCULAR MOTION”

How to Sustain Learning for School Aged Children

By Vivian Owens

Let us take comfort in realizing that learning at its best occurs in circular motion. This means that tiny incremental doses of concepts picked up in Phase 1 of learning 2^nd Grade Math or High School Algebra will repeat itself in Phase 2. The same holds true for all levels of math—3^rd Grade Math, Algebra, Geometry, and beyond. Other subjects also possess circular motion. However simple or elemental an idea or concept is, it is the building block for all higher concepts of the same field. Eventually, we return to refer to that simplest notion. One idea steadily builds upon another. Nothing is ever lost once it is gained.

The idea of circular motion contends that a nugget of a concept follows a path, picking up or adding to and enlarging the same basic concept as time and more learning occur. The key is to aid this circular motion.

For ourselves as caretakers of our children’s education, we aid circular motion learning by answering the following question: How do we sustain learning given a homeschooling requirement?

First, we acknowledge that our schools have done an excellent job in meeting the challenges of out-of-classroom learning. We owe a debt of thanks to our teachers, school administrators, and all who support the infrastructures they need to reach childrenduring this pandemic crisis.

Next, we consider ways to sustain learning at ground level; and we do the following:

Follow all the plans laid out by the teacher and school.

Encourage practice, practice, and more practice. To win games, LeBron James or Stephen Curry would not think of playing an NBA game by foregoing practice. Similarly, learners cannot forego practice in any subject.

Introduce one new concept. This can be problem solving, memory challenging, or following directions in a step-by-step adventure. Puzzles fall into this category, as do games like chess.

Create situations for which the learner must adapt and therefore use a combination of skills that he has previously mastered.

Use “Show-me” skills. Ask your child to show you how to perform a specific math problem as dictated from one of the teacher-provided lessons. Other examples of “Show Me” might include asking the 3year-old to 7 year-old children to “Show me how to do jumping jacks.” Or, “Show me how to roll dough into a round ball.”
For the 6^th grader to 9^th grader, you might ask, “Show me the likeness or similarities between any two countries of your choosing.”

To sustain learning and to keep circular motion learning in full swing, we keep in mind that our children are in a constant state of change as they move toward higher academic maturation.

Academic maturation requires the presence of a foundation, which covers all areas of learning in language, math, social studies, and science. We do all that we can to assist the process laid out by teachers and schools, but we also consider our obligations as caretakers of our children’s overall learning environment. Knowing that learning occurs in circular motion will give us direction as we pursue passage through home learning goals.

For all those who were home schooling before COVID-19, you will note the circular nature of learning in the same way as parents new to home-learning situations. For all, I wish you the best.