Growing Independent Learners
By Dr. Shannon Whiteside
If I asked you what skills you want your children to develop, what would you say? You might say critical thinking, clear communication or self-directed learning? Would you say that imagination is an important skill to develop? In an article titled “Imagination as a Powerful Factor in a Well-balanced Mind,” Ellen Parish discusses the way imagination helps students grow in knowledge and wonder. Imagination is often seen as something only creative people have, or something only taught in art or music, but she argues that “every subject gives fuel to the imagination and without imagination no subject can be rightly followed.”
Imagination can be defined as the mind’s ability to picture what is not present. It is an important skill that is developed in many of the subjects in a Charlotte Mason education. In handicrafts, children imagine what a clay model will look like and work towards that goal. In history, children imagine what life was like in another time period and try to understand the way people thought differently. In nature study, children use their imagination to ask questions about living things such as “I wonder” or “It reminds me of”. Imagination can help students move from a fixed mindset to a growth mindset. They might not have an interest in a subject, or they might think a concept in science or grammar is too hard for them to learn. Imagination helps people embrace challenges and persist rather than give up. It lets them see effort as the path to growth, assess what they currently know, and map out how to reach their goal.
As students develop imagination, they are growing in their confidence to learn new things, to handle new challenges, and to realize they don’t need to rely on someone else for an answer. They are becoming independent learners engaged in self-education.
If you missed joining us last night for our live event, Growing Independent Learners, we've gathered the resources below so you can explore these ideas.
We loved spending the evening with Alveary families talking about growing independent learners! One of our favorite parts was hearing how families are putting these ideas into practice during our breakout conversations.
Here's what a few members shared afterward:
"It's great hearing how different families apply the ideas from the main talk."
"I appreciated the breakout room and the specific information for my situation!"
"I love that I have things I can implement right away without overwhelm!"
We're looking forward to more opportunities to learn from one another. We hope you'll join us next time!
SPOTLIGHT: When we mention Resources, we often highlight the Alveary Foundations course, but the Resource Bank on your Dashboard also offers searchable videos, articles, books, and Office Hours recordings. You can explore the Resource Bank here.
NOTES:
- Term 2 Exams: Term 2 Exams are now live on your Dashboard! You can find them in the “Exams” section, making it easy to access all your exams in one place. Exam questions are also included at the end of the lesson plans for each grade level and subject. Once you've completed and graded your students' exams, you can also upload them to share with the Alveary Team.
- Advent Guide: What if you let Advent shape some of your school days this December? CMI’s free Advent for All guide offers Scripture, poetry, art, music, recipes, and more to enjoy together. Choose what fits your family and make room for a different rhythm this season. Download here and share with friends!
- From the HIve: One Alveary co-op teacher shared a sixth grader’s bas-relief project after giving students the freedom to create something inspired by their Term 1 studies. What have your students been creating lately? Share their work in the Hive.
Have a wonderful weekend!
