Creating a Learning Atmosphere
Active and passive learning happens all day here. If you only have time for one tip: PUT EDUCATION IN THEIR WAY, THEN, GET OUT OF THE WAY! But if you’d need some inspiration, I'd love to share the four practices I implemented almost 9 years ago.
Strewing
This is one of my best practices. Strewing is the process of placing resources in the way of the child, as a way to spark learning. I usually place a book of choice on the couch, because it is an area where my children congregate the most. I do not expect any one of them to pick up the book; I just place it in the way and leave it at that. What happens next is between the book and the child- I just observe.
I must say, a carefully chosen book gets picked up. At times, my oldest son will ask me to sit with him and look through a book together (bonus for bonding over a book), to read it to him, or to listen to him read (you read that right!). All three of my sons (and me) have been flipping through the Firefly Animal Encyclopedia this morning. Nature and animals take priority in the topic of interests in our home. Strewing topic-of-interest books sparks curiosity and delight, even if it is only a moment long.
Tegu magnets, board games, and nick-nacks that normally lay behind a closed cabinet doors are other items I utilize for strewing. These items are normally out of sight, hence, they are out of mind. But when we see a board games for the first time in three weeks, we usually spend a good deal of our day at the dining table. Lately, we have been playing Concept Kids (an animal guessing game), and this happens to be a topic of interest for my formal student.
I also have an art cart in the living room. It is full of pastels, pencils, watercolor paints, paper, coloring books, and craft books for inspirations. The concept of the art explains itself, but I will tell you in advance, include items you are willing to clean up and restock every now and then. I personally do not mind cleaning up the spills and paints after my three year old, and I do expect my older children to leave a place cleaner than how they found it.
Rotating Toys
Speaking of strewing, I felt it necessary to tell you about rotating toys. This is a concept I adopted in my die-hard, purest Montessori years as a new mother. Our home only had so much space to hold a few toys. It was best to place a basket of play things behind a closed door and enjoy what was available on a display shelf.
When these toys served their purpose (meaning, a developmental milestone was reached), I swapped them out for another basket! And there was, again, a fresh challenge to tackle, and an opportunity to reach a new milestone just with a simple swap.
I rotated toys in a matter of week, or seasons. Every rotation was like a Christmas morning. Also, the best things about this concept is that I dealt with less clutter.
Keep a Tidy Space
In my childhood, I found it hard to complete any homework among several stacks of unopened mail, magazines, used paper plates, unfinished week old coffee, and random items that could no longer fit into a third junk drawer! It was like sitting in a traffic jam when you are already late for a job interview.
If infants and toddlers experience clutter anxiety, they are not able to articulate it for parents. I can only imagine their world would seem upside down and this uneasiness is expressed through tantrums or avoidance. Then we react to their tantrums, we succumb to comfort foods (both for mom and toddler) and the day just spirals out of our control.
As the parent, I set the atmosphere within my home. I desire quiet music in the background, warmth, peace, soft lighting over the clean table, and a familiar smell of chicken pot pie in the oven. All of these factors affects my mind as a Mother-teacher, and influence my attitude toward any present moment.
Tidy home, clear mind!
Decorating With Art
I don’t quite remember where I read about the importance of having beautiful artwork in the home, at eye level for the child, but I did implement this idea and it has served its function of funneling truth, beauty, goodness, and curiosity into a little soul. Once in a while, when I rotate or rearrange the wall art, I note a child will stop and look. Only a moment’s glimpse at a picture is enough to captured his heart.
Art leads to conversations. We often end up discussing a saint, or a scene from the Stations of the Cross (great to heave during Lent). We are all called to know and love the Lord. His infinite, constant, and unchanging love and mercy for us can be shown in beautiful art. I truly believe art affects us in a unique way, and talking about it technically can be stifling to a small child. I would argues that there is absolutely no need to discuss art at great length. We can take delight in a scene and allow it to spark a quest for Truth, Beauty, and Goodness.
If you want to take a step further and implement a family picture study, visit Rebecca at A Humble Place to learn about the technique of picture study.
I am happy to say that my dream learning atmosphere has come to life and is living- meaning, my atmosphere changes with seasons, spiritual, personal, and developmental growth of all my 5 children.
How do you encourage a learning atmosphere in your home?
