GOOD IDEAS, How to be your child's (and our own) Best Teacher
By: Micheal Rosen
TA-DAH Moments for me, some Brain Juice
The idea behind this book is to remind you, your children, me and my children several things. We live in a worth surrounded by all the stuff that education is supposed to be about: machines, bodies, languages, cities, mountains, energy, movements, food, liquids.. None of this stuff is boring...The way to it (in other words), is how we do stuff alongside children.
One of the most important things to do with children is to encourage them to browse. As we browse, we create a mind-map of where to go get the stuff.
This means - whether as a parent or as a teacher - my job surely is more like 'enabling'? If it's analogous to anything, perhaps it's being more like a midwife. After all, it's not the midwife who gives birth. The midwife enables the mother to have the baby.
Why This Book
Micheal Rosen's wide-eyed look, or some may termed it doe eyed haha, certainly called out to me. For those who do not know his guy, he is the famous author of the book 'Going on a bear hunt'. If you still don't get which book this is, just grab any kid and ask him/her :)
What Stands Out
Micheal Rosen's anecdotal about his parenting experiences with his children, seriously, he shared stories and thoughts and funny incidents. It was so personal that it seems like I know them as a family. It was as if I am watching a movie as I read the book.
I also enjoyed his questions posed on each theme/topic. This is something I need to work on as an educator. Let me list down a few examples.
The Sky
Why do some clouds rain and some don't?
What is a rainbow?
Why are some clouds darker than others?
What makes a sky red anyway?
---> and then it links to birds
How come they can glide up as well as down?
WHy does spreading their wings slow them down as they land?
Content Page
I can't possibly share everything here or remember every point myself as the years go by, but I am making it easier for me to recall and recap by listing down all its content. Notice how the content is so generalized, they consists of things and sights we see everyday with children and that's what made it real and applicable. It is at the end of the post and it is rather lengthy, so you have been warned.
Last notes to Self and You
I have stopped buying books few years back and invested time to walking my bum to Bukit Merah Library but this is indeed a book to get because the content is so useful and heavy in that bible sense. The last part even give references such as Supplies to have at home and Micheal recommended a handful of 'Have to Read Books' for children. Enough said, just take my money!
The Real Content Page
Just skim through if you wish, before borrowing/buying the book, maybe :)
INTRODUCTION
The Power of 'I don't know'
WAYS AND MEANS
Talk
Writing and Reading
Teaching and Learning
Clubs and Activities
How to Help with Homework when you don't know much about it
WHERE GOOD IDEAS COME FROM
THE HOME
DIY and Builders
Beasties
The Kitchen
The Bathroom
The sitting room
The Loo
Children's Rooms
OUTDOORS
Garden or Window-sill
The Park
The Sky
The Beach
The Sea
The Woods
Camping
THE STREET
The Ground
Eye level
Up Above
Yet Higher
TRAVELLING AND HOLIDAYS
Travelling
Quizzes, Word and Number Games
Railway stations and Trains
How much longer?
Holidays
Aboard
DAYS OUT, OUTING AND VISITS
Museums
Galleries
Castles and Country Houses
Prehistoric Sites
Romans
Sports Stadium
Theater
Concerts
Visitors
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Writing Ideas
Supplies to have at Home
Some Books and Advice about Books
Puzzles and Things to do
The
End
End
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