10: In the Driver’s Seat

AMDG. Feeling the shine (or enormity) of a new school year wearing off and a sense of "why haven’t we figured this out yet?” setting in? You’re not alone. On Episode 10 of the Kolbecast, Jordan, Bonnie, and Hope talk about how getting into a routine can be elusive but how building the habit of finishing strong is always on the curriculum around here, the concept and execution of mastery as opposed to mechanistic schooling, students’ responsibility to actively participate in acquiring knowledge, what exercises are “essential” versus actually essential, and the importance of not taking things too seriously.  

“As you know, the task of a teacher is not simply to impart information or to provide training in skills intended to deliver some economic benefit to society; education is not and must never be considered as purely utilitarian. It is about forming the human person, equipping him or her to live life to the full – in short it is about imparting wisdom. And true wisdom is inseparable from knowledge of the Creator, for ‘both we and our words are in his hand, as are all understanding and skill in crafts.’ (Wis 7:16).” Pope Benedict XVI’s 2010 Address to Teachers and Religious. 

 
Jordan’s blog post on ship building - https://blog.kolbe.org/roles-and-models-in-education/ 

Jordan’s blog post on educating at home, especially in these times 

Deschooling Society by Ivan Illich on Goodreads and Bookshop.org