2061: How My Son Learned to Read When We Stopped Trying to Teach Him by Isaac Morehouse on Unschooling & Self-Directed Learning
Feb 8, 2024
11:15
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Isaac Morehouse shares a transformative experience with his son's learning journey, illustrating the profound impact of unschooling. They discuss the drawbacks of traditional teaching methods and the value of personalized, interest-led learning. The podcast emphasizes the importance of balance and cherishing moments with children, challenging the pressure parents face to conform to societal expectations.
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Quick takeaways
Children learn to read when they find it valuable, not through forced teaching methods.
Creating a nurturing and supportive environment where reading is seen as indispensable helps children develop their reading skills naturally.
Deep dives
The struggle to teach reading
The speaker shares their experience of trying various methods to teach their son how to read, including flashcards, read-alongs, and rewards, but none of these efforts were successful. Despite their son's intelligence and capabilities, the attempts to teach him to read only strained their relationship and made parenting less enjoyable. The speaker and their spouse ultimately decided to stop trying to teach their son to read, opting for a more peaceful and harmonious household. They recognized that children learn to read when they find it valuable and emphasized the importance of creating an environment with books and other readers.
The unexpected breakthrough
After giving up on teaching their son to read, the speaker overheard him reading aloud to himself in bed one night. Surprisingly, the first thing he read was a more advanced comic, Calvin and Hobbes, instead of simpler reading materials. The speaker explains that their son had actually memorized the words from previous readings and recited them along with the illustrations. This experience showed the speaker the significance of children's self-teaching ability and their natural inclination to learn when they find something enjoyable or valuable.
Lessons learned and embracing unschooling
Reflecting on their previous approach to teaching reading, the speaker expresses some regret but acknowledges the fear and pressures that parents face to adhere to societal norms and milestones. They emphasize the importance of letting go of these expectations and enjoying the limited time with children as they explore their own paths and learn at their own pace. The speaker advocates for a balance between guiding children's learning and allowing them the freedom to discover and develop their interests naturally. They stress the importance of creating a nurturing and supportive environment where reading is seen as indispensable for various activities and not just a chore.
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Episode 2061:
Isaac Morehouse shares a transformative experience with his son's learning journey, illustrating the profound impact of unschooling. By stepping back from conventional teaching methods and embracing a more natural, interest-led approach, his son discovered the joy of reading on his own terms. This narrative challenges the conventional wisdom on education and underscores the importance of trust in a child's innate ability to learn.