Life Long Learning – How to Transform Your Life Through Homelearning

© Copyright 2004, By Patti Diamond
From the JUST PUBLISHED BOOK!! "Life Long Learning ~ Transforming
Learning - Discovering Learning Through Living Life in Unlimitless
Possibilities" available at: http://www.lifelonglearning4all.com

Life long learning……Such a simple concept, and yet, by the same token,
such a complex one. Many people tend to refer to life long learning by
it's more widely known name – Unschooling. To me, though, the simple
word "unschooling" seems to represent "anti" learning, as if to be an
act of defiance to learning. This is quite the contrary actually.

While unschooling, tends to lend itself to providing children with a
non-traditional, non-compulsory "schooling" environment or the simple
act of not "doing school at home", I believe this concept that John
Holt pioneered, the essence of what is termed unschooling is really
life long learning. This reference to learning should, therefore, be
given a name that promotes a sense of freedom, serenity, and
contentment. There is nothing "anti" in the words life long learning.
In fact, life long learning opens the door to the endless
possibilities that life has to offer, something of which we all want
for our children and for ourselves, is it not?

So, just what is life long learning?

Life long learning, simply put is - learning that is interest driven,
child-led, natural, and self-directed. It is creative, it is
spontaneous, and it is remarkable...very much unlike the structure of
compulsory school education. So, what does that mean, you might ask?
This means allowing your child the time, freedom, and space to learn
what, when, how and where they choose to. It is a trusting of and in
your child that he/she will learn what they need to learn, when they
need to learn it, and how they need to learn it - without having their
learning dictated to them through curricular mandate to be done at a
specific time and place.

Think back to the time when your child was first born…..Did he/she
have to be "taught" how to cry, how to wet a diaper, or how to
breast/formula feed? No, rather than being "taught", they simply
learned on their own how to do these things. He/she may have needed to
be "guided" to the breast/bottle initially, but the rest was done
solely on his/her own. When it came time for your child to crawl,
stand, walk, and talk….did they need to be "taught" this? Again,
strikingly, the answer to this question is No. They may have needed
your guidance – an environment rich with opportunity, encouragement,
and love which enabled them to learn and do these things, however,
there was no formalized "teaching" involved in it. None of us, as
parents, propped our child up on the couch and said "Ok, TALK". Nor
did we forcibly maneuver our child's legs into a walking motion. All
we did was simply provide the environment necessary and then trusted
in our children to learn what they needed to learn. The Life long
learning concept therefore, works this same way.

As humans, we are created with an innate sense of learning, it is
instinctive. It is as innate to us as breathing. It need not be
cajoled, or bribed, or forced in any way. To do so only stifles that
learning and that love of learning. Meaningful learning can only occur
when a child wants to learn. The desire to learn must come from
within. We all were born with this innate desire.

It is only when we are "forced" into learning in an institutional
setting, that this innate sense of learning ultimately over time, is
quelled. This why children struggle so within a "schooled"
environment, because they are "forced" to learn and to "perform" -
forced to learn a certain number of "facts" that have no meaning to
them or to their lives, within a certain period of time, and then are
"forced to perform" such facts in a repetitious manner in the way of
tests and rote memorizations, commonly known as "homework" - rather
than being given the time, opportunity, and space to learn on their
own and in their own way. One does not need a "test" or "rote
memorization homework" to know that they have learned something and
that they "know" it. Once you have learned something, whatever it is,
you have learned it. If, as you were "taught" in school, you are made
to just "memorize" it, spit it out on a test, then forget it, it has
not been truly learned, not even once, yet. Learning stays with you
permanently, it does not go away on a whim.

None of us, child or adult alike, learn exactly the same way. There is
no such thing as only one or just a few types of "learning styles" for
everyone, as compulsory education has lead us to believe. Much debate
and "categorizing" of learning into styles and subjects has surfaced
over the years. However, the fact remains that multiple learning
styles within one person is inherently possible and is what makes each
person an individual, is what makes each person unique. Therefore -
how, when, and in what time frame our learning is to occur - should be
as individual and unique as we are and should be left only up to us.

BUT… What about being taught all of the subjects… Like Math, Reading,
etc…? Aren't there things we NEED to know?...

One of the many things that you learn for yourself within life long
learning is the art of patience. Patience in entrusting that your
child will learn. Much as you wished, when your child was younger,
that they would hit those all important "milestones" that everyone,
including you, expect – we also need to realize that given that each
child is unique, that learning may or may not occur within the time
frame that "we" choose or the way "we" choose, or the way that
"school" chooses, but it will happen. The proof that we are innate
learning humans beings exists in the mere fact that we were all able
to crawl, stand, walk, talk – all of those things and more - without
ever being "taught" to do so. The beauty of it is, is that our
children have their whole lives to learn.

Within the institutional setting, we are taught that people need to
learn in "subjects" – Reading, Writing, Math, Science, History etc.
and that these "subjects" need to be taught in a certain order and
within a certain time frame. Also, compulsory education has taught us
that you MUST learn one set of concepts first before going onto the
next set of concepts. The truth is though, life is not divided into
subjects. Nor do we necessarily need to learn adding of 2 or 3 digits
before being able to learn multiplication. As an example, it is just
as logical to see that a child can go from learning basic addition
facts, to learning multiplication in the natural progression of life.
When you learn that 2 + 2 = 4, it is then quite easy to make the leap
to seeing that 2 x 2 =4 because there are 2 sets of 2. Therefore, one
does not have to learn one first before the other, despite what we are
told we have to in school.

For those of us placed in this mentality for such an extended period
of time (12 + years of "school"), do we then all of the sudden,
because we have graduated high school or college, stop learning? NO!
We do not say to ourselves, "Ok, I have "graduated" now, I think I
will stop learning!". This is, what then becomes a source of major
frustration to people, once they reach adulthood, and are out in what
is termed the "real" world. Many are hit with a dose of BIG TIME
culture shock, due to the fact that life is NOT divided into subjects,
as they had been "taught" for all of those years. The truth is that we
learn our whole lives, not just when we were "in school", because life
in of itself IS a learning process. We will continue to learn until we
take our very last breath. Even death is a learning process.

Research on Homelearning


There is an ever increasing amount of evidence to suggest that life
long learning (research is based upon homelearning as a whole,
encompassing all forms of homelearning), not compulsory education, is
by far more beneficial for children than has ever been realized. In
fact, as of "Spring 1999, it was estimated that as many as 850,000
children in the US alone, were learning at home." (Statistics provided
by the "National Center for Educational Statistics"
http://nces.ed.gov/fastfacts/display.asp?id=91 ) This number is
steadily climbing and is now believed to be well over 2 million children.
Along with this, is the astounding fact of just how well homeschoolers
are doing in society as a whole. The "Alternative Learning
Organization's" website ( http://www.alternative-learning.org ),
quotes within their research section, the following excerpt regarding
the largest ever home learning research to date:


"...the largest research survey to date of adults who were home
educated. Over the last decade, researchers, professionals, parents,
the media, and many others have asked repeatedly: How do homeschooled
students turn out? Can a homeschool graduate get into college or get a
job? How do they fit into society? Are they good citizens? Are they
happy? In 2003, Dr. Brian D. Ray, president of the National Home
Education Research Institute, conducted this study to answer these
questions. The results of his research demonstrate that homeschoolers
are succeeding."


You may find more information regarding this study, which is available
in Acrobat Reader format, by visiting
http://www.alternativelearning.org/altlearn_map/articles/homelearninggrowsup.pdf
. For more information about Dr. Brian D. Ray and his recently
published book entitled "Home Educated and Now Adults - Their
Community and Civic Involvement, Views About Homelearning, and Other
Traits", visit

http://www.nheri.org/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=27.


It is also important to note that some of our most famous inventors
and leaders of our time were in fact life long learners themselves. It
may actually surprise you to know just how many of our world's most
influential people were, in fact life long learners. Famous children's
writer, Hans Christian Anderson, as well as, composer Irving Berlin
are among some noteworthy. Abraham Lincoln, who came from the humblest
of farmer roots, taught himself everything he knew from math and
reading, to law. He went on to become one of our greatest American
Presidents. He was not only responsible for holding the nation
together and the 13th amendment, but he represents the turning point
from antebellum to modern America.

Susan B. Anthony - reformer and women's rights leader, Ray Kroc -
founder of McDonald's fast food restaurant chain and Soichiro Honda -
creator of the Honda automobile company, were also life long learners.
To view a more comprehensive list of the influential people of our
time who have or are currently life long learners, visit
http://www.lifelonglearning4all.com/famous.html.

Information on how well homelearning results of how our children are
really doing well in a homelearning environment can be found by
visiting http://www.freedomfoundation.us/home_schooling_results

Is life long learning legal?

Yes. It is legal in all 50 states, although within each state there
are certain guidelines that you must follow regarding life long
learning. Some jurisdictions impose greater regulatory hurdles on it
than others. There are states such as New York which have strict
requirements to adhere to, however, there are many homelearning
families all across the country. For more information on the
legalities of homelearning, visit:
http://homelearning.about.com/cs/gettingstarted/a/legalusa.htm.

Ok, so how do I "DO" life long learning?

One of the main objectives of life long learning is that of choice. As
noted earlier, freedom of a child to choose what, when, how and where
he/she wishes to learn is one of the most beautiful and awe-inspiring
gifts that a parent can ever give to a child. It really does not
require you to "DO" anything, as you do not "DO" life long learning.
Life long learning is just what it says it is…. learning your whole
life long – living, learning, and growing together as a family.

One of the many advantages of this is that you, the parent, are not
required to become someone else, i.e. a professional teacher pouring
knowledge at and into child-vessels on a planned basis. Instead you
live and learn with your child, together, pursuing questions and
interests as they arise. "Leading by example", as the old adage goes,
is an extremely powerful way to provide a rich life long learning
environment. This adage is often used to imply that parents must show
a good or proper example of behavior in order for children to follow,
however, this same adage can also apply to learning throughout life.
If you, as a parent, develop an active interest in learning in the
world, in viewing things in a different light, this too, will then
become what I call "contagious learning".

For example, I am currently writing this article, as well as, a book
on life long learning. My passion and interest for writing a book
spurred on my on children's interests in writing their own books, and
illustrating them etc. My middle son Matthew, 7, has begun to write
again, having not picked up a pen to write in 6 months, due to being
told in the "school" environment that he was "stupid and could not
read and write" for 2 ½ years. His beginning to write and love of
writing would never have blossomed again, had it not been for me
immersing myself into my own passion, my own interest.

It is, therefore, utilizing the world of endless possibilities for
learning, along with, yours and their own passions/interests, is what
gives life long learning its true identity. It is the shifting of
perspectives, from textbooks to the real world that we learn best.
Choosing to build a Lego village will invite the opportunity to learn
much about math, geometry, culture, maybe even history depending on
the type of village.

Children grow to hate the very "subjects" that are taught in school
simply because they are not given the opportunity to "experience"
them. History, for example, is often dislike so strongly mainly
because a child is told "Sit, read these chapters, answer these
questions, and when you are finished, there will be a test next week
to see if you "learned" it or not" – rather than being given the
opportunity to experience what I call "Living History", History in a
hands-on manner.

My girlfriend, just last year took her 4 children on a trip along the
Oregon Trail from start to finish. Her children got to experience
first hand what life was like in the 1840's and 1850's and can easily
share with anyone all that they learned from their journey. My own
children have experienced the westward movement of the pioneers, while
visiting Pioneer Arizona just a few years ago.

You do not need to "know everything'" in order to provide an life long
learning environment. Sometimes, all your children will want and/or
need is conversation with you. My children and I will sit and talk for
hours about anything that interests them, and often times one
conversation about one thing, will lead into another conversation
completely about something else. Sometimes, I will know the
information they are seeking, and they will listen intently to my vast
knowledge. Other times, I do not have any idea what the answer is. My
job, as their parent, then is to provide them with the resources and a
way to find those resources. Children, given the freedom to do so and
by their very own innate nature, when not knowing the answer to a
certain question or a particular interest they have that they do not
have the knowledge on, become quite capable of seeking out a person to
assist them in finding the answers they seek. That person the majority
of the time will be you, their parent, but, this is not always the case.

We live in an 'information-rich' society, and there is a vast amount
of educational information to buy, to seek, to view, or to obtain for
free - libraries, television, museums and historic buildings are
available to all - all you need is to investigate what is around you
and seize every opportunity to collect 'information ' on whatever
interests your child. In every local community there will be
enthusiasts in many hobbies or professions who are usually more than
willing to share their expertise; sometimes friends or neighbors may
happily offer special knowledge and resources as well.

The internet is also an invaluable resource. Take for example, just
the other day, my middle son, Matthew, asked in a conversation while
we were painting the house, "Mom, who invented paint?" And of course,
with the snap of my fingers, I knew the answer right away? Alas, I
rather did not know the answer. Although, what I said to him was that
we could research it. Therefore, we learned how to research on the
internet together and learned all about "Who invented paint", which
then turned into more research on the Egyptians, as they were one of
the first people to utilize the concept of paint with the different
pigments in the soil, to draw hieroglyphics.

This then, turned into a conversation with my youngest son Anthony,
about people whom invented other things, yet the next day. While
driving, he noticed the street sweeper and he asked "Mommy, who
invented the street sweeper?" As such, when we got home, what did we
do? Sure enough! We researched it on the internet, only to find that
Charles Brooks invented not only the street sweeper, but two very
important items that we still use today - the trash receptacle and the
paper hole punch.

These are just a few examples that show that to see life long learning
in action is to do simply that – live and learn. It also shows that a
more important skill these days, with the ever increasing volume of
facts which changes and soon becomes out of date - is learning how to
learn, how to think, how to find information and where to look. Your
whole family then is likely to become more resourceful, use more
initiative; often you will learn alongside each other, enjoying each
other's curiosity and the thrill of discovery.

Isn't life long learning expensive?

Well, no it need not be. It can be as inexpensive or as expensive as
you choose it to be. One need not go very far to learn so much of what
life has to offer you. Take for instance, the recent complete remodel
of our home. We lived in our home while conducting the remodel,
therefore, my children (and frankly, my husband and I did as well)
learned how a home is built right in front of us from the ground up.
Everything from financing a remodel, to demolition, to the "bare
bones" of what tools it takes to build a home, to decorating, you name
it. My children learned price comparing, budgeting, spending and
saving while shopping for carpet, tile, and kitchen cabinetry.

Do not have the financial means to remodel so your children can see
and learn the process step by step? Take a visit to a local housing
tract. Houses these days are being built all over the place. When you
visit sometimes the construction workers will even show you around and
demonstrate for you how things work and what goes where. Or you can
visit during after-hour times and get your own "inside" view. And you
can visit at various times to see the different stages of construction
as well.

Taking a simple trip to the store, in which your children have the
opportunity to put together a grocery list and buy the groceries from
start to finish is also an excellent way to learn about budgeting,
needs vs. wants, price comparing and much more. As of late, we are
selling our home which we have lived in for 4 years. My children have
learned more about what a mortgage is, the process of buying/selling
real estate and much more than I could ever write here, just simply by
living it. They have learned way more than anything they would ever
learn in a "school" environment, and all of which are life skills my
children will need as adults to function well in society. They will
need this information and how the world works, much more that any
algebra problem conducted in "school".

Learning to save money, self-discipline, and self-control when it
comes to money, I must say, have been BIG ones for my children.
Before, when they were in "school", they had what I would call that
"schooled-like mentality". Anytime we went to a place like Chuck E.
Cheese, they would automatically be raving lunatics, (being so happy
to be "free" from school) wanting more and more money to spend,
getting their tickets, and then wanting to spend them "right now" on
the junk they have there. Instead, now when we go to a place like
Chuck E. Cheese or any place that has video games, they actually do
not beg me fifty-million times for money, nor do they spend all of
their tickets on "junk". The last time we went, all of them informed
me (separating, away from their brothers) that they wished to save
their tickets for the next time we came. We walked out without a
single toy. Boy, was I impressed!
Games, in any form, are another way in which we learn through life.
Our family right now is very much into the "opoly" and "tycoon" type
games. We have board games ranging from the straight Monopoly version,
to "Spaceopoly" to "Roller Coaster Tycoon" to "Airplane Tycoon" to
"Zoo Tycoon". We also play many other educational games when they
choose to – like "Made for Trade", "Scrambled State of America",
"Scrabble", "Allowance" and many others. All of these games, cover
many aspects of learning on many levels.

We do read alot, as well. We enjoy reading anything and everything,
viewing all reading we do as learning. It need not be in the form of a
"textbook" or "classic literature" to be considered "worthy reading".
It need not even be a book either. The internet is an excellent
resource for reading. Many children get very "turned off" to reading
in the schooling environment by being forced to read, and being forced
to read what does not interest them. My oldest son, Chris, was a
perfect example of this. He hated reading while in school. To try to
get him to read anything was like pulling teeth. Yet, since we began
life long learning, within his first week out of the "schooled"
environment, he went onto the internet and read a 31 chapter book on a
topic that he was interested in. Pretty impressive for a "supposed"
non-reader!

Often, you will find too, that you learn from your children as well as
them learning from you. Some would argue and it is generally thought
that children, because they are "so young", that you cannot possibly
learn from someone "so young", due to the fact that they simply do not
have as much "life experience" as adults do. On the contrary, it is
that very reason that they do not have a much life experience that
makes them more open to the very concepts, ideas, and things in life
that we as adults do not always see. Sometimes, we need to see it as
they say "through the eyes of a child" before we can truly see.

So, How do I know that my children are learning? How do I know they
are progressing?

It is impossible to measure the success of life long learning with
tests, grades, and scores. Jumping through academic hoops will not
necessarily lead to self discipline. Our children gain a sense of how
important self discipline is by watching us. Our ability to model a
self disciplined life is much more powerful than handing in book
reports on time. Helping children reach their own goals will mean
there will be plenty of opportunities to discuss perseverance, follow
through, and how sometimes it's worth doing the things that are no fun
in order to reach the desired goal. These lessons have much more
meaning when they are in conjunction with goals the children set for
themselves.

Perhaps the most interesting successes are found among those children
who do not flourish in a traditional setting with those standard
measurements of success. The best way to know that your child is
learning and progressing is: by listening to them speak, by watching
them play, just by being with them. You will know they are learning at
10, the same way you knew that they were learning at 10 months. You
will see them use their skills and knowledge.

This does take some effort on the part of the parent. You are your
child's facilitator and cheerleader, who embraces life and learning
with curiosity and enthusiasm. You will not find your child's learning
contained in the pages of a workbook or within a book report. It is
not all prepared "neat and tidy" with a grade. It's spread out over
the course of the day while your child is living their life. You have
to be observant and tuned into your child, in order to know.

One of the most blessed things about this is that it's awe inspiring
to observe the wonderment in your child moment by moment. Because, in
life, all we have is just this moment….until the next moment comes
along. To just be in that moment with your child, is one of life's
greatest gifts. To be so in tune with them and their lives - and to
have them be so in tuned with yours. It brings about a true sense of
freedom, serenity, and contentment…… and is that not how life should be?

As Tevye from the movie Fiddler on the Roof says, "L'haim"……To
Life!!!! And here is to each of us being able to scratch or fiddle our
own way in life!

JUST PUBLISHED!! "Life Long Learning ~ Transforming Learning -
Discovering Learning Through Living Life in Unlimitless Possibilities"
http://www.lifelonglearning4all.com