by Kimberly Snider
In just a few weeks, children will begin to prepare for the examinations that most schools conduct at the end of the year. Many parents will work diligently with their children to help them memorize and reproduce the information they have studied in their classes. In this sort of game, the student with the best memory often wins. However, the real test of knowledge is what one can do with it.
One amazing gift we can give to our children is to teach them to apply, not just reproduce, what they learn in school. Using knowledge in a practical way is harder than memorizing a fact. It is comprised of recalling what they have learned, analyzing what it means, and using it to solve problems.
Math is an easy subject to apply this way. When your child is studying arithmetic, you can ask them practical questions about money and time. When you hand them their fare each week, give them different combinations of coins in an amount that is less than what they need. See if they are able to “catch” your mistake. Ask them to add up your purchases in the market without using a calculator. Ask them if you can borrow money and avoid paying it back to them until they “catch” you. Force them to tell time and calculate how long activities will take. Of course give them plenty of praise when they solve these problems correctly.
If English or Tagalog is the subject of study, choose days when that is the only language you speak at home. Challenge your children not to slip up by fining them 1 peso when they make a mistake.
If it is Filipino history that is in review, talk about heroes. Compare historical figures to today’s super heroes. Try to find characteristics in the real life people that are similar to the attributes of the superheroes. Talk about sacrifices real heroes make to serve other people.
Finally, talk to your children about the Filipino values they are learning in school. Help them understand which Filipino values are compatible with Christian values and which ones are not. Help them understand when to comply with Filipino values and when to step out and obey the values the Bible teaches instead.
Your child may not get first honor in academic settings, but real problem solving skills and two sided discussions about what they believe in and why will set your child up for being a good thinker. Critical thinking enables wise choices, and the person who lives wisely is the smartest person of all.
