Don’t let the schooling interfere with your education.

We are living in the ever-changing world. It’s not enough to just read the book, do your assignments, and pass tests. In the 21^st century, learning extends far beyond the walls of the classroom. What I was taught in school 20 years ago became almost irrelevant (new discoveries in science, new technologies and even history books had been rewritten since then).

From Beyond Laptops Essential Readings list, the 9 Essential Skills Kids Should Learn by Leo Babauta (http://zenhabits.net/kid-skills/) caught my eye.

In this article, Leo Babauta talk about 9 essential skills kids should learn:

1.    Asking questions.

2.   Solving problems.

3.   Tackling projects.

4.   Finding passion.

5.   Independence.

6.   Being happy on your own.

7.   Compassion.

8.   Tolerance.

9.   Dealing with change.

We should help the kids establish those skills, in order to prepare them for the future. Babauta doesn’t focus on the methodology, but rather emphasizes the ideas and encourages the reader to experiment with his/her own.

I agree with his approach. Both, as a mother, and as a teacher, I want to give my kids the best possible education. I understand education as a lifelong skill of ongoing desire to search for the answers. If I can establish this type of curiosity in my students, then I’ll succeed as an educator. I especially relate to ‘dealing with change’ idea, as I believe this kind of flexibility can come a long way in life. It will allow the kids to embrace new ideas, without unnecessary anxiety if something doesn’t work out as expected.

Luckily, schools are shifting from the static, rather boring model of teaching, and becoming more relevant to students.