My Child My Student

The purpose of this podcast is to begin the formation of a movement toward a "culture of learning for life", which will, hopefully, blossom into a nationwide movement. Initially my focus will be on developing a following of visionary parents who strongly desire to have their child or children, who may already be in school grades K-12, not only achieve good grades in school, but be enthusiastic, even passionate, learners all the time and continue that enthusiasm throughout their life. As a personal development leader and coach for over 40 years, my recent experiences as a long term substitute teacher in a charter school teaching a variety of subjects for grades 7-12 have led me to realize that the vast majority of students come to school with the expectation that teachers will teach them about a variety of subjects. They are there to be “taught”, where the burden is on the teacher, rather than to "learn" where the burden is on them. It may seem a subtle difference, but there is a chasm between being in class to be taught by a teacher and being there to learn from a teacher. Those who come to learn, will continue to learn after we part; those who come to be taught cease to learn further when the teacher is no longer present. My role is to be a catalyst and coach that inspires and facilitates the development of a “Culture of Learning for Life” in each family by bringing together the parent and child in a spirit of learning. With this culture surrounding the child at home he or she will become a true “student” who seeks to learn, not to merely be taught to get a grade on a test and subsequently forget what was taught at school. My target audience, Visionary parents, who have dreams about their child’s future success. Most do not perceive the impact of their role in developing the “student” in their child. Parents should be sending their student to school to learn, not to be taught, because learning lasts, being taught results in fleeting knowledge. The process begins with the parent, who is willing to change and learn, becoming a learner for life and modeling that for the child. Children learn most from the adults in the household and will emulate their actions. What better action to model for your child than that of being a learner for life.