Name: CHEC Rocky Mountain Homeschool Conference
Start: 2025-06-12T00:00:00-05:00
End: 2025-06-14T23:59:59-05:00
Location: Denver, CO

This topic has 4 replies, 2 voices, and was last updated 12 years, 8 months ago by kookymom.

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October 8, 2012 at 4:13 pm
kookymom
Member
Hi all,

I am brand new and just now really looking into CM. My question doesn’t really have anything to do with CM, but I am sure someone will be able to point me in the right direction!

My three oldest children (9, 7, 6) really lack in critical thinking skills. For handwriting, my oldest was asked to tell what she thinks the Bible verse “To whom much is given, much will be required” means. She couldn’t even come up with one idea on her own.

The problem stems from the way we parented the children early on. It was very “dictatorial” if that makes any sense. Now, as we try to fix our mistakes and create a more organic family atmosphere, it is very hard for us to help our children steer in a different direction. This includes critical thinking. How do we teach them to shift from doing just what mom and dad what them to do, to thinking through things and coming to their own conclusions?

I’m looking into fun riddles and brain teasers. Also, more read alouds with mom. Do you have any other ideas?
Thank you!
Kelly
October 8, 2012 at 4:47 pm
nebby
Participant
I just read a post recently on critical thinking:
http://sageparnassus.blogspot.com/2012/10/borrowed-views-charlotte-mason-on.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+SageParnassus+%28Sage+Parnassus%29
Sorry that’s a long link; hopefully it works.
I think there are a few things that get lumped together as critical thinking skills. Some are logic puzzles or analogies which one can buy many workbooks to work on. I think they have some value though I don’t think CM would have used any such things.
Sometimes people are thinking of things like literary criticism and I think the point of the above article is that at least in school years that is a self-destructive thing. It tears writing apart rather than appreciating it.
I would do 2 things in your position– have the children narrate. Realize it may not come naturally at first and they may have to work at it. And when they are really at a loss, narrate to them yourself. I don’t know how CM would feel about this but I sometimes work through arguments or a narration aloud myself so the chidlren can hear. In other words, demonstrate logical thinkign for them.
Nebby
http://www.lettersfromnebby.wordpress.com
October 8, 2012 at 6:41 pm
kookymom
Member
Thanks, Nebby!

I am not really interested in literary criticism at this point, but rather the ability to begin comprehension. My children for quite a while were afraid that we would get upset with them if they did not get the answer right. So, they stopped thinking through things for themselves and then just spouted out the answer they thought we wanted to hear. Thus, if I ask a question and they are not sure what my own personal answer would be, they get anxious and unsure what to do. This unfortunately comes from our early parenting methods, as I said, but we have moved on from that and are healing for the most part, except for this one issue.

You suggestion to have them narrate is excellent and probably the best first step for them. Thank you!
October 8, 2012 at 9:10 pm
nebby
Participant
Maybe you could also let them know when you are uncertain about things too? It could be simple things like what you are going to do that day (should we go to the park or not? I can’t decide what would be best. What do you guys think?) or more intellectual things, maybe if there is something in your hoemschool reading that confuses you. Just talk about such things out loud so they see that you (and your husband) don’t always have all the answers either.
Nebby
October 9, 2012 at 2:04 pm
kookymom
Member
Thank you, Nebby! I appreciate your ideas because they are encouraging me think outside the box a little on how to repair my children’s educational experience! I just started reading CM Volume 6 (I read somewhere that that was the volume to start with) and so I am hoping as I learn more and more about CM, it will help me rethink our homeschool journey as a whole!

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