Philip Mott Profile picture
Aug 17, 2020 6 tweets 1 min read Read on X
"Ready for primary education" is an overused phrase.

We don't need to get kids ready for us. We need to be ready for them.

And of course, none of us are ever ready!
Implying students need to come ready to learn betrays a subtle yet powerful belief: Learning isn't natural; learning is done through teaching.
And why aren't students asked about their readiness, especially when it comes to the use of manipulative tactics like grades, bribes, and punishments?

Seems like someone should've approached me at 5 and said, "Are you ready for school?"
There's an interesting story Tiger Woods tells about readiness that's applicable here. Early on he wanted to develop his focus and he asked for his dad's help because Tiger was getting harassed on the course and was not playing well because of it.
Before launching into a readiness routine his dad asked, "are you sure this is what you want?"

Well, Tiger and his dad tell the rest of the story a little better.
We owe it to our children to get their permission to be "tough" on them. Because to survive and thrive through toughness, especially from a caretaker, you have to want something on the other side really badly.

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More from @PhilipMott1

Dec 10, 2021
New read for me. A highly regarded book within self-directed circles. Looking forward to highlighting a few pieces from it.

#readwithphilip
If you’ve read this already I hope you’ll share some of your favorite insights from the book. Were there any aha moments for you?
I question a lot more than I used to why I’m inclined to trust some authors over others. I’m learning more how to question my biases along the way instead of assuming they are true.
Read 40 tweets
Sep 7, 2020
Finally cracking this one open today. It is time. Image
I’ll likely share quotes from this book as I get through it. I wonder if it would be better to share in a single thread or would they better stand on their own?
It's worth looking at a few reviews for context. I want to document a few scathing reviews first.

goodreads.com/book/show/1584…
Read 48 tweets
Aug 31, 2020
If we want to reduce the level of anxiety parents feel about child benchmarks we may want to shift from a "learn xyz by age lmnop" to "age lmnop could be a great time to explore xyz."

I seriously feel less anxious just typing it.
This problem isn’t just in one area. Pediatricians implant this anxiety a little. Then seeing your brother’s child walk earlier causes more.
Then aunts and uncles imply worry when they ask, “are they doing blank yet?!”
Read 15 tweets
Aug 20, 2020
Before you decide the best way to pour liquid from one vessel to another first ask yourself, "Do I absolutely need to do this?"

"is there risk of causing damage to the vessel?"

"Will all the liquid fit?"

"Is the vessel leaky?"

vessel=student
liquid=instruction
I want to clarify this metaphor because I wrote it poorly. The key I was focusing on is, "is this absolutely necessary?"

Using sharp utensils and traffic safety are absolutely necessary. I need to be able to pass down at least some of my instruction on such topics.
Adults, in my experience, have a habit of looking at *everything* we want kids to do is absolutely necessary. I wanted to challenge that.

There are many instances where not only is my instruction unnecessary but it's actually damaging.
Read 4 tweets
Aug 16, 2020
Successful company to customer: “what problem are you having and can our product or service help solve it?”

Successful educator to student: “what problem are you having and can any of my instruction or advice help solve it?”
Close friend to another friend: “what problem are you having and is there any way I can help?”

Caring parent to child: “what problem are you having and is there anything I can do to help?”
Enemy to anyone: “that’s not your problem; THIS is your problem and you better fix it or you’re a failure.”
Read 7 tweets
Aug 5, 2020
Out of his decades of counseling experience William Glasser in 1998 wrote, “The vast majority of family unhappiness is the result of well-intentioned parents trying to make children do what they don’t want to do. And in search of freedom, children, resist their parents efforts.”
He goes on to emphasize a key principle or axiom of his approach to counseling:

We can not control the behavior of another person, even a child; the only thing we can do is give them information.
If he was right, then it begs us to ask ourselves, “what information is my behavior communicating to my child?”

What is criticism, nagging, bribes, and punishments communicating?

What if the information is, “I don’t like you the way you are?”
Read 5 tweets

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