A Textbook Response

2/13/2008

How did you learn science and social studies? Most likely, you learned it the same way I did:

First you read a chapter in a book,
Then you answer the questions at the end of the chapter.

Information is memorized for a test and then quickly forgotten because it is not used. This approach is not likely to develop a "love" of science or social studies.

The Problem with Textbooks

Homeschooling families have been aware of this for years, and as a result tend to shy-away from textbooks. This is especially true for their young children. Schools are also beginning to recognize the downside of textbooks as well and are slowly making a move away from them.

Here are some of the drawbacks of textbooks:

They are rarely engaging and exciting for children
They are written from one perspective
A small number of pages are dedicated to a concept that could be studied for days or even weeks (i.e. five pages on the civil war or three pages on magnetism)
In history they lack authenticity - unlike personal narratives, letters, and original documents
They only appeal to one learning style. Auditory and kinesthetic learners are left out.
They lack creativity and rarely stimulate critical and creative thinking

If Not Textbooks, Then What?

Moving away from textbooks is not terribly difficult. If you go to your local bookstore and look through the nonfiction section, you will find so many wonderful and engaging books that reinforce the science concepts that have been taught from textbooks for years.

Example 1: Science - States of Matter

Let me give you an example. In our Age 6-8 curriculum, children learn about the three states of matter - solids, liquids, and gases. If they read this in a textbook, they are likely to receive:

the basic characteristic of each type of matter,
examples of each type of matter,
maybe some pictures of a liquid being poured, and
a picture of a balloon to represent gas.

Now let’s look at the book, What's the World Made Of? by Kathleen Weidner Zoehfeld and Paul Meisel. This is the picture book MBTP uses to teach the three states of matter. Even the title itself encourages higher-level thinking. A kid will be amazed that everything in the whole world can be classified into three basic groups. The illustrations and the text make states of matter understandable and memorable.

I recently taught this unit to my son, and he loved the questions at the beginning of the book:

Have you ever seen anyone walk through a wall?
Did you ever drink a glass of blocks?
Have you ever played with a lemonade doll or put on milk for socks?

These questions really draw kids in and provide a concrete age-appropriate setting for understanding a fairly abstract concept. In addition, each of these creative questions are accompanied with an amusing illustration.

You would be hard-pressed to find any textbook that would present matter in such a creative and memorable format.

Then, of course, we did many experiments and activities that allowed him to apply and experience what he learned in the book. Many textbook programs have very little hands-on emphasis in their program.

Example 2: Social Studies

Now let’s look at social studies. Let’s say that children in third grade are suppose to learn about pioneer life. So, the social studies book has a chapter that gives the facts about this era in American history. Most students read the chapter and at best remember some of the important facts.

Now let’s say we read Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder book. This is a first-hand account of pioneer life through the eyes of a young girl. The author appeals to all of our senses as she describes the time period, the work, the dangers, and the environment in which the pioneers lived. How can a child forget her experiences?

The rainforest is another important social studies topic. In a textbook children read about the location of the rainforests, maybe see a map, read about products from the rainforest, and the animals from the rainforest.

What if that same child reads the book, Welcome to the Greenhouse by Jane Yolen. "The Greenhouse" is such a great analogy for the rainforest (again stimulating higher-level) thinking. The words in this book are like poetry, the illustrations of the animals are beautiful, and the meaning unforgettable. The rainforest is home to many of the most beautiful and important things found on our planet.

Then we give the child, One Day in the Tropical Rainforest by Jean Craighead George, a short novel that follows a child who lives in the rainforest on an adventure where he helps a scientists locate and save a newly found species of butterfly. The people in the rainforest are presented as real people with emotions, gifts, and ideas. Contrast this experience with that of a textbook where people from different cultures are often portrayed in stereotypes and seem somewhat absurd to a child.

Why Do Most Schools Still Use Textbooks

If real books and authentic documents are a better alternative, why do many schools still continue to use textbooks?

It is a cheaper option that providing a “hands-on” and literature-rich approach to education,
It provides a level of accountability for teachers when administrators know they are teaching what is in the textbooks (good teachers usually hate textbooks),
Having hands-on demonstrations and experiments is time consuming and takes away from math and reading (which is what students are being tested for),
Parents are comfortable with textbooks, and
It is less work for the teacher.

Wrapping Up

The great news is that in a homeschool setting we do not have to follow the status quo. We can do what we know is best for our children. We can also make learning a positive and engaging experience, sparking our children’s curiosity and interests. Which in turn leads us down the path of molding them into wonderful contributors to our society who will make the world a better place.