#ELbookclub June 2021 pick
I read Awaking Wonder by Sally Clarkson as a quick read with an open heart. And I really wanted to love this book. I did. And I think I would’ve loved it more, if I had read it, rather than listened to it. I’ve listen to some of Sally Clarkson‘s other books, and I should’ve known better. Because it certainly not the contents – Sally has such great points when it comes to raising and educating children in the way the Lord and academically. She has such life-giving motivation when it comes to rearing kids up in the way of Christ. I think for me, her voice is just a bit too soothing. I found much of what she had to say to be things that I already had in my repertoire, however I’m curious as to whether or not that’s just the case given my profession. As a behavior analyst, educating my child is such a huge part of where my mind goes outside of simply thinking in terms of teaching her to let others in scripture.
Last year during the pandemic, I focused a lot on educating Emma during the time we were quarantined at home together and I was doing homeschool. I read a lot of books I focused on literature within behavior analysis and researched a lot in the realm of homeschooling as well, because at that point no one knew if this was simply for a short period of time or if this was to be the new normal.
I would certainly recommend reading this to mamas who are taking a homeschool journey, but also those who have been stuck in this ebb and flow of virtual school popping in and out of the public school system. Despite not being the one to educate our children full-time, I think it’s immensely important for us as parents to know and understand how to provide examples to our children academically, as well as in regards to behavior and faith. It’s our jobs as parents to be role models and set the example in every area of life. If you stay at home and your children go to school, you will likely have to help them with homework. If you work and your children go to school, you will likely have to help them with homework. And if you are homeschooling them, you are going to be teaching them and even still likely helping with homework. None of us is exempt from the process when it comes to our children’s academic endeavors.
I love that she incorporates scripture and incorporates service into how she teaches her children. I love that she focuses on their strengths, and focuses on their needs, and how they particularly learn because every child is different. What works for one may not work for all, and I love that she continually acknowledges that throughout the pages of this book. I think the largest take away from this book is that when we teach our children to wonder, to ask questions, to be curious about their environment, we are teaching them how to learn. We’re teaching them to seek knowledge.
We don’t need to know all the answers, because we need to also be able to ask questions. And I love that she encourages asking those questions and finding those answers together whether it’s math, history, or scripture. Awakening Wonder is a tool that benefits us in every area of our lives not just in children, but in us parents too.
