Learn for What?!
(An educational column dedicated to giving you practical steps to understand the process of learning)
Why should we learn anything? We should all “study to learn and learn to apply.”
Whenever I see something well put together, I think, “That is how to put your mathematical theology to work.” As an educator for the past 17 years, I have implemented a number of strategies in the classroom. Some worked and some did not. As an educator, I have always seen the value of the teachings of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad. Recently, Dr. Larry Muhammad, Director of Chicago’s Muhammad University gave a wonderful presentation at a local charter school. As I listened to his presentation, which was based on principles he learned from a Applied Scholastics training, I thought of how I could see the basis of what he presented in various aspects of the teachings of The Honorable Elijah Muhammad. Once again, we should all “study to learn and learn to apply.” However, some things are “barriers to learning.” According to Applied Scholastics, there are 3 main barriers to learning.
The first barrier they mentioned is “lack of mass,” or lack of a physical object or substance to help you “see” and “touch” what you are learning. The Honorable Elijah Muhammad teaches us that we should see how a subject relates to us. Children should be able to say “I am Math!, I am Science!” In order to do that, they have to see themselves in relation to subject. One of the best ways to do that is to actively have students engaged with clay, pictures or blocks. For instance, a teacher can ask a student to show the how blood flows through the heart with red and blue yarn and a large picture of an open heart.
The second barrier is “Too steep a gradient.” A gradient refers to an “incline” or angle. Have you ever tried to walk up a steep hill? It is difficult, right? Well, it is easier to walk up a hill that “gradually” inclines. It is interesting that at the root of “gradual” is the latin root “gradu” which means “step.” In the book How to Eat to Live, The Honorable Elijah Muhammad talks about value of “gradualism” when he suggested “gradually” or step by step how to reduce form three meals a day to one meal a day. He said, “If you are eating three meals, cut down to two meals and from two meals cut down to one. In Message to the Blackman, he gave us the “basic” steps to prayer. He didn’t give it to us all in Arabic. He made every step very plain so that we would “fall down the hill” of knowledge(smile).
The last barrier Applied Scholastics mentioned was “the misunderstood word.” Have you ever listened to news and heard a word you didn’t understand what it meant? Did it stop affect your understanding? Of course it did. I remember listening to some of the commentary of the Tonight Show when I was younger, but couldn’t laugh at the jokes because I didn’t understand them. One thing The Minister has always taught, along with Brother Jabril Muhammad is the value of looking up and understanding the meanings of words. Minister Farrakhan is able to touch so many people in his lectures because of his spirit of love and is wonderful, proper and CLEAR use of words. He “walks” us through a subject so that by the end of the lecture, even before then, you are on your feet.
How can you get your child to “stand up” and get excited with learning? Here is a simple exercise. Ask your child to look up the meaning of their name and another relative’s name (brother, sister, cousin, father etc.) and ask them to write down 1. The meaning of the word. 2. Where does the word come from? (Greek, Arabic, African etc.) 3. Write a paragraph discussing if he or she thinks they are “living up to” their name.
I used to give this assignment to all my high school freshmen. Why? We all want to learn about ourselves, right? We learn with words and by doing. This assignment encompasses both. Students were so excited about presenting their name or a family member’s name to the class. Even though some couldn’t find their name in a dictionary or online, it sparked a discussion at home as to why one young lady was named, “Markeysha.” Her father’s name was “Mark” and her mother’s name was “Keysha” and she found out the mother decided to put the two names together.
Let’s put our together our knowledge to learn and our ability to “do.” Get knowledge for life! May we all be blessed to find our purpose and help others along the way.
(Ms. Muhammad is an Academic Support Specialist and an Adjunct Professor in English. She has a MA in English and worked as a high school teacher for over a decade. As an educator for the past 17 years, she has learned many techniques to motivate young people. She is a former West Contra Costa Unified School District Mentor Teacher (California) and Leadership Advisor. She is available workshop presentations on developing “Positive Energy and Discipline” in a classroom and how to bring out the “little genius” in your child. She is the editor of Virtue Today Magazine, a women's magazine that is redefining women today with articles featuring sophisticated fashions, financial empowerment and spiritual healing. Visit www.virtuemag.com. Her fitness books and videos may be ordered at www.getfit2live.org.)
