Learning is Like Eating

• You have to do it, or you won’t survive.
• There are a million different ways to do it, and almost that many opinions on which way is the best.
• You can survive on a bland, monotonous diet, but with a little variety to spice things up, you can really thrive.

There are so many delicious styles and customs of eating on this planet; So many different ways to meet our bodies’ needs for nourishment. At any given time, there are a zillion different opinions about which foods in which forms and quantities confer the most benefits, even within the culture of a single country, like the United States. I can’t be the only one who has noticed a similar tendency in the area of educational theories, as well!

Through our experiences with sampling different foods, though, we develop a sense of what flavors agree with us, suit our sense of taste, and appeal to our particular appetites. Those of us with the freedom to experience different educational approaches also learn to identify and seek out the routes that work the best for our own circumstances.

Although some of us have a bigger appetite for culinary adventure than others, it’s interesting that most of us seem to tire of a diet that is too monotonous, too much of the same dull combination of flavors. Our bodies crave variety, seeking to ensure an adequate supply of all the various vitamins, minerals, proteins, fats, and sugars that we require for optimal health.

Similarly, we often crave a generous variety of learning activities and opportunities. We can get especially excited by learning new things in new ways, and even more so if those ways are well suited to our learning styles, interests, and abilities.

To be sure, we can survive on a bland and limited subsistence diet. Indeed, many on this planet have precious little choice. Too many are lucky to get even meager crumbs of nourishment.

Likewise, many families have comparatively little say in the quality or form of their children’s educational experiences. They may find that their children are stuck in hostile and toxic educational environments, ill-suited to meet their educational needs, and without the flexibility to adapt. They must then settle for a subsistence level education.

Homeschooling families, however, are lucky enough to have the freedom to select their preferred educational flavors. They enjoy the liberty to season their experiences with a variety of strategies, approaches, and activities. They, and afterschooling families as well, are always looking for the best ways to inspire their children to reach their full potential.

What is the best way to whet an appetite for learning?

The answers to that question are as varied as all the cuisines of the world, and can only be discovered one person at a time. While there are infinite ways to fulfill our basic needs, each person will have preferred approaches that suit their culture, their experiences, and their constitutional make-up.

And even after we identify our preferred ways of learning (or eating), and get into a routine that suits our families, we still benefit from a little variety, a little spice to keep our interest and enjoyment levels high.

Great puppies!!!

15 Common Characteristics of Successful Homeschools

The Magic Is In The Child

By Diane Flynn Keith, Editor of Homefires, Author of Carschooling

If there is one thing I want you to know, that you can take with you and hold on to when the homeschool road gets bumpy it's this: the magic is in the child.

Maria Montessori knew it. Piaget knew it. John Holt figured it out. Glenn Doman demonstrated it over and over with tiny kids at his Institutes for the Achievement of Human Potential in Pennsylvania. These great believers in children, understood that from the moment of birth children have a raging desire to learn, and that if you just follow their lead, provide them with a rich environment, give them the undivided time and attention of the people who care about them the most, and encourage their efforts, they will not only learn, but exceed all expectations.

We are all so much a product of our own schooling that in teaching our children we sometimes unwittingly make the same mistakes schools make. Schools arrange for kids to fail. Do you remember how your essays used to come back with big red marks all over them? The teacher caught your mistakes. She rarely, if ever, caught your successes - much less pointed them out with a big red "√". And what about tests? Tests are given to reveal not how knowledgeable we are, but how ignorant we are. If that is not the case then answer this: Why, when you take a 50 question math test and you get one answer wrong - clearly marked with a big red "√"- why, does it scream at you, "No, stupid, that's not the right answer. What an idiot!" The school system is set up so that no matter what you do, you lose.

Kids are born with a love of learning. And strategies like repeated testing and flaunting failure stifle a child's desire to learn. If you want a kid to hate something - be sure to point out all the ways in which he doesn't measure up or falls short of perfection.

If you want to see a kid love doing something and be motivated to do it over and over again, then be sure to tell her what a good job she does, and point out how well she is doing. Be on her side. Don't bet against her. Celebrate the victories. Arrange for your child to win honestly. Because the more frequently she feels like a winner the more successful she will be. Success produces high motivation.

Think about it. Most of us avoid doing things that we don't do well. On the other hand, when we do something well, people notice and congratulate us. Our reaction to their praise is to believe that we are good at it, and we want to do it again. "You ain't seen nothin' yet!"

I remember when my kids first learned to dive off a diving board. They kind of stood at the end of the board, their toes hanging over the edge, chins tucked to their chests, and arms lined up by their ears with hands clasped over their heads. Then, after a moment or two they allowed themselves to bend way over and sort of fall into the water. The minute their heads popped up out of the water for a breath - my husband and I would applaud and hoot and tell them what a great job they had done. They couldn't contain their smiles and their pleasure at achieving success. Then they promptly got out of the water and headed back up on the diving board for another try. This ceremony took place repeatedly over many days and weeks, and each time they gained confidence and skill.

The secret to motivating kids (or anyone for that matter) is to tell them how great you think they are, and to let them know how much you love them. They have within them the magic - the potential to achieve their heart's desire in this lifetime. It only takes encouragement, love, and trust to develop it.

In homeschooling we parents have the delight of teaching our own children. Not only do we get to see the first step, and be there for the first tooth that falls out - we get to be there for the very first brain connections, we get to see them take acquired facts and figure out the rules that govern them. We get to see them read that first novel, recite poems, learn about fractions, and cells, and music, and all of life's bounty as we expose them to a broad base of knowledge while ensuring they are literate, skilled, capable, and ultimately happy.

The most successful and lasting homeschools share many of the following characteristics in common. I hope you will use them as a guide for your homeschooling success:

1. Teach your kids because you think it's a privilege and a good idea. Learning with your children is a way of expressing affection for them. Giving them knowledge is like giving them a big hug. When education is presented in this way, and with this understanding and attitude, you can't help but create an environment of mutual respect and good will that will serve you throughout your homeschool journey and throughout your lives together.
2. Be enthusiastic whenever you are learning together. Let your interest in the subject show!
3. Kids need a variety of new information. Don't keep rehashing the same subject over and over again. Believe me, the Pilgrim's landing at Plymouth Rock is only interesting the first 2 or 3 times you hear it, after that it gets old. Move on. Have a steady diet of new information and your child's knowledge will be in a constant state of expansion.
4. Organize learning materials so that they are always readily available. Nothing is worse than suggesting a science experiment to your kids that requires baking soda and not having any in the house - or announcing its time to study math, seating the children at the table, and being unable to find their workbooks so they can get started. Don't be your own worst distraction by having to launch a search party to find a pencil. Maintain a "stand-by" arsenal of supplies, books, interesting games, and educational kits. Take the time to put things back where you found them so they will be ready when you need them.
5. Have a distraction free environment. Homeschool households can get a little chaotic what with all the stimulation going on: the Discovery Channel on the TV, the radio turned to a classical station, electric Legoâ projects in various stages of construction, the computer screen glaring, Play Stationâ beeping, the teakettle whistling on the stove, etc. Turn everything off. Keep one small area where you work together clutter free to cut down on visual, auditory and tactile distractions. It is very difficult for anyone to concentrate amidst pandemonium, no matter how educational it is designed to be.
6. Teach your child when she's in a good mood - rested, fed, well, and happy. You know when she's receptive or not. Always choose the best moments to learn together. For some it will be first thing in the morning, for others, eight o'clock at night. The beauty of homeschooling is that you can cater to your child's natural body clock, and to your family's rhythms and routine. Never make the mistake of insisting on studying when your child is cranky, hungry, tired, ill or in pain. You can't teach anything to anyone who is in misery. You don't' have to "teach" on a school schedule between 9am and 3pm. Learning happens at all hours. Use the good times to your advantage.
7. Never bore your child by prolonging lessons. Once he understands the concept move along. Your kid will tell you when he gets it. Listen to him. Trust him. Don't insult his intelligence by assuming he needs to go over it "just one more time." Maybe you do, but he doesn't. Kids learn quickly - and anything that slows down the process is deadly.
8. The time to stop a lesson is when your kid is having success. I know what you're thinking, "I thought in homeschooling my kid could study a subject for as long as she wants, without ever stopping." Yes, of course. But you also have to go to the dentist, go grocery shopping, get to piano lessons on time, and still make the 4-H meeting. The time to suggest taking a break in learning is when your child is thoroughly engaged and enjoying herself - not when she's frustrated. Leave her wanting more - and she will always come back excited and ready to take up where she left off. If your child is frustrated to tears with a project, you may need to insist on moving on to something else. If so, pick something that generates contentment and happiness - perhaps just reading together - so that all learning times are associated with pleasure.
9. Whenever you are learning together, be relaxed. If you're tense and uptight because the dog peed on the carpet, or the washing machine is broken, or it's just too bright outside, take some time off. If you're fatigued and disorganized you cannot enjoy yourself and your kids won't have a good time either. Take a break. Take them often.
10. Be open to alternatives. Be willing to get rid of what doesn't work (even if that darn textbook cost $60). Consider changing your approach. Flexibility is the key to success in homeschooling. Your child is changing every day. It's not just his body that's growing and developing - his needs, abilities and interests shape-shift at an astonishing rate. What worked yesterday may not be suitable at all to who your child is today. I once heard that when you kiss your children and say "good night" you should probably be saying, "good bye." They won't be the same tomorrow. Be ready to start over each day with the "new kid" who rolls out of bed and sleepily shuffles into the kitchen that morning.
11. Give your child the correct answer, rather than harping on the fact that he gave you the wrong one. Most people like to learn, and most people hate to be tested by someone else. If your child says, "The capital of California is San Francisco." Don't say, " No, that isn't right. That's wrong." Say, "The capital of California is Sacramento, isn't it?" and move on. If he didn't know the correct answer, he'll be delighted that you filled in the missing piece of information instead of making him feel like a dunce.
12. Keep your promises to your children. We all respect people who keep their word, and we dismiss those who don't. Knowing that, why would you make a promise to your child that you could not or would not keep? Don't use a promise as a leverage for learning unless you intend to keep it. If you don't keep it, it will make a liar out of you. Do you want your child to respect you? Then be honest, truthful, and don't make promises lightly. They are not negotiable. If you do make a promise, keep it.
13. Trust your children to learn, and trust yourself to facilitate their learning. Your child knows the things you have taught her. Didn't you make a considerable effort to prepare the materials and explain the concepts in a supportive and loving environment? Why on earth would you think your child didn't understand? Because she doesn't regurgitate it all immediately? What, she needs to provide feedback so you can reward yourself with a pat on the back for being a good teacher? Is that what this is all about? She got it. Trust that she did. You don't give the gift of knowledge with the expectation of gratitude and thankfulness demonstrated through correct answers to your endless questions and testing. A gift like knowledge should be given freely and without strings attached. And if you do that, you will be rewarded in the most unexpected ways and at the most unimagined times. You will see your child's knowledge manifested in a conversation you overhear her having with a grandparent or a friend. Trust your children. Trust yourself. If you doubt your children's ability to learn or your ability to help them learn, you probably shouldn't be homeschooling.
14. Always take the time to answer your children's questions with facts, clarity, and honesty. Let them know that you think it is important to answer their questions, and that you take their quest for knowledge seriously. Do you know the answer to "Why is the sky blue?" Tell them. If you don't know the answer show them how to find the answer. Empower them by demonstrating how to look things up in an encyclopedia, or at the library, or on the Internet. Show them how to make phone calls to get the information they want. If your kids are very little let them watch you find answers. If they are elementary school age allow them to make a call with your supervision - and always be ready to intervene on their behalf when some less-than-enlightened adult on the other end of the line doesn't think it's worth their while to talk to your kid and give him the answers he's searching for.

By the way, if your child asks a question and you don't know the answer - and are in the car or someplace where you can't find the answer right away - write the question down and follow up on it later. One homeschool mom I know kept a "Question Book" at home and in the car. When questions were asked, to which there wasn't an immediate known answer, they wrote the question down, and looked up the answer together when it was more convenient. The message her kids got was that their questions were important and their love for learning appreciated. Give your children the facts they ask for and render your opinion - but make sure your child understands the difference between the two. Real information coupled with expressing our point of view allows our children to develop critical thinking skills and teaches them the intricacies and importance of sharing ideas and holding discussions.

15. Above all, remember this, you are not just teaching your child, you are teaching your grandchildren's mother or father how to teach them. Humbling, isn't it? Believe in the magic in your child that will transform him or her to the vision of the adult you hope they will become. Hold that vision in your mind and heart and let it guide your words and deeds throughout your homeschooling days.

I would like to leave you with the words of Maria Montessori excerpted from her book, The Absorbant Mind, as it best describes the role of parents in bringing forth the magic within the child'.

"We used to say it was the mother who formed the child; for it is she who teaches him to walk, talk, and so on. But none of this is really done by the mother. It is an achievement of the child. What the mother brings forth is the baby, but it is the baby who produces the man. Should the mother die, the baby still grows up and completes his work of making the man. An Indian baby taken to America, and placed in the care of Americans, learns to speak English and not Hindi. So his language does not come from the mother, but it is the child who takes in the language, just as he takes in the habits and customs of the people among whom he happens to be living. There is nothing hereditary, therefore, in any of these acquisitions. It is the child who absorbs materials from the world about him; he who molds it into the man of the future.

To recognize this great work of the child does not mean to diminish the parents' authority. Once they can persuade themselves not to be themselves the builders, but merely to act as collaborators in the building process, they become much better able to carry out their real duties; and then, in the light of a wider vision, their help becomes truly valuable. The child can only build well if this help is given in a suitable way. Thus, the authority of parents does not come from a dignity standing on its own feet, but it comes from the help they are able to give their children. The truly great authority and dignity of parents rests solely upon this."

Homeschooling is a most suitable way to raise and educate children. Trust the children. Trust yourselves. Embrace the magic!

Copyright 2000-2005, Diane Flynn Keith, All Rights Reserved.

5 Reasons Why You Should Homeschool

There are many great resources on the internet for those who choose to homeschool their children. One thing that is a little harder to find are definitive reasons why you should consider this option. Recently, I read a heartfelt entry at Steve Olson’s blog about how public schools crush souls. This entry was very close to my heart because of the problems that I had in school–especially in grades 3 through 8. Steve has chosen to send his children to Montessori school which is probably an equally good option. I prefer the option of schooling my children at home and I’m going to give some reasons here.

1. Debunking “The Argument”

I’m going to start my list by debunking the most widely used reason why you should not homeschool. “How will your kids learn to socialize?” is the question homeschoolers hear the most. This is really an easy question to answer. First, children in public schools don’t learn to socialize–at least not in a “real-world” sense. In public schools you socialize only with other people who are your exact same age. Where else in life does this happen? I can’t think of a single example. Are your social circles composed only of people who are the exact same age you are?

There are more than a few things wrong with this social conditioning. The biggest issue I have with it is that it turns so many kids into outcasts. If you advance more quickly or slowly than the average then you are far less likely to fit in. Everyone can remember the tall girl or slow boy who was teased. This type of social conditioning encourages youth to focus on sameness and to ostracize anyone who is different in any way.

When I was in the third grade, my family moved from Indiana to northern Minnesota. For the next five years I dreaded going to school because of the torment I knew I would face there. I was different because I had the Indiana drawl instead of the Minnesota “Yah, sure, you betcha.” There were other things that made my family and me different, but those are better saved for another time. Let’s just say that to this day, I remember being called “Bacon Man” in third and fourth grade because I smelled like woodsmoke. For that reason and others, a snow day was like a stay of execution from the governor.

If you need further convincing, just go visit your local high school. Stand in the hallway and see if you can find an example of the type of “socializing” that you want your children to experience.

2. Your curriculum isn’t someone’s agenda

A few years ago, I read a book called Lies My Teacher Told Me: Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong. The book was very impressive (I highly recommend it) because it outlined many of the things that are taught in public schools that are simply wrong. It even goes on to tell you some of the reasons why these things are intentionally taught wrong.

The bottom line here is that if you send your children to be taught by someone else, someone else will have control over what your children are learning. In private schools this is lessened by the fact that they have to compete in a free market, but it isn’t wholly eliminated. At home, your children learn what you want them to learn. Of course this is a heavy responsibility, because it requires you to know what you’re talking about. But with the multitude of resources available, this shouldn’t be such a worry.

This brings me to one of the reasons I want to homeschool which is that frankly I am smarter than 99% of public school teachers. You may not be as cocky as I am, but even so you’re probably smarter than a good number of them. This doesn’t even matter that much, though, since even the smartest teacher is constrained to teaching what the administration or board tells them.

3. Your child will never be molested, murdered, assaulted… at homeschool

Go to Google and type in one of the following: school assault, school murder, school shooting, or teacher molestation. You may be surprised at all you find. Or maybe you won’t be since this stuff is in the news all the time.

4. Time

My wife (Alena) and I really, really wanted to have our sons because we want to spend time with them. Life is short and childhood is even shorter. So why in the hell would we want to give our kids to someone else for 7 hours per day, 180+ days per year? It just doesn’t make any sense to me. I have a 20 year old daughter, so I know how fast the time flies by. I regret every moment that I didn’t spend with her that I could have. Every one of those moments is a moment that we can never get back.

I’m selfish and I want to watch my baby grow into a toddler, my toddler become a child, my child turn into an adolescent, my adolescent blossom into a teen, and my teen transform into a man. And I want my wife and me to be the ones who give him guidance along the way. She’s great at that–that’s one of the reasons I chose her.

We want to instill our values in him. If we send him away, whose values will he be receiving? Who knows?

5. One (or two) on one (or two)

Ok, this varies largely depending on where you live, but average class sizes range from 25 to well over 50 in public schools. Private schools boast slightly smaller class sizes. But neither of these can come close to comparing to the class size of home schools. Alena and I can focus all of our energy onto our sons. If one of them is struggling with something, we can find ways to make that topic easier. The museum, zoo, park, historic site can become classrooms. We can customize our lessons without taking anything away from the other students–because there are no other students.

A Comparison of Traditional and Natural Learning

By Kathleen McCurdy

Subject	Traditional Learning	Natural Learning
Child viewed as	an empty vessel waiting to be filled, or to be trained like an animal	a sprouting seed on its way to becoming a tree
Adult viewed as	a fount of knowledge, or an authority figure on which the child must depend	a model to imitate, a resource and helper
Learning is	a result of teaching, or being shown or told	a process of satisfying the desire to know and be able to do, discovery
Learning occurs	in a logical, orderly way, in graded increments	in subtle and complex recognition of patterns, unplanned and unordered
Everyday life and learning	are separate in time and space	are integrated and interdependent
Ideal amount of learning	is 13 years plus 4 or more optional years	begins at birth and lasts a lifetime
Focus of learning is	on the learner's weaknesses, to bring them up to the level of strong areas (which tend to weaken through disuse)	on the learner's strong points, while weak areas tend to gradually improve as a matter of course
Curriculum is	pre-determined by the teacher or the school system, is limited in scope and expensive	determined by student and available experiences, broad or narrow depending on the interest and energy of the moment
Subjects to learn	are separate and distinct from one another	are integrated and fluid
Textbooks & workbooks	are the primary source of information, and generally no other questions are entertained	are seldom used, except as references (or for props in playing 'school'...)
The schedule is	inflexible, by the clock	based on individual and family needs, subject to serendipity, as in the "learning moment"
Success is defined	as conforming to society's expectations, or as completing 11,970 hours of sitting at a desk	as being able to transition into the adult world as a self-assured productive citizen
Failure to succeed is	noted, punished, and can become a life sentence	accepted as part of life, and an opportunity to try again
Learning disabilities are	special 'advantages' that provide entitlements, or flaws to be corrected or glossed over	recognized as different learning styles that require uncommon approaches to common skills
Authority is vested in	the teacher, the institution, the society, or anyone who is bigger or stronger (through control and manipulation)	the individual, to be delegated to others as appropriate, through respect, consensus, and representation
Reading	must be mastered at age 6 or 7, otherwise learning cannot progress	begins anytime between 3 and 13, and late readers have advantages such as the chance to experience the world more directly
Math is	a series of facts and formulas to be learned for use in abstract problem solving	a way of relating patterns and relationships to the problems of everyday life so as to find useful and appropriate solutions
The arts are	an exercise in conformity	a means of communication for the expression of feelings for which we may lack words
Science	is a special field of study for the affluent and advantaged	is all around us and only requires time for observation, thought and inquiry
Social studies & history	is presented as an exercise in memorizing inconsequential facts and dates, or is used as a means of conveying 'politically correct' world views and politics	begins with the child's own history and relates everything together as a means of understanding where we are now, and why; helps children respect others by respecting themselves
Grammar and spelling	provides unreliable and frustrating rules to memorize	provides interesting patterns and families of words that really do help and make sense
Writing	a means of abusing children by changing from printing to italics to cursive without respecting their own individuality	a means of communication which is perfected through real use, rather than through tedious exercises
Health	another opportunity for political propaganda, since the real agenda is to keep the doctors well supplied with patients	an opportunity to discuss cause and effect, to encourage the development of healthy habits, and to free us from dependence on doctors
Occupational education	how to fill out job applications, unionize and strike for higher wages, and become dependent on the government as much as possible	opportunities for experiencing the gratification of earning your own money, developing a work ethic, and becoming self-sufficient
Play is	irrelevant and frivolous	necessary to learning; a natural way to practice relevant skills
Socialization is	relating to others the same age only, learning to conform	respecting others' differences, being self confident, responsible

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How To Get Billy To Love Math (And Other School Subjects)

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

How To Get Billy To Love Math (And Other School Subjects)
By Grace Chen

At some point most parents will have a problem where their son or daughter decides that they are disinterested in school. And, if it isn’t school in general, then it will be one particular subject. Math is too hard, their history teacher is boring, and science is “whatever.” However, there are plenty of ways that you can help your child love his or her classes and enjoy going to school.

1. Be An Example - If you want your kids to love learning, you should show them how you love to learn. By incorporating learning into your daily life you show your kids how learning benefits them. Let them catch you reading a book, take a trip to a museum as a family, go to a music concert. You can even go back to school yourself. Your desire to learn will rub off onto your kids if you set the example.
   
   
2. Talk About It - When you talk about school, you show your child that school is important. Ask how their day went, find out what they learned, and talk about what they enjoyed about school. Try to have them find something positive about the experience. If your child is consistently negative, this may be a sign that you need to talk to the teacher about what is going on. Your child may benefit from some additional help like a tutor if they are truly struggling at school.
   
   
3. Use the Skills Every Day - There are plenty of ways that you can incorporate math into your everyday life. For instance, younger children can learn to count out change at the grocery store, while older children can help you figure out whether or not a candy bar fits into the shopping budget. You can open a checking account for your high school student to teach them how to manage their money. Practice measurements when you cook or counting as you drive to school. Not only are these activities good practice for your kids, but they show them that math has real life applications.
   
   
4. Turn Off the TV - Turning off the TV will inspire your family to try new activities together. Set a limit as to how many hours of TV can be watched a day and then find something that you can do together in the extra time. You will find a new opportunity for conversations so that you can get an inside peek into what is going on in your child’s life. Many family activities have learning built in – whether it is simple skills like counting out cards or learning to take turns on a board game, or more complex activities like building your own exploding volcano for a science project.
   
   
5. Try Fun Teaching Aids - Learning at home can be more fun than ever. While traditional flash cards are still available, there is also a wide variety of educational electronic games and software. Plus, these games can allow the whole family to participate and practice their skills.
   
   
6. Participate At School - Kids will be excited about school if you are. As much as you are able, try to participate. Attend parent-teacher conferences; join the PTA, offer to be a parent helper on the class field trip or an assistant coach for the junior varsity baseball team. When you make school a positive experience, your child will be more excited to learn.

Using the 5 W Questions to Improve Your Training

Training is an important part of learning to master any type of skill or information. You don’t need to be a teacher however, to train someone. And actually, you don’t even need to know much about the content you want to teach. This seems contradictory to many people and is a reason the most common reason why people don’t train others as often as they should. Let’s explore some of the reasoning behind this and in my next article, I’ll outline how to approach training in an area, even if you are not an expert at it.

To look at this closer and understand an approach that works for training I’ll explore the classic five ‘W’ questions to consider the various angles about providing some kind of training.

Who Can You Train?

This is a great question to ask and without looking closely at it, people often feel that they don’t have anyone to train. This just isn’t true! There are many people in everyone’s lives and there are opportunities to train pretty much anyone you know. You could train your children, your friends, your spouse, your family, your colleagues, strangers, and clients. What is useful is to pay attention to all these questions when identifying who you can train. Remember that you don’t need to have any authority or power over a person to train them. Train anyone!

What Can You Train?

Next is to consider what you can train. I find the best way to identify this is not to look at what you DO know, but to look at what the person you can train wants to know! This is critical to gaining their interest and desire to be trained and helps to eliminate the common misconception that you need to be an expert with something to train them. Look at what they want or need to learn and then get into the training process (which I will cover in my How to Train Someone article next).

If you train an area of interest to someone else, they will welcome it, and enjoy it far more than if you try to teach an area you may know more about yourself, but they have no interest in. Dale Carnegie’s classic advise to talk about the things that interest the other person apply wonderfully with training as well if you want to have success at it.

When is it a Good Time to Train?

Finding a good time to train is perhaps, the most difficult part of training. You need to have a chance to prepare your training material and thoughts, as well to spend some time with the person you are training. Getting a commitment for this is definitely preferred but not always practical. If you can, schedule some specific time together to focus on the training. When you do this will depend on some of the other questions like the who and what you are training.

I’d suggest to do training at a time of day that anyone involved is alert and attentive, so not late at night or early in the morning unless that is a good time for everyone. Find a time that people are happy and willing to commit to so you are not planning the training to have inherent stumbling blocks before it even starts.

As I mentioned above, it’s not always practical to plan the training and if that’s not working, do not prevent you from training still. Plan things more spontaneously and train on the spot whenever you can make it work. Even segmented training at random times is far better than not doing it at all. As for when to start or begin training? Don’t delay, begin the training NOW!

Where Should I Train?

Obviously, not everyone has a school classroom or facility to train from. Nor would you want to use that for every kind of training and with all people. Again, it is far more important to make the training comfortable and easy to do than to worry about the ideal place to train from. Where you train can vary greatly and it can easily happen from your home or home of another person, at work in public or private sessions, or perhaps even over lunch or informal get together. You can train over the phone, on the internet, by book or written content or even in a group in a public location. Again, remember that it’s not that important where you train, its just important that you DO.

Why Should I Train?

This is my favorite question and often it’s the one with the most concerns. Especially from people in the workplace and many people feel that knowledge is power and so to hoard that knowledge they are getting ahead. Let me assure you, this is completely wrong. As a manager, I know that the riskiest individuals in an organization are the ones that are sole experts and they are always on my mind to eliminate that trait from. An organization wants to have multiple people available for any job so that loosing someone is no impact. Let me assure you, if you can use training to make yourself redundant and provide help to your organization to balance out the risky ‘experts’, that is far more valuable than being an expert yourself.

Another important reason that is often overlooked is for learning yourself. Teaching and training is the best way to both prove your understanding of a subject that you already know and also to learn more about it yourself. As you discuss the topic, plan for it and research, you expand your own understanding in that area and so you are not only helping someone else learn, but you are definitely learning yourself. The more time you spend training, the more you see where people have struggles, questions and concerns with the topic and it helps you to focus on addressing those areas in similar or related training for next time. This helps you get more prepared and become more and more effective at your training.

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