Children learn best when they are interested from "summary" of How Children Learn by John Caldwell Holt
Children, like all human beings, learn best when they are interested in what they are learning. When something really interests them, they will put all their energy into it, asking questions, trying to get to the bottom of it, looking up all the words they do not know, making connections, trying out ideas. They are not just memorizing; they are trying to make sense of things. They are not just being taught; they are learning.
When I say children learn best when they are interested, I do not mean that they should only be allowed to study what they like. I mean that they should be allowed to learn the way they like. They should be able to pursue their interests deeply and intensely, without being interrupted or held back. They should be able to make mistakes, to do things in their own way and at their own pace. They should be able to ask questions and get answers, not because the teacher wants to teach something, but because the child wants to learn it.
What children learn in this way, they remember, and what they remember, they understand. They do not just remember the facts; they remember the ideas, the connections, the reasons. They do not just understand the words; they understand the meaning. They do not just understand the rules; they understand the reasons for the rules, the purpose of the rules. They do not just know the answer; they know why it is the answer.
When children are interested in what they are learning, they are not just passively receiving information; they are actively seeking it. They are not just listening; they are thinking. They are not just following directions; they are making choices. They are not just doing what they are told; they are doing what they want. They are not just sitting still; they are moving. They are not just looking; they are seeing. They are not just hearing; they are listening.
When children are interested in what they are learning, they are not just learning for the moment; they are learning for life. They are not just learning to pass a test; they are learning to understand the world. They are not just learning to get a grade; they are learning to think. They are not just learning to get a job; they are learning to live.
