In life we have a plan for everything including our everyday lives.  What’s for dinner?  Shall I learn a new skill?  Is it time to find a new home?  How can I save for the future?  Well, we at Oak Hill Academy, use something called “Our Recipe for Learning.”  It is our belief that all learning must start with a curious mind.  This learning must interest us, so that we want to learn more.  We start our journey with what we call “The Essential Question.”  Some examples would be “Are fractions always small?”  “What would the English language be without adjectives?”  These are not yes or no questions but a challenge to deep thinking.  This is the hook that draws the learner in.

The next ingredient is motivation.  Why is this material important, and what will I be able to do as a result of my effort?  Is this knowledge worthwhile?  The world is a fascinating place that when brought into focus is rich with both history and future possibilities.

We now need a pathway.  How do we move from the unknown to the known?  What skills are necessary to accomplish my mission?  Writing, extensive reading, research, math computation, a foreign language, science, and the arts all give us a broad view of what mankind has and can accomplish.

Resilience is needed as we continue our venture.  We learn from our mistakes. We make corrections and move forward.  With each new adjustment we become more skilled in adapting to an ever changing environment.

With all the ingredients in place, we can finally look back and see our progress and realize how we have mastered topics.   We can be satisfied that growth is apparent on all fronts.  Maturity brings a new sense of purpose and direction as we get feedback on what works or what we need to continue to improve.

Even if we feel a genuine sense of self-satisfaction that we have achieved our goals, we should still strive to improve with each “recipe” that we try in the future. This is the mantra of a true learner or “master chef.”