Workbooks, Memorization, and Multiple Choice...Oh My!

This picture says 1,000 words for sure.

Raymond and Dorothy Moore, Homeschool Burnout.  p. 105

Using many workbooks stifles the development of reason.  Just as the physical body requires consistent, even vigorous exercises in order to grow and strengthen, so does the brain.  Such exertion consists of analyzing, digesting, organizing, and assimilating information, applying what is learned to practical situations, even stretching the mid to understand difficult concepts.

Lack of thinking and reasoning actually weakens your ability to think creatively and independently and makes you dependent on the perception and judgement of others.

WOW!

No wonder those in school have a decrease in thinking creativity and independently when worksheets are relied upon so heavily.  Worksheets are fluff to keep students busy when they should be engaging in discussions, answering critical thinking questions, having imaginative play, and free writing or journal writing.  

How can we increase our children's higher level thinking skills?  Worksheets? Memorization? Teaching to "THE TEST" - whether end-of-the-chapter or state prescribed end-of-the-year? 

I believe we all want balance for our children.  An opportunity to be introduced to many subjects and vast knowledge of the world (not in a worldly sense, but in well-roundness.  Here is a segment that I created to show to my children on their "computer time".  In this lesson utilizing technology, the students will watch clips of scientists, take notes, compare and contrast scientists, read, and formulate similarities with themselves to these little - known scientists of history.  The children will have a week to complete this as it is a supplemental lesson to our Physics class.  

Hint:  To utilize this to the fullest capacity, choose the option "Open in Blendspace".