Is it still homeschooling if you are not involved in every minutia of your children’s learning? I like to think so. In fact, I would have never started homeschooling if I thought I had to be. I know myself well enough realize I would have had problems in the patience department. So when a veteran homeschooling friend told me that she spent most of her “homeschooling” time driving her kids to and from various lessons, I knew I could jump on board.
From the time when my husband first came home and told me he wanted me to homeschool the kids (years before I came around), he did not have in mind the day-to-day teaching that most homeschoolers do. Instead, he envisioned hiring teachers and tutors to do the “work” while we supervised curriculum and “homework”. Of course, he did not take the cost of such a venture into account. Tutor fees add up quickly.
Over the years, we have done a combination of parent teaching, paid tutors, and online learning programs. I have found that there are times when I, as a parent needed to be hands on, and that there were times when I needed to be hands off (for everyone’s sake).
I noticed a funny thing though; in following a partially hands-off approach to homeschooling has had some great benefits. By stepping back and allowing the children to attack subjects on, their own has strengthened their problem solving skills. By allowing them to work with other teachers who may be more talented in a subject area, or more patient than I am, has helped them to excel in areas where I have not. It also creates accountability and makes children like mine (who know how to use their charms on their mom) to complete assignments they would rather not.
Meanwhile, by knowing when to step back and use different resourses to homeschool instead on relying on myself for every detail, has made me a more hands-on parent. I have more strength for games. I have more tolerance for jokes and silliness. I have a greater desire for hugs and cuddling.
I do not know about other homeschoolers, but if I had to do all the teaching all by myself, there would not be much of me left for the parenting part.
*Have a question about homeschooling? Just ask.
*Want to know more about homeschooling? Start with the 2006 homeschool blog in review!
* Have you seen the homeschooling curriculum glossary?