| "I am convinced that the time spent by the teacher in digging out of the child what she has put into him, for the sake of satisfying herself that it has taken root, is so much time thrown away" -- Annie Sullivan (Helen Keller's teacher) I just strew their paths with interesting things. --Sandra Dodd |
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| Copyright 2005 Julie Shepherd Knapp |
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| Deep Thoughts for Homeschoolers |
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The Homeschool Diner's Guide to Homeschooling Basics Teaching But I Don't Know How To Teach! So, how will I be able to homeschool? by Julie Shepherd Knapp, copyright 2006 Parents often wonder how they will be able to homeschool if they aren't a trained/certified teacher. But, in reality, teaching your own child -- one-to-one or with a small group of mixed-age siblings -- Is very different that teaching to a classroom. Using a variety of materials, a mixture of hands-on and community resources, and, maybe even trying out alternative teaching philosophies is quite different from the "classroom teaching" that teachers do, and are trained for in college. And, if you think about it, homeschooling certainly isn't the first time that we have been "teacher" to our children. Think about all the things that, as parents, we have "taught" our children to do over the years -- from eating with a spoon, to walking, to buttoning a coat, to right from wrong. How did we manage all this instruction? We don't often write a lesson plan for what we want to teach them or read what we want them to know out of a scripted book. We teach by example, or by helping them do it themselves (supporting them where they need it), or sometimes by direct one-to-one instruction. Sometimes we tell them where to look to find out what they need to know. Sometimes we leave them to figure it out on their own -- while we watch, with silent encouragement, or bated breath. All of these methods are also used -- quite successfully-- by homeschool parents. If your children have already been in traditional school, it may take some time for your children to get used to the different ways that you, as parent, may approach teaching. Often, children who are fresh out of a school setting are used to *only* direct instruction, and may have trouble becoming more independent learners. They will wait to be told what to do along each step of the way (as they were expected to do in the classroom). It is good to help your children to move into a more active role in learning, rather than passively waiting to be taught. Most of us want our kids to become lifelong learners, with the confidence and know-how to tackle whatever new skills they will need in the future. We, as homeschool parents, can help them develop these skills. It often takes families a few years of homeschooling to get past the direct teaching method as their main approach... after all, it is what we grew up with, and what we think of as "school". And some families never do move beyond that approach. Some parents prefer that they (or their homeschool program) direct the whole show, and it works well for some families, and for some kids. Others eventually move in different learning/teaching directions. There are lots of ways to teach and lots of ways to learn. The benefit of homeschooling is that we have the freedom to "mix it up" and try something different, just to make things interesting. Here are a few good articles on the ways different families homeschool. Hopefully you will find them useful. They may even give you the confidence to explain your methods to those in your life who may wonder how you can really be teaching, if you aren't in front of the blackboard all day. 15 Common Characteristics of Successful Homeschools (The Magic is in the Child) advice on becoming a successful homeschooling parent by Diane Flynn Keith Strewing: Definition and Suggestions by Sandra Dodd Lesson 4: How to Teach What You Don't Know -- by Terrie Bittner (scroll down past all the ads to find the article ;-) You Can Teach Your Child Successfully by Ruth Beechick -- a Christian-focused writer gives nitty-gritty help for each subject in each grade (4-8) (see her 3R's series for K - 3rd) Learning All the Time: How small children begin to read. write, count, and investigate the world, without begin taught by John Holt The Defeat of the Schools by James L. Mursell, 1939 -- a look at why children don't, generally, retain much of what they learned in school Schools Are from Mars, Homeschoolers Are from Earth by Patrick Farenga -- do we devalue real-life learning by using "educationese" Certificate of Empowerment from Sandra Dodd The Wrath of Mom by Jenny Runkel -- nice article about keeping things in perspective "When I can stop taking myself so seriously, I can also stop taking the things my kids do so personally... " Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants -- if you're a native (or can hire or borrow one) ... then you already have an advantage over most teachers. If you're an immigrant, then you'll do no worse that most teachers ;-) Multi-sensory Instruction and Learning Styles from Learning Abled Kids -- what's a kinesthetic learner? How do you incorporate multi-sensory teaching techniques? What are physiological learning preferences? This free online tutorial covers it all :-) Index of Learning Styles and Strategies by Felder & Soloman -- a description and a short quiz (free online) covering a learning style model described by formulated by Richard M. Felder and Linda K. Silverman. Condsiders the traits of active/reflective, sensing/intuitive, visual/verbal, and sequential/global. The quiz questions are aimed at older students -- you will have to think of appropriate substitute questions if you want to do the quiz with young students. Here is a link to detailed descriptions of the styles used in this quiz here -- Learning Styles and Strategies How to Talk So Kids Will Listen and Listen So Kids Will Talk by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish -- Maybe you hesitate to homeschool because you and your child "butt heads" too often? Or you already homeschool but you wish there was more cooperation among your children? Or you wonder about the most effective ways of praising your children or how to keep them from becoming trapped in "roles"? Well, this book is an excellent place to start. Topics include strategies for the situations above, plus, how to engage your child's willing cooperation, how to express your anger without being hurtful, how to set firm limits and still maintain goodwill, and how to resolve family conflicts peacefully, and more. Includes cartoon examples of parents handling the same situation in different ways, practical examples, and stories from real parents. An amazing approach that really works.. and it's never too late to begin :-) You can find more advice on teaching different topics in the Homeschooling by Subject section of the Homeschool Diner, such as "How to Teach Art", "Help Me Teach Math!", and "How Do I Teach Science at Home?", Related Resources Donna Young Printables -- free forms and charts for keeping track of high school credits, goals, book lists, making high school transcripts and diplomas, daily planners, household planners, etc Homeschool Tracker -- software for tracking assignments, field trips, making transcripts, etc., use the free basic service or buy the CD-Rom Student ID Card -- free online template, send with your older children who need to be "out and about" during the day, or just have fun with it Related Issues Giving Your Child "Voice" by Richard Grossman, Ph.D. Respect, Obedience, and Education -- wonderful thoughts on showing and earning respect in families and schools by Steve Hein THE PROCRASTINATOR'S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY, AND OTHER IMPORTANT SPOTS IN THE UNIVERSE by Deirdre V. Lovecky, Ph.D. -- we all know a few procrastinators... what planet are they from? ;-) The Wild Child a "deep thought" by Scott Noelle |
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