One of the great benefits to teaching children at
home is the
flexibility that you have as a parent.
Each family can
literally choose the homeschool curriculum or
educational experience that best suits their own family
values, philosophy, and schedule. Then this approach can
be adjusted as the family's needs may change.
Probably one of the most interesting dynamics that we
discovered when we first began teaching our children at
home was the difference between teaching and learning
and how children learn best.
The word teaching conjures
up and image of someone imparting knowledge to someone
else who is then readily absorbing such nuggets of
wisdom and take on the world. At first, in all honesty
this probably best described our approach. So much to do
with so little time. I'll teach you absorb. Not to
diminish the vast reservoir of knowledge that we as
parents can readily impart to our kids, but do they
learn? We discovered that many were the times that said
knowledge was not necessarily readily received by our
kids.
Genuine learning takes place in children when it is done
through discovery. When a child goes through the process
of discovery the learning experience immediately becomes
part of the world around them and this also makes for
much better retention. This is not to say that you would
just turn you child lose and say “ok... go learn
something.” Rather what you want to take a look at is
perhaps seeing yourself less as a ‘teacher' and more as
a .... Well... learning coach or learning agent.
Teach your child from a perspective that you are there to
get your child excited about learning and learning how
to learn. Not just merely imparting to your child one
nugget of wisdom after another.
Encourage you child to discover. And set up environments
where discoveries are possible. Explore with your child
as the child learns new thing and explores new avenues
to learning. Genuine learning breeds motivation and
motivation leads to learning.
Think of yourself as your child's learning and discovery
coach, and teaching your child will become much more
fruitful.
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