Quite some time ago I wrote about my educational philosophy and some questions that typically arise when pondering living out that philosophy. What does this type of education look like?
What exactly is the parents role?
Without following a standardized scope and sequence how do you insure that there are no gaps in your child's knowledge acquisition?
These are questions that have been asked of me and that I have asked myself. Previously I addressed the question related to what this type of education might look like.
In this, long overdue, post I would like to address the second question - what exactly is the parents role?
What is a homeschooling parent doing if he isn't developing a scope and sequence for the year and years to come and seeking curriculum that will satisfy those goals?
What is a homeschooling parent doing if she isn't developing lesson plans and a schedule that will allow for all those plans to be completed?
What is a homeschooling parent doing if he isn't maintaining that schedule and assigning worksheets, papers, projects and tests?
What is a homeschooling parent doing if she isn't correcting and grading those assignments and documenting those grades?
Most find it difficult to envision what the role of the homeschooling parent is if education doesn't require the tasks listed above, if it doesn't look like school.
Naturally it is difficult for people to envision that which they haven't experienced
What is a homeschooling parent doing if he isn't developing a scope and sequence for the year and years to come and seeking curriculum that will satisfy those goals?
What is a homeschooling parent doing if she isn't developing lesson plans and a schedule that will allow for all those plans to be completed?
What is a homeschooling parent doing if he isn't maintaining that schedule and assigning worksheets, papers, projects and tests?
What is a homeschooling parent doing if she isn't correcting and grading those assignments and documenting those grades?
Most find it difficult to envision what the role of the homeschooling parent is if education doesn't require the tasks listed above, if it doesn't look like school.
Naturally it is difficult for people to envision that which they haven't experienced
But, in this case, let me suggest that if you have school-aged children (or older) you do have experiences to draw upon.
In that post about my educational philosophy I write, "Consider our infants acquisition of language, we didn't contemplate some contrived way of teaching them to speak we simply spoke to them, engaged them, loved them. When they were learning to walk we did not give them didactic lessons on putting one foot in front of the other we, just in the simple act of living, modeled the act for them and then supported and encouraged them. We also didn't assume that they would all learn these skills at precisely the same age, we offered them a safe space to explore who they are, what the world is about and their place in it, we offered opportunities and encouragement and then allowed them to develop at their own pace."
If you have walked alongside a young child while they learn to talk and walk then you have experiences that can help you envision what the role of a parent is who subscribes to a "lifestyle of learning" approach to education.
Here are some of my thoughts on what parents do when helping a child learn to walk; they are presented in no particular order.
-We create a safe space for our children. One that is both physically safe and emotionally safe. One that reduces the risks of physical harm for those little tykes on wobbly legs. And one that is overflowing with support and unconditional love. One that doesn't label them as failures or deficient after taking two steps and falling on their bums.
-We give them the resources and create the environment they need to accomplish the task. We encourage them to learn all of the smaller tasks that help set them up for success. When they are itty bitty we play games with their legs, bicycling them and bouncing them, that helps build strength. We give them tummy time and encourage them to crawl which helps develop, among other things, cross lateral movement. We buy toys that encourage them to bounce and build strength in their legs. We buy them walkers. We steady them by allowing them to hold onto our fingers.
-We model walking for them and, by doing so, set up the expectation that they too will walk.
-We cheer them on with a hearty "you can do it!"
I'm certain the list could be lengthier but I think that these points illustrate the parents role in helping their children learn.
The parents role is to support, guide, facilitate, encourage and model.
Likewise, when employing a "lifestyle of learning" approach to education the parents role is to support, guide, facilitate, encourage and model.
-We create an environment that is conducive to learning - one that encourages literacy and numeracy and the asking of questions and the acquisition of knowledge and the pursuit of understanding and truth and one that celebrates the making of connections between bits of knowledge.
-We listen to our kiddos being really willing to hear what is in their minds and their hearts.
-We support their interests and find resources that will help them pursue those interests. We may facilitate the pursuit of those interests by finding the right curriculum but it is more likely going to require finding the right expert or book or video or podcast, etc.
-We take our kids to interesting places and seek out interesting people.
-We model learning for them by pursuing our own interests, not in a self-absorbed way but in an enriching way. We share those interests with our kids, not in a demanding way but in that way that people share things they know about with other people.
-We offer them opportunities: "I saw that the library is having a program on that subject we were talking about the other day. Are you interested in going?" "You mentioned that you wanted to learn to sew, Grandmama has an extra sewing machine you can use if you would like." "I really want to go to that powwow this weekend. Anyone want to join me?"
-We learn alongside them and are willing to learn from them. We allow and encourage learning to infuse our lives.
This is the role of the homeschooling parent who subscribes to this educational philosophy.
It is a challenging role. It requires flexibility, creativity, perseverance and more.
It is a rewarding role.
If you have walked alongside a young child while they learn to talk and walk then you have experiences that can help you envision what the role of a parent is who subscribes to a "lifestyle of learning" approach to education.
Here are some of my thoughts on what parents do when helping a child learn to walk; they are presented in no particular order.
-We create a safe space for our children. One that is both physically safe and emotionally safe. One that reduces the risks of physical harm for those little tykes on wobbly legs. And one that is overflowing with support and unconditional love. One that doesn't label them as failures or deficient after taking two steps and falling on their bums.
-We give them the resources and create the environment they need to accomplish the task. We encourage them to learn all of the smaller tasks that help set them up for success. When they are itty bitty we play games with their legs, bicycling them and bouncing them, that helps build strength. We give them tummy time and encourage them to crawl which helps develop, among other things, cross lateral movement. We buy toys that encourage them to bounce and build strength in their legs. We buy them walkers. We steady them by allowing them to hold onto our fingers.
-We model walking for them and, by doing so, set up the expectation that they too will walk.
-We cheer them on with a hearty "you can do it!"
I'm certain the list could be lengthier but I think that these points illustrate the parents role in helping their children learn.
The parents role is to support, guide, facilitate, encourage and model.
Likewise, when employing a "lifestyle of learning" approach to education the parents role is to support, guide, facilitate, encourage and model.
-We create an environment that is conducive to learning - one that encourages literacy and numeracy and the asking of questions and the acquisition of knowledge and the pursuit of understanding and truth and one that celebrates the making of connections between bits of knowledge.
-We listen to our kiddos being really willing to hear what is in their minds and their hearts.
-We support their interests and find resources that will help them pursue those interests. We may facilitate the pursuit of those interests by finding the right curriculum but it is more likely going to require finding the right expert or book or video or podcast, etc.
-We take our kids to interesting places and seek out interesting people.
-We model learning for them by pursuing our own interests, not in a self-absorbed way but in an enriching way. We share those interests with our kids, not in a demanding way but in that way that people share things they know about with other people.
-We offer them opportunities: "I saw that the library is having a program on that subject we were talking about the other day. Are you interested in going?" "You mentioned that you wanted to learn to sew, Grandmama has an extra sewing machine you can use if you would like." "I really want to go to that powwow this weekend. Anyone want to join me?"
-We learn alongside them and are willing to learn from them. We allow and encourage learning to infuse our lives.
This is the role of the homeschooling parent who subscribes to this educational philosophy.
It is a challenging role. It requires flexibility, creativity, perseverance and more.
It is a rewarding role.
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