How much do you encourage/expect your children to do their schoolwork independantly? How much do you actively teach them, as opposed to more guiding them as they learn? I don't know if I'm making myself clear, sorry :? As an example, when doing a math lesson with my 7yo. We use Singapore Math, so we'll look at the textbook together and I explain a new concept and we do a few examples from the textbook together. Then I tell him which pages/exercises he's supposed to do, and then I pretty much leave him to it unless he has any questions. I check his work when he's done, and he goes back and corrects his mistakes. Except for French and Science, all his schoolwork follows the same pattern. He's learning really well, I'm not concerned about that at all. I guess I sometimes just get a twinge of guilt or something that I should be more "teacher-y" or something?
We are using LifePacs for most of our subjects and, to tell the truth, I usually just tell him where to stop and start. I rarely "teach" much. He's pretty good about reading and understanding. We use MUS for math, so he watches the video lesson and does the pages I mark. Again, very little "teaching" on my part. Of course, I'm right there to help the moment he needs it, but he so rarely needs it. He's also 7.
If he needs you to be more "teachery", you'd be there, right? I think this sounds about right, imho. We operate pretty much the same way.
You do it pretty much how I do it. Only I grade the work the next day. History/science we (use to) do as a group, usually my reading over stuff, or us all sitting at the table mapping together, or doing something hands-on. But other than that.... Right now, I will sit and go over Faythe and Phillip's math and language from the day before, go over the new lesson, and give them their new assignments. Rachael is almost totally on her own. Faythe is starting Apologia science, and needs me to sit and go over stuff with her to really understand it; we're still "feeling our way" with that!
For workbooks I show my 7 year old what to do and tell him how much to do and be available for questions. He is independent on the computer. Much of what we do involves teaching, discussion, reading together, or projects together so independence wouldn't apply.
I kind of gather that that is one more of those homeschool joys. I mean in a class room setting the teacher gives new instruction on a board, kids occasionally do the lesson too on the board.. then they are given assignments and the teacher corrects it. I think the independant learning is benifical to a home school family because mom often teaches more than one level at the same time and the indepenance fostered will help them later in the high school levels when most curriculuim is made for such. I think homeschooling helps the college student to know what to do on their own as well, how to find it. MY ds is just catching this as he does his college courses, the instructors do not instruct in class, they go over last weeks home work and assign new stuff.
I think we all just have to give the kids the amount of time they need. My oldest gets frustrated very easily so I find myself sitting by her most of the time to help when she gets confused. My second daughter is very independent and wants me out of her way. I plan on just adjusting to whatever time each child needs.
Both my older kids work very independently. My oldest used Lifepacs in 2nd, 3rd, and 4th. I found them to be extremely conducive to independence! My daughter sorta changed styles so, Lifepacs just didn't work for us well in 4th. I ended up scrapping one of them completely. This year, they both are pretty independent, we're doing History and Science together - in the sense that we have "class" time, but then they do their work on their own. Their independence - hopefully - will open up time for me to work more hand holding style with my youngest.
I normally teach a new concept and then let the kids do the workbook or whatever I have for them on their own. Now I answer questions or help if needed but mainly I try to get them to work on their own. Now in the younger grades I was more hands on with sitting there going through things. But now that they can read and work on their own. Now there are a few subjects like Science and History that have more activities that we do that I am always right there reinforcing. But if they can do it own their own I am all for that. It gives me a chance to catch up on household things. What I normally do is the night before I sit and look through the next days items gather anything up that I have to and see whether or not the kids will need me more that day and plan my next day accordingly.
i pretty much do the same as you do Angie. My oldest used School of Tomorrow and they are like Life pac, they read and learn then do there work. I am there for questions and if they need help.
Angie, thanks for asking this question! I am new to Hs'ing and I sometimes wonder if I am letting my 6th grade son do too much on his own. I too am a believer in independence. When he does not understand something he comes and asks me, or if his work is wrong this too tells me that he did not understand or know something and I go over the problem or area so that he both corrects his mistakes and or learns what he needs to know.
