Homework

HOMESCHOOL

Homework Does Not Equal Homeschool

Too often I hear the mantra that a parent has a difficult time with doing homework; therefore, could never homeschool their child.  This could not be further from the truth. "Homework" is doing an assignment made by someone else (teacher) in an independent format (at home) to reinforce what has been taught (at school).

Homework, in and of itself, is not a bad thing; however, there are issues that can arise when there is no resource (textbook, website, how-to video, etc.) available.  When someone (parent / grandparent / tutor) is forced to teach a child a concept (yes, I said teach) without these resources, conflict will occur.

Ideally, the teacher goes over a lesson in class and gives an assignment.  What ever is not completed in class is homework.  When a teacher manages a classroom in this fashion there is time to evaluate if the student has grasped the objective before going home.  If there is a lesson and no resources are given to complete the assignment at home, the student often solicits help from an adult.  Hence the conflict.

Worksheets are a dreaded homework assignment.  Often there is little written instruction; sometimes there is a brand new concept.  Maybe there is a link between classroom teaching and the worksheet that the child doesn't connect.  Hence more conflict.  Perhaps a student is not allowed to take a textbook home.  When I taught public middle school, I had CDROMs to pass out to students which had the textbook content.  I'm not sure they are available now.

In homeschoool, a parent provides the initial instruction by choosing an initial resource (a textbook, website, video or discussion).  A parent decides on the evaluation or assessment.  Can the child perform a math problem similar to the ones we just went over?  Can the child teach me the reasons for entering the Civil War?  Can the child create a power point on the new president? an old president? nuclear physics? Latin conjugations?  I'm getting off topic.  The thought process is that you are responsible for the initial instruction, the practice of the concept and the assessment of the concept or objective.  If the child doesn't understand, a homeschool parent can look for an alternative presentation of the material.  And often, you have more than one night to do these tasks.  You have an extended amount of time until the mastery has been obtained.  Then, and only then, you move on to the next topic.

Is there conflict in homeschool?  Yes, but a different kind... the conflict is within yourself - why can't I find a resource to get through to my child?  How else can I say this?  But don't worry, a good homeschool mom has local support groups, online homeschool Facebook groups (or 10 that she's 'liked'), yahoo groups, other blogs, etc.  WE WILL FIND A RESOURCE or a trick or a worksheet (if it is a last resort only....) to get the concept down and move forward.  We may also use this trick - wait a week and revisit the concept.  We will refresh our gumption to enlighten our child.

I love homeschooling.  I'm in my 4th year so I have met the 3rd year curve, where a mom lightens up and realizes the most important things are not parabolas or nuclear physics or Latin conjugations, but the relationship that she is building with her child and the relationship she is guiding her child to find in Christ.