Tips for Outside the Box learning Series: Setting Aside Expectations
Remember back when you first became a parent, you had some serious expectations on what parenthood would look like, or not look like. Then that precious new life was laid in your arms, or if you became a parent of an older child, there was a moment when they became yours, then at some point, it hits you that this parenting gig was not what you expected.
The same thing happens when we take on the role of homeschooling. We have expectations, and when things don’t go as planned… well unlike parenting, with homeschooling we have options right? Yes, you do have options. Today’s tip: is to set aside those expectations and meet your child where they are.
Set aside those Expectations
You love to read, that doesn’t mean your children will all love it. Your husband is a math whiz, you kid is good at math, but thinks it is boring, or struggles with things you think should be easy. These are all examples of expectations.
Your child is a unique individual, and maybe they share some traits with you, maybe they take after Great Aunt Tillie, the eccentric Aunt everyone loves, or no one understood. Either way, your child’s story is still being written, and what you want to end with is tailoring their education to fit them, as unique and individual as they need. Even if that means redefining what success looks like.
When you think you’ve tried everything, think outside the box.
What does it mean? It means, looking for ways to engage your child. They have week hands, assign shorter writing assignments, and teach typing earlier. Invest in a speech to text app, be willing to write for you child, at least part of the time.
Unlike a classroom with 15-30 kids in it, you know when your child is learning without the extra worksheets to prove it. Instead of filling out the worksheets, have a discussion that covers the key points, and save the worksheets for once a week per subject, or any variation that works for you.
But I need to know we are learning!
Yes, we are back to that. Why oh why? Maybe you live in a state that requires proof of learning. Maybe you have a spouse that just isn’t getting it, or a court order. I come back to this, worksheets are not proof of learning, but more than that, there are many ways to prove learning.
What you are really thinking is documentation. You can document learning in many ways, the easiest is a homeschool planner, track your discussions, books read independently and outload, documentaries watched, field trips etc. They can be short sentences, check marks, etc.
It can also be done online. You get to choose what works for you!
