I'm Not Homeschooling Alone
I know it's been a minute since I've shared about our homeschool journey. We're still going strong. Just in case you didn't know, my daughters are in the 8th and 10th grades this school year. On the one hand, I can't believe it, and on the other, I am thrilled that we have shifted to a new level of learning.
It hasn't been easy for me as their primary teacher with the work I've had to do within and for myself after the accident. Some days I've questioned myself because our homeschool isn't anything like I imagined it to be for this season. Whether you homeschool or not, you probably have experienced some doubts too as a parent. I think it's normal. We all want to do what we believe is best for our children and give them a good start.
Instead of guilting myself over stuff that I have little control over, I chose to embrace my role as their educational facilitator.
Three Ways My Homeschool Teaching is Supported
I've enlisted my husband to co-teach. I am still responsible for teaching Geometry, Algebra, and any other math my girls will need, but my husband has stepped up in other areas like geography. He can also help proofread and lead conversations about current events. His support allows me to focus on the subjects that no one else will teach our daughters. Whether you homeschool or not, it can be good practice to enlist adults in your family to teach your child about topics that you aren't as knowledgeable about or don't have the space to teach.
Invest in classes taught by other adults. I teach classes on Outschool to help parents with art and math. I also enroll my daughters in classes to receive support in topics that I don't teach. Both of my daughters take world language classes on Outschool that support their Spanish and German programs. They also take writing courses bi-monthly. Writing takes work, and I want them to be confident writers, so I teach them one month, then the next month, they take a workshop with a different writing teacher focused on a specific area of writing. This exposes them to different writing styles and reinforces my instruction.
I have enlisted help while trusting my daughters to play a role in teaching themselves. I trust them to take the lead in their interests, and I know they will learn even more than what I would teach them because I probably wouldn't think to teach them about some topics. I can't be in control of every piece of information they will learn.
How Can You Ask for Support as You Guide Your Child's Education?
“Asking for help isn’t as simple as saying, “I need help.”, but it requires us to tell those who are helping how they can help us.”
We have to know what our children need to advocate for them, and if we know what they need, we will feel more confident when it comes to asking for help. When my husband became a regular contributor to our homeschool, I did not tell him what to teach, but I did share some of the areas I knew we were placing little focus on with him. From that information, he came up with lessons for our girls—the lessons he has brought to the table match some of our daughters' needs. Asking for help isn't as simple as saying, "I need help.", but it requires us to tell those who are helping how they can help us. By giving your support some specific information, you open the door to actually receiving assistance for your child.
Are you homeschooling alone? How do you ask for help and find support as a homeschool parent?