Balancing The Teacher And Parent Role In Homeschooling - 10 Tips
Do you need help balancing the two roles - teacher vs. parent?
Struggling to find a balance is one of the top struggles we hear from our homeschooling parents, and it is entirely understandable. After all, you don't have a post-secondary education to be a teacher. And you likely haven't been a classroom teacher either. You're just a parent trying to do your best to give your child a good education and home life.
So, how can you better balance the teacher and parent role for your kids?
In this blog post, I will share my top tips with you!
My Thoughts On Balancing Both The Parent and Teacher Roles
As a former principal who strongly believes in homeschooling children, it is the best of both worlds. But I also understand why it can be challenging.
Some parents I have spoken to feel like they need to separate the two roles. Other parents have identified as solely being one or the other while others say the roles have just blended together.
There isn't necessarily a right or wrong way to balance the two roles. It all comes down to what works best for you and your kids.
So, instead of worrying about finding balance, I encourage parents to consider the benefits of homeschooling their children.
The Benefits Of Homeschooling Your Children
Homeschooling your children has numerous advantages. Here are some examples.
Having a parent teach their child with flexibility and patience allows children to explore, create, and get the necessary educational training.
You can draw on teachable moments that would only sometimes happen in a traditional classroom setting.
You can teach them essential life skills such as budgeting, goal setting, decision-making, problem-solving, and critical thinking.
These are just a few of the amazing benefits homeschooling your children offers! And you don't need to compromise on being an effective parent or teacher to take advantage of them.
When you approach your homeschooling by focusing on the benefits, you will find a natural balance between being a parent and a teacher.
With that said, here are some tips you can implement to help you focus on those benefits and find the balance that works for you and your child.
Tips For Balancing The Two Roles As A Homes
Tip #1 - Establish A Schedule or Routine
One of my first recommendations to parents is to set up a consistent homeschooling schedule or daily routine for each school day.
Not only will this help you stay on track with your homeschooling, provide structure to your day, and set realistic expectations, it will also help you divide up tasks like teaching lessons, doing activities, etc.
When creating your daily schedules, you don't need to plan down to the last minute if you don't want to. Instead, block out sections of the day so you and your child knows what to expect.
Tip #2 - Let Your Child Guide The Learning Process
One of the main benefits of homeschooling is that you can create a learning environment tailored to each child, which students do not get in a traditional school setting.
For example, let's say your lesson plan for the day is to talk about dinosaurs. If you have younger children, ask them, "Do you want to learn what dinosaurs ate or where they lived." For older children, the question might be, “Do you want to explore the Triassic, Jurassic, or Cretaceous periods?”
This way, they still learn about dinosaurs, which is the topic you need to cover, but you have empowered them by giving them a choice.
Even though you want to give your child choices like in the example above, it’s crucial that you still guide them down a learning path. You can't let them take complete and total control of their learning because children have a small bubble that encapsulates their world. We are responsible for helping them expand that bubble as they gain more knowledge.
Tip #3 - Create Situations Where Your Child Can Think Critically And Analytically
As I mentioned earlier, homeschooling offers the opportunity to make learning hands-on and help your child think critically and analytically.
You can do this by planning project-based learning or inquiry-based activities. For example, if you are talking about the environment, you can ask your child to create a model of how they think things should look to save it.
These activities will serve them well throughout their academic careers and beyond.
Tip #4 - Create an Environment That Encourages Learning
It's essential to make sure your home is an environment that encourages learning. This means having books, toys, and supplies related to the topics you are discussing and providing ample quiet space for reading and study time.
Creating a separate learning space can also be beneficial if you have room in your home. This way, your child knows it is time to focus on their schoolwork, and they can leave all the other distractions behind.
Having a separate area will also help you as a homeschooling parent. It will allow you to transition from parent to teacher mode more efficiently, helping you balance the two roles.
Tip #5 - Give Your Child Time Alone
Many homeschool parents I have worked with over the years make the mistake of thinking that they need to be involved in every aspect of their child's learning. But this isn't true.
It's imperative to give your child time alone. During this time, they can:
do independent work;
think on their own;
process new information;
develop creative problem-solving skills;
explore their own interests and ideas;
and enjoy quiet time.
Giving your child this time also gives you free time for lesson planning, exercise, doing your work, etc.
Homeschooling can be hard work and requires a lot of energy from you. So make sure you take time for yourself each day to stay refreshed and energized for teaching.
Tip #6 - Don't Overbook Social Meetups
While your child needs social connections, you should be careful not to overcommit to too many social meetups or groups. Overbooking can leave you and your child exhausted, as well as make it more difficult to plan and schedule your time.
Instead, I recommend picking a group that matches your schedule and has like-minded families. This way, you can all come together for a fun and educational time without stressing yourselves out.
Tip #7 - Don't Spend All Day In The Books
Parents, listen up! You don't need to spend all day in the books to give your child a good education. More can be accomplished outside the books than you might realize.
I say this because many homeschooling parents are worried that if they don’t spend enough time in the books, their kids won’t get the education they need.
In reality, there are so many different ways you can teach your child. For example, you could go on field trips, watch documentaries together, or attend workshops and seminars related to their studies. As I mentioned above, you could also set up some hands-on activities for them to do on their own.
If this is something you want help with, HELLO Homeschool is a program that combines one hour of online instruction with an in-person class and hands-on activity, furthering the online concept they just learned. They can help you start a program in your town - and bonus; they have scholarships!
Tip #8 - Have Your Children Help Around The House
One thing that is difficult to teach in a traditional school setting is responsibility and general life skills. Homeschooling parents have the opportunity to lead this in a more meaningful way by having their children help out around the house.
And if you are one of those parents who feel guilty doing this, remove that guilt. Remember, you are teaching them valuable skills that will help them immeasurably when they grow up.
Some ways your kids can help around the house include:
Laundry
Cooking
Repairs (small ones)
Sewing - especially buttons, etc.,
Budgeting
Involving them this way empowers them to contribute and take part in family meetings or discussions when it matters. It will also free up more time for you to spend quality family time together, like doing more family activities.
Teaching your kids to do these things will take some time to teach initially, but it will save you a lot of time in the long run.
Tip #9 - Play Games With Your Kids
Playing games with your kids isn't just about having fun together. In fact, playing games is known for helping with hand-eye coordination, improving gross motor skills, and developing fine motor skills.
Furthermore, learning how to follow the rules is an invaluable life lesson. The world provides us with an incredible amount of unique situations in which we have to know the "rules" and expectations of the environment.
It is a good idea to play a varied range of games with your children so that they can learn how to make decisions and adapt to different rules.
Tip #10 - Get Outside Help When You Need It
Sometimes, you might need to bring in a third party, which is okay! This doesn't mean you are failing or doing a lousy job as a homeschool parent.
Another teacher might have a different way of saying it that helps your child better understand. Your child might also be having a tough time with a specific topic, such as solving math problems or reading, that another teacher may be able to help them with.
At the end of the day, you should do what you need to do to help your child reach their fullest potential, even if that means setting ourselves (and our pride) aside sometimes.
Luckily for homeschooling parents, many online resources and teachers are available to help. One that will adjust the learning to the needs of your family is Infinite Learning Academy where you can get one-on-one tutoring.
Tips For A Working Parent
Finding the balance between homeschooling and running a household can be even more challenging if you are also a working parent, full-time or part-time.
The key is to plan and create routines that work for you and your family. For example, if you can come home from work earlier in the day, plan out upcoming lessons or have discussions with your child during those evenings. Also, if you can take a few hours off, use that time to do activities with your children or take them to educational events.
You can also utilize the help of other family members, such as grandparents or older siblings, who could come by and assist in teaching lessons or helping children with their assignments.
Finally, you can utilize homeschool materials or a homeschool curriculum that requires very little supervision, such as online homeschooling programs or worksheets. One that can help you is Infinite Learning Academy.
Remember, there is no one-size-fits-all for homeschooling, so finding a balance between being your child’s teacher and parent will also come down to what works best for you and your family.
You’ll also find that things will change and evolve as your kids grow older and as you become more experienced homeschooling. Be open to trial and error, and eventually, you will find a balance that works well for you.
