Independent Learners

We are in our 8th year of homeschooling. In the past I have been the "pusher". I told the boys what they needed to do and when. I watched over their work to make sure they were progressing and finishing in a timely manner. This was necessary and worked great when they were younger. Three, four, five, and even six year olds need to be guided through their work. They don't have the ability to be self motivated and on task without help from an adult.

But now my boys are older and I have a little beauty who needs me to guide her. Aaron and I decided that the boys needed to take on more responsibility in their school work. I planschool over the weekend; making a chart for each day of the week. Next to each task on the chart there is an empty box to be checked when it is accomplished. I have always been the one to check off their work. But now it is their job.

I told them they could choose what they wanted to do and when they wanted to get it done. There are a couple of rules- reading needs to be saved for after lunch and the items in red ink are ones that they will need my help with (they come and find me when they are ready to do these tasks).

It has been about a week using this new system and I gotta say we all LOVE it! It gives me the freedom to spend time with Elliana working on her school work and reading to her. I can also get some housework done, bake, and do laundry at a more leisurely pace. The boys feel like they have some control over their world. I'm no longer a crabby teacher telling them to get their work done. They know what they have to do and they do it; if they don't they will continue to work until it is done (no wii or playtime with dad in the evening).

I am watching these boys take control of their learning and I am liking what I see. They decide when they do the not so fun subjects (math) and as a result I'm not the bad guy. I have also noticed that they spend more time doing the things that they naturally love (piano practice takes twice as long! Yippee!).

As mothers our job is to work ourselves out of a job. I want my kids to be able to learn something without needing anyone to hold their hand. We are one step closer to that goal :)