What to Teach?

As homeschoolers I think a lot of us worry we won’t teach our kids enough of what they need to learn. Especially, when we think of the high school years. Every time you feel that worry rising inside of you I want you to reflect on what you remember from your own school experience (assuming you went to school). The thing is every adult I say this to admits to remembering absolutely nothing from school.  Their memories are always centered on their feelings and social interactions but never on what they learned academically.

That should be comforting to us homeschooling parents because the reality is after 13 years of traditional schooling, a few years after leaving all but the basics are forgotten.

Yes, in all fairness, there are people who retained a little more, but it is most likely because they use it at work.  We keep what we need and we forget the rest.  So, I want you to stop worrying about teaching your child everything and think about what will serve your child best in the future.  If schools spent the bulk of students’ time helping them to develop what they really need kids would leave with a much more useful education.  It seems like a tremendous waste of time to spend more than 17, 000 hours learning and then forgetting essentially all of it.

So, how do we know what will really serve our kids?

Well, that’s why you are their best teacher- you know your children better than anyone else!  Focus on their strengths and put your time and resources behind it.  Of course, all children need to graduate literate in both reading and mathematics.  Literacy happens by the third grade.  If your child needs more time to get there- give it to them! This is not a race who cares if they are not fluent by 8 years old they have ten more years before graduation. 

Use the rest of the time to help them flourish

Try things, experiment, find their passions.  If those passions peter out, find new ones.  Let them keep exploring and the academics will follow.  As your child finds things that light them up they will expand on their literacy, mathematical, science, and social studies knowledge because undoubtedly at least a few of those will tie in with what they are doing.

Try not to force things

When we have patience to let our child unfold and follow their dreams we serve them best.  Every time you worry your child is not doing enough reflect on what you remember from school and comfort yourself with that realization!

If you could use some more homeschooling guidance check out my course Homeschooling With Confidence.