As your kids grow up, it will soon be time to shift to independent learning in your homeschool. Don’t worry! If you’re following along with our homeschool tips, you laid a foundation for your child to begin learning independently.
Discover Learning Strategies As Your Homeschooled Child
Shifts to Independent Learning
As mentioned in earlier articles, it is imperative for you to develop strong character qualities and a love of learning. Both of these qualities are important for homeschooled students and future leaders. Without the character to stand against the tide and the ability to keep learning when circumstances look bleak, your children will not become leaders.
As your children grow and mature, they must gain the tools and learning strategies to study independently. During this time period your child will shift their learning with your guidance to independence. Be sure to have plenty of homeschool resources so the shift to independent learning is easy.
How To Homeschool Teaching Tip #3
BEGIN SHIFTING TO
INDEPENDENT LEARNING
When you see your child working more independently, the best learning strategies will include projects that he can complete on his own. Please don’t dictate to him the project he should complete. This just develops a future follower. Let your child make decisions for his own learning. These are baby-steps in making decisions & becoming a leader.
You are the expert on your child and I’m sure you know subject areas that interest him. Sit down with him and discuss a project based on that area of interest.
For instance, your child loves animals. Take some time to talk about an animal or group of animals that he can study. Go to the library and find books on the chosen animal. Encourage your child to read and write about the animal.
Be sure you allocate a specific amount of time each day for studies, possibly an hour or two. Each day discuss your child’s finding.
Independent Learning with Projects
Let your child choose a project related to those studies – painting, drawing, writing a play, writing a report, building a model, writing a poem, or whatever interests your child. Gather homeschool resources that your child can use in these projects.
Independent Learning with Presentations
As your child is able to continue studying independently, let him shift to the next level of leadership education. If he becomes overwhelmed, let him move back to the love of learning strategies where he can receive more instruction from you.
It’s quite normal for kids in this stage of “shifting to independence” to move back & forth between needing your guidance and working on their own. Give them the freedom to need your help or work by themselves. That’s the point of a transition stage.
If you want more ideas on shifting to independence, I recommend Raising Leaders, Not Followers which ends the book helping you decide if your student is ready for independent learning.
Or, look at Teach Your Children “How to Think” with Mentoring with the best ways your kids can begin independent learning. You’ll discover how to use the process of “Read – Write – Discuss” to encourage critical & Biblical thinking.
Tomorrow I’ll share more ideas the Beck family used as their kids studied independently. Talk soon!
Question: How do you foster independence in your children as you homeschool? You can leave a comment by clicking here.
Did you miss a teaching tip? Click below to read the other tips!
5 Days of How to Homeschool:
- Teaching Tip 1: Character is Necessary
- Character Development for Kids
- Teaching Tip 2: Love of Learning
- Teaching Tip 3: Shifting to Independent Learning
One Comment
This is great information. I’m not a mom, but a certified teacher, and grad student in library school. I help kids with their homework sometimes in an after school “homework help” program the library sponsors, and it is scary what the schools are calling an education these days.