Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post and I was compensated for my time to review and write about Teach: Creating Independently Responsible Learners by Dennis DiNoia. All opinions are always my own. Thank you to Dr. Dennis DiNoia for providing Teach, for giving me another tool for how to homeschool, and for sponsoring this post. For more information on sponsored posts, see my disclosure.
Is it possible? Almost ten years ago this was the looming question in my mind. Is it possible to work from home and homeschool my kids?
Are you asking yourself how to homeschool multiple grades, work from home, and still keep your sanity (most days). Then there is one tool you need in your mom bag: Teach by Dennis DiNoia.
How to Homeschool and Work from Home
Yes, this is your circus and these are your monkeys. Juggling kids and clients is a lot of work. It feels like I am always trying the find the elusive perfect balance every day. And then it slips through my fingers once again.
But if you want the freedom over your schedule, still contribute to the family budget, and be with your kids. Then figuring out to how to homeschool and work from home will give you the greatest flexibility.
I work so I can buy curriculum and be with my kids. You are probably asking, “Is it really possible to do both? How can you give your kids a good education without standing in front of them for 7 hours a day? Can kids really learn without being lectured to?”
You can still homeschool your kids without hovering over them all day. The key to teaching your kids well is to teach them to be independently responsible learners. Dennis DiNoia explains how to do this in his book Teach.
What is an Independently Responsible Learner
An independently responsible learner means that you are free, without outside control to do things on your own and trusted to do it the way it was meant to be done. Simply put, no one is telling you what to do, how to do it, or when to do.
Are you shocked? Or are you hearing the angels sing? Is there a glimmer of excitement starting to bubble up inside of you. Imagine what your day would look like if your kids didn’t ask you what to do next. Or needed the next subject explained to them or the next or the next. Think about the extra time you would have in your day, if your kids knew how to find the answer they seek. Instead of asking the mom dictionary.
Teach your kids to take ownership of their schoolwork, and they start to discover their own potential by finding solutions for themselves.
What are the Benefits
Once you get your kids to the place of being responsible for their own schoolwork, you can give them the schedule and let them run with it. You really can. And you are giving your kids the tools they need to be lifelong learners.
Last year, I hit a wall. I couldn’t take it any more. It felt like my second grader was asking every 5 minutes, “What’s next? What do I do?” I was frustrated and so was he.
On a whim, I handed him his schedule. I told him everything he needed to do was clearly written out, and he could follow it. It was one of those mom moments that actually worked, and it was exactly what he needed. He finally had more control over his schoolwork, and he loved it.
No, it did not eliminate all of his questions. He was only in second grade after all. But there were subjects he could do without assistance, and he knew who to ask for help on the ones that required it. He was completely responsible to get it done and ask for help when needed. Mom, I heard the angels singing.
How to do it
This is going to take time to develop. It won’t happen overnight, but you can start small. It is easier to ask the mom dictionary for the answer, then for your kids to find the solution for themselves. There is always a learning curve when you start something new.
Grab your copy of Teach to get your step-by-step guide on how to create independently responsible learners. Here are just three highlights from the book.
1. Teach them to find the solution
You will be tempted to take over. It is easier for us to just answer their questions or tell them how to find the solution. We are quicker, have the skills, and know what to do. This is the place you start to teach your kids to find the solution for themselves.
Not too long ago, I was stressing out over chemistry. Not mine, but my son’s. I know, I am out of high school, but back to stressing over chemistry. My frustration came from not being able to help him. I can’t remember anything from my high school chemistry, and to be honest, I really don’t want to learn it all over again.
My husband told me it was ok. The best thing we can do for our kids is to teach them how to find the solution. We need to point them in the right direction, and let them figure it out.
This is how you Teach: Creating Independently Responsible Learners.
2. Learn to ask the right questions
Teaching your kids to be independent learners doesn’t mean they never ask for help. Learning always requires searching for the right help. The first step is teaching them to find the right solution. Then Teach them to ask the right questions.
Yes, mom, there are stupid questions. Getting kids to look for the solution first will inform their questions. They will have eliminated all the surface level questions and actually come with well thought-out, developed questions.
A good question is thought out, it comes from a place of genuine curiosity, and with the intention of learning something new or building on previous knowledge.
3. Trusted to do what is right
As you Teach your kids to be independently responsible learners, you are also teaching them how to be trusted to do what is right, expected, and required. They are practicing the skills needed for future jobs, relationships, and life.
Conclusion: How to Homeschool Independently Responsible Learners
Mom, if you are ready to take the pressure off your day. Make your kids responsible for their schoolwork, and turn them into life-long learners. Then grab your copy of
Teach: Creating Independently Responsible Learners.
This post only touched on a few highlights. Grab your copy of Teach: Creating Independently Responsible Learners to dive deeper into this topic. Learn: learning from mistakes, the student is the teacher, prepare for life beyond the classroom, and so much more!
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