Within homeschooling, it can be difficult to motivate some students. I was recently talking with a friend who left a certain program because the work was never graded or even thoroughly checked by the 'teacher'.
I've seen my children as well as friends' children powerfully motivated by the natural peer pressure that occurs in a classroom setting. A relationship with a teacher other than mom can also work wonders for some kids.
Do I sound anti-homeschooling? I am not. I am, however, glad to raise awareness that we as educating parents need to be open to what is going to help our students strive their hardest. Sure we may have started homeschooling with a vision of literally teaching every subject around a table to each of our beloved, obedient children with a backdrop of cleanliness, order and well-rounded, home cooked meals, but as children and mom age, a different formula is often needed.
Grades are important in high school in particular because they are part of the system or real life and college. We will succeed and fail at many things in life, and an honest assessment helps us be realistic about our abilities and the effort required to pass or excel. I don't know many adults who are motivated by merely doing a good job day in and day out. Most full-time homemakers and moms need some serious verbal praise and appreciation; and working Dads want to see money for their hard work. Why should we, or any program, expect students to be motivated by doing work that doesn't really reward their hard effort? It might work for some kids, but keeping an eye out for those it doesn't help may mean the difference between a difficult school journey and a pleasant one.
~Ann
I've seen my children as well as friends' children powerfully motivated by the natural peer pressure that occurs in a classroom setting. A relationship with a teacher other than mom can also work wonders for some kids.
Do I sound anti-homeschooling? I am not. I am, however, glad to raise awareness that we as educating parents need to be open to what is going to help our students strive their hardest. Sure we may have started homeschooling with a vision of literally teaching every subject around a table to each of our beloved, obedient children with a backdrop of cleanliness, order and well-rounded, home cooked meals, but as children and mom age, a different formula is often needed.
Grades are important in high school in particular because they are part of the system or real life and college. We will succeed and fail at many things in life, and an honest assessment helps us be realistic about our abilities and the effort required to pass or excel. I don't know many adults who are motivated by merely doing a good job day in and day out. Most full-time homemakers and moms need some serious verbal praise and appreciation; and working Dads want to see money for their hard work. Why should we, or any program, expect students to be motivated by doing work that doesn't really reward their hard effort? It might work for some kids, but keeping an eye out for those it doesn't help may mean the difference between a difficult school journey and a pleasant one.
~Ann
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