Is it hard to teach your own children?

Question

Are there any HSing parents out there with teaching backgrounds that actually find it difficult to teach your own children? I am an elementary teacher, and just starting to HS my 6 year old. Why does it seem WAY harder than when I taught a class of 23 second graders?

Answer 1

It's way harder because your own child doesn't always see the difference between when Mommy wants to play and when Mommy wants to teach. The children in your class have always seen you as their teacher so they always treat you correctly.

Answer 2

Maybe it is the curriculum/methodology you are using when you teach your daughter.  If you are using the "school at home" approach to teach her, it may simply not be working.  Perhaps she is more of an auditory or kinesthetic learner and requires more oral instruction and hands on activities.

If you are using a particular curriculum, please don't hesitate to switch from it--especially if it is not working.  When I began homeschooling my son, he was a 6-year-old first grader and the first curriculum I tried just didn't work.  I have switched a couple of times since then; I'm definitely an eclectic homeschooler who uses a curriculum, but I always pull from/combine whatever works for my child.

I hope this is helpful.

Answer 3

My neighbor has the same problem. She thinks that it's because she is too hard and focused on what she would do if it was a class of 2nd graders and not more focused on "this is my child." She pushes her child and they fight because she thinks he daughter should be doing more and better. Neither one of them have enjoyed their homeschooling experience. She comes to my house and says "wow you are so relaxed and the kids are happy." I have taught reading to 1st graders in a public school environment but I hate the way schools teach. You are required to teach a certain way and if kids don't get it then oh well, they'll catch it somewhere along the way! Don't give up... remember to choose your battles. Also maybe the "way" you are homeschooling isn't working for you and your child.

I'm just assuming here, but you probably teach like you were teaching a classroom of 2nd graders. Google "types of homeschooling" see if maybe another type would work out best for you.

Answer 4

Probably because you're going about it the wrong way.

My cousin is a teacher. She said that most of what she learned in her training was crowd control, discipline; things that you need to manage a classroom, but not to teach one kid.

Loosen up. Things will get easier and your kid will learn more.

I left school at the end of third grade. We started out with a curriculum, assignments, being really traditional. Thing is, that made everything really boring. We'd go to a museum with our worksheets from the museum's website, and find that the questions were invariably pedantic and stupid. My mom and my sister would get in to huge fights over assignments.

Even on peaceful days, it just wasn't working. I went to my mom and told her I wanted to learn about mummies. By the time she made a lesson plan, scheduled in the museum trips, and so forth, I knew more about mummies and ancient Egypt than I ever would have with her lesson plan.

Stay consistent with math. That requires discipline, largely because mathematics teaches mental discipline. But beyond that, let him do some guiding. Okay, so, for history, you want to study the Romans. Instead of telling him to read pages 13-24, color the picture, and fill in the worksheet, try taking him to the library and telling him to pick a book off the shelf with the Roman stuff.

As he gets older, he can take more responsibility. Obviously six is too young, but I know many 12-year olds who are at least in charge of all their work. By the time he's a teenager, he should be able to work independently, and create and pursue educational goals independently. Start 'em young.

Answer 5

Home schooling is also a great way to teach your children, but some children like being around with their friends and play while they are learning, so it might seem harder...

I would suggest you to put her in a school while she can be with a ll her friends and "play learn".

Or if you really want to home school her, try using some educational games.....

I understand you...you might even think its hard because you are teaching the same student all the time and he/she has the same strenghts and weaknesses, while in a class you get a vareity of students that are complety different for each other..

Best luck to you!!

Answer 6

There is a tendency to get emotional on both parts.  You have expectations of your own child and may be disappointed when they are not met.  

I wouldn't even try to teach one on my kids to DRIVE anymore.  They are much more nervous, anxious to please, both interfering with the ability to learn.  They think they have to be perfect because Dad is there.  Then comes the frustration of not being able to rise to that level.

One of the benefits of teaching in groups, is the kids have the benefit of also learning from the other kids.  When a child answers the question in class, hears the teacher say,  "That is correct!"  YOUR child has had the reinforcement of hearing the correct answer AGAIN in another context, from yet another source.

There are also benefits to homeschooling.  So finding a way to incorporate the benefits while lessening the drawbacks is the goal.

Answer 7

Because it's easy to be objective about children that are not your own.  Most parents think their own children are smarter and more mature than they really are, more honest than they really are and much better behaved than they really are.  Also, parents usually cave to their children's manipulations and demands.  I don't often see a family where the children are not in control.

Answer 8

Im a homeschool mom. I have been homeschooling my son since K and he is now a 4th grader and I still find it difficult to get him to do certain things(like writing), but I wouldnt change it for anything. I love having the extra time with him that I normally wouldnt if he were in a school. And no he doesnt have problems socially. He is actually a polite well mannered kid. Something you dont see to often with todays kids.

Answer 9

Because you are emotionally attatched to your child. You will never be able to view your child with the detatchment required to provide him or her with pacing that maximizes their capabilites, and you will be depriving them of valuable social experience.

Home schooling is a bad idea. I've never met an adult who was homeschooled who did not either have some sever social handicap, or was the victim of extremely selective teachings.