With the rise of the coronavirus pandemic, more and more parents are turning to homeschooling as a viable education alternative. Homeschooling involves teaching children at home in a tailored and self-directed way. Since this creates a different learning experience than public or private education, it’s important for parents to monitor their children’s progress to ensure that they are learning enough.
Herein, we explore 15 questions parents can use to assess possible learning gaps and inadequacies.
1. Is My Child keeping Up?
One of the surest ways to know if your child is learning enough through homeschooling is to determine whether or not he/she is keeping up with prescribed lessons. This can be determined by comparing your child’s performance with the required grade level curriculum. If you find that your child is not able to complete lessons quickly and accurately, he/she may not be learning enough.
2. Does My Child Appear Disinterested?
Another tell-tell sign that a child may not be engaging in the learning process enough is if he/she appears disinterested in the material. Much like in a traditional school setting, children who are not participating in learning activities and who continually struggle to focus may be exhibiting signs that they are not learning enough.
3. Are My Child’s Scores Improving?
Given proper effort, children should experience measurable improvements in their performance over time. Thus, parents should be tracking their child’s scores over the course of the academic year.
If your child’s results remain relatively stagnant, this may indicate a learning gap.
4. Is My Child Making Time for Fun Activities?
There is a balance between learning and having fun, and it’s important for children to strike this balance when homeschooling. Excessive work, and no play, can lead to burnout and a negative mindset towards learning.
If your child is not making time for fun and leisurely activities, it may be a sign that he/she is not learning enough.
5. Does My Child Exhibit Signs of Frustration or Struggle?
If your child struggles to finish assignments and/or expresses feelings of frustration or defeat when attempting an activity, this is a sign that he/she may not be learning enough. It may be the case that the material is too difficult for him/her, or that he/she is not being properly supported in their learning.
6. Is My Child Prepared for Tests?
In assessing a child’s learning capabilities, testing can play an important role. Parents should provide their children with periodic assessments to measure their mastery of concepts.
If it appears that your child is not adequately prepared for tests, they may not be learning enough.
7. Does My Child Misunderstand Concepts?
Another important consideration is whether or not your child is accurately grasping the various concepts in their lessons. If basic concepts are repeatedly misunderstood, this may indicate that your child is not learning enough.
8. Are My Child’s Questions Answered Timely and Accurately?
A key aspect of homeschooling is ensuring that your child’s questions are answered promptly and accurately. This is especially true for questions related to the academic material being covered.
If questions continually go unanswered or are answered incorrectly this may indicate a lack of understanding and possible inadequate learning.
9. Is My Child Handling Stress Well?
Homeschooling can be stressful and demanding, particularly if children are experiencing difficulties in core subject areas. If your child becomes easily overwhelmed or frustrated for extended periods of time, this may be an indication that he/she is not learning enough.
10. Is My Child keeping Up with Pace?
If your child appears to be falling behind his/her peers, or is having difficulty keeping up with the prescribed pace at which material is to be learned, this may be a sign of inadequate learning. It’s important to ensure that children maintain an appropriate pace to ensure that they aren’t playing catch up or sacrificing other important areas of growth.
11. Is My Child Utilizing the Resources Available?
Due to the very nature of homeschooling, parents may not have all of the knowledge, tools, and resources available to them as they would in a traditional school setting. Thus, it is important to ensure that your child is taking advantage of the resources at their disposal. If this is not the case, this may indicate that he/she is not learning enough.
12. Is My Child Recording Progress and Achievements?
Maintaining a record of your child’s progress and achievements is an excellent way of demonstrating learning and providing evidence that your child is learning enough. Through records, and other types of documentation, parents will be able to track their child’s progress over time and make any necessary changes for improvement.
13. Is My Child Engaging in Critical Thinking?
Critical thinking and problem-solving skills are essential skills for success in learning and in life. When observing your child, listen to their conversations and take note of the questions they are asking. If they are providing thoughtful insight or offering up possible solutions to problems, this may indicate that your child is learning enough.
14. Are My Child’s Strengths Being Maximized?
An important part of homeschooling is capitalizing on your child’s strengths and tailoring the learning experience accordingly. Thus, parents should pay special attention to how the material being presented to the child and how the child is responding to it.
If it appears as if your child’s strengths are being downplayed, this may indicate that he/she is not learning enough.
15. Does My Child Express Pride and Enjoyment?
When completing lessons, projects, or any other associated activities, does your child express a high level of pride and enjoyment? If so, this is a reliable indicator that your child is learning enough. On the other hand, if your child expresses feelings of apathy, dissatisfaction, or anxiousness, this may indicate a learning gap.
Conclusion: Homeschooling can be a challenging experience for both parents and children alike. However, by paying attention to these 15 questions, parents will be better equipped to assess their child’s progress and determine whether or not they are learning enough.
Through these inquiries, parents can make the necessary modifications to ensure that their child’s homeschooling experience is as fulfilling, enjoyable, and effective as possible.