There has been much debate over whether or not there is a place for Generational Training in homeschooling. Some parents feel strongly that they can teach their children better skills by being introduced to more structured learning methods, and others believe that it is not the right way to teach children. This article will explore the Generational Training debate and suggest what I think the best approach is for homeschooling.
I believe that we should teach adults how to be effective learners. That means teaching adults how to take action, and following instructions. While it might be possible to introduce children to some traditional learning methods at an early age, the emphasis needs to be on effective and structured learning from an adult perspective. Adults are rarely taught to use their imagination when they are young, and are usually made to repeat activities they have been taught without asking for help, and in the process they lose their ability to think critically. By introducing realistic, workable skills to them as adults, they can develop a capacity for critical thinking and problem solving that they would not otherwise have while being trained as a child.
I believe that homeschooling should be more about developing mentally mature young people who are ready for the challenges of college and career. An approach to homeschool training that relies too heavily on a child's ability to learn from repetition is not a preparation that will prepare them for the real world. Rather than trying to mold their minds in this manner, the home school parent should focus on allowing them to learn naturally. The result is a child who is ready to enter the working world, but does not yet have the mental tools to back it up.
It is my belief that the best approach to educating a young person is to do so from an adult perspective. In fact, I believe that the two best books on homeschooling are The Homeschool Success Code by Amy Bass and Save Our Children: Fourteen Tips to Creating an Adult Learning Environment by Lisa Nichols. These books take a parent's role far beyond just teaching a child how to read and write. Rather, these books help a parent to embrace the role of being a teacher and mentor at the same time. As a result, the parent and child develop a deep and lasting relationship that lasts beyond the training. At the same time, these two essential, adult skills form the foundation for many of the adult academic requirements that a child will need to pass if they want to pursue higher education.
When setting up your home school program, it is important that you make sure that your program fits the needs of your student. For instance, it would be inappropriate for a high school student to be training to be an entry-level nurse. Rather, a home school program for a junior high student would be more appropriate.
In most cases, the adult training that occurs after high school usually takes place online. There are a number of very good online home schooling programs available today. You simply need to spend some time searching for them online. However, it is not enough to look for a program only online. One of the biggest mistakes that parents make is to assume that because their student is now an adult, they no longer have to do work outside of the home. That is simply not the case.
As adults, students still need to have practical work experience in order to prove themselves. It is not enough for them to merely have a diploma. They also need to have demonstrable work experience. As a result, they should always be on the job or have access to a supervisor or manager whenever possible. If they are not able to do so, they should ask to be placed on their student's honor roll. Honors such as this are often given to those students who are the most successful in gaining work experience.
Finally, the most effective way to have effective training for your home school program is to have the adult training and mentoring occur simultaneously. You want to ensure that the adult training and mentoring that occur help to prepare and mold your child into a responsible and competent worker. When you have the right people in place, you can ensure that your student can rise to any challenge that he or she may encounter. That is how you make sure your home school program is successful. Choose wisely!