A few posts back I talked about the differences between how children learn at home and at school. I described the two contexts for learning, one structured and formalized, the other unstructured and open. I suggested that the difference in context meant that home and school learning were different.
But there is another, more important reason why home and school learning are different- parents and teachers have different job descriptions!
A teacher’s job description is pretty well understood. Teachers are expected to help children learn what is specified in the school curriculum. Each school year they have a certain amount of knowledge to pack into the brains of the children in their class. It is always a rush to get through the curriculum before the end of the school year and it seems to get more and more difficult to as the curriculum gets bigger and bigger. But most teachers do a good job of presenting information and helping children do the work they need to before they move up a grade level.
A teacher’s job description is to teach the curriculum, as well and as efficiently as possible.
But what about parents? What is their job description in relation to helping children learn?
Let us look at what parents actually do to help children learn. My research showed that most parents help children learn by-
* helping with homework
* hiring tutors
* sending children to special educational programs
* buying workbooks
* enrolling children in after school classes
All these are good things to do, but are they part of the job description of being a parent? Yes, I suppose that they are but the problems arise when parents think that this is their only job description in relation to helping children learn.
A Parent’s job description is MUCH more than what I described above.
Why?
Because helping with homework etc. are extensions of the job description of a teacher. When parents dothese things they are supporting the work of the school rather than taking time to fulfill their own special job description.
What is a parent’s job description?
I am glad you asked! Your job is to set the scene for learning, to make sure your child is ready to benefit from schooling, to be the power behind the throne.
Think of your job description as -
* making sure your child gets enough sleep
* modeling the behaviors you want for your child
* sharing your skills and culture
* giving your child the self confidence that will enable him to handle life’s challenges
* making sure that you child is ready to step into a fabulous future
* giving your child the skills she needs to become a lifelong learner
* developing your child’s love of learning
* preparing them for a future that you cannot imagine, a future full of change and new ways of being
And that is just a start.
But don’t give up – it is easier than you think. Just be aware that helping with homework is not enough – your job description is much bigger than that.
Are you ready to do your job well?
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