Freedom within structure in our homeschool?
Is that possible? if so, how can we plan in such a way to allow both freedom and structure to co-exist? Actually, should we even bother to try? Aren’t they like oil and water?
Freedom in Homeschooling
If you have been homeschooling for a while, you know and enjoy the freedom it gives us. We get to decide stuff like:
- when to start school: 8am? 10am? 2pm?
- what to do for school: Nature walk? Deskwork? Go on a learning journey at the Science Centre? Memorise poems?
- where we want to do school: Park? Poolside? Bed?
Responsible Freedom
But there is a flip side to freedom. We can easily end up doing too much of only what we prefer and not complete the work that is necessary. And with those of us who have children due to take milestone exams like PSLE, O, A-Levels or SAT tests, our children can end up unprepared.
With freedom comes responsibilities.
Since we are responsible for our children’s education, we need to be mindful that we can easily abuse the freedom we have and it is possible, in extreme cases, to do our children a disservice at the end of our homeschool journey. We most certainly don’t want that.
Structure Reduces Tension
Contrary to popular belief, structure is not a bad word.
Structure provides boundaries allowing teacher and student or in our case, parent and child to flourish in a safe environment. With healthy structures in place and clearly communicated, both know what is expected and this reduces miscommunication and unmet expectations. It reduces tension in the homeschool and in the relationship between parent and child.
Freedom Empowers
But in an unhealthy rigidly structured homeschool, creativity and even self-confidence can be stymied.
Therefore, we need to have freedom and spontaneity in our homeschool because the freedom to explore is necessary to build self-confidence. This is something those of us who naturally lean towards structure need to guard against.
If we do not allow our children to explore they won’t know what they are interested in or are capable of or not. We also need to empower our children, to let them have control over some portion of their homeschool journey because homeschooling is after all, for them, not us.
Is Freedom Within Structure Possible?
So, can the two co-exist? Of course, I believe it can hence this post, right?
What does Freedom Within Structure Look Like?
This is what it looks like in our home.
Before our homeschool year begins (in November), I set up a broad homeschool plan (my structure) with lots of wiggle room for both my children and me.
Structure:
The plan is based on the work that I want them to complete – number of pages to complete/read – for the day. This is especially critical in the milestone years, Primary 4, PSLE…
Freedom:
They get the power to choose when and where they do their work. They get to choose what they want to work on. They get to choose how they want to spend their free time, as long as it is within reasonable limits.
The amount of freedom given increases bit by bit as the children mature and show that they are responsible and trustworthy. By the time they hit the High School Years, they are in-charge of their own homeschool schedule.
Where Do We Start?
If you want to try planning your homeschool with this crazy idea of freedom within structure, you may be wondering – just where do I start from?
Start with Your Homeschool Plan
Yes, you need to have at least a basic plan of what you want to cover in your homeschool. Remember the saying, “If you aim at nothing, you will hit it all the time?” You don’t want to have discovered that you have done nothing at the end of the school year right? Even if you are an unschooler, you still have goals for your child and yourself.
I have a dedicated post on Homeschool Planning if you need more details.
a) For Primary and Secondary Levels
Take your homeschool plan and break it into smaller chunks to fit into your school year, taking into account school term breaks and public holidays. This forces you to face up to the reality of time (and your energy levels). Are you able to fit what you want to achieve in a year, realistically?
Once this grand plan, all broken down into smaller chunks is set up, write it or type it out and let them run with it, how they will.
If you have chosen a curriculum that requires your involvement then your structure will have to take into account your commitments outside of homeschooling.
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b) For Pre-schoolers
You also need a grand homeschool plan but it will be very flexible. At this stage, their ability to grasp concepts and ideas come in spurts and starts. One day, they are polishing off worksheets and reading books like a champ and other days? A simple addition sum can cause a volcanic meltdown that makes you want to run away.
Small and steady is what I recommend for this stage. And definitely more freedom (90%?) than structure (10%) in this season.
Structure at this stage is as simple as fixing a time when you “do school” ie “formal school” – seatwork, learning phonics, etc… We used to “do school” immediately after breakfast. It is just for 15-20 minutes and then we are done. All other teaching is incidental.
A word of caution. This is the age where you want to build good study habits. Remember that it is always easier to start right than to correct midstream when certain habits have become ingrained.
For the Non-Planners
if you are not used to structure but want to start implementing it, do not go all out and structure everything, every day. You are setting yourself up for disappointment and possible anger – with yourself and at your children.
Instead, start small. Pick perhaps just 2 hours in the morning. Or even less if your children are really young. Structure just that part of the day.
Then as you stick to that, increase it slowly to maybe another one hour in the afternoon. And if that is sufficient, stop.
You don’t need to structure the whole day. Once your goal is met – ie work has been done, then you are done. You have achieved success!
Tweaks Allowed
By the way, feel free to tweak the structure of your homeschool as you see fit. Our homeschool structure and plans are never carved in stone.
What works in this season may not work in the next. We are free to adapt to the changing needs of the family and that is the beauty of homeschooling. Having this freedom to adapt and go as the seasons or changes hit us.
Give It a Chance
BUT, as with all habits, you need to stick to it for a period of time before tweaking it. Give yourself a week or even a month before you tweak anything. Give your new plan a chance to succeed.
Some things do not seem to work only because we are doing something new. You have to give everyone time to adjust before tweaking it.
Are We Frustrating or Provoking?
As you read this post, you may be wondering if I am creating more work for myself in insisting on creating freedom within structure.
To this, I would like to raise two questions: are we frustrating or provoking our children in our homeschool?
No Structure, All Freedom
A child who loves structure is frustrated and feels insecure when he does not know what the day holds. He feels that he has no control over his life and this is one big reason why he has meltdowns and feels the need to test boundaries all the time.
All Structure, No Freedom
On the other hand, we could also provoke our children when we provide too much structure, ie we tell them what to do ALL THE TIME.
Micromanaging is bad for everyone. A child may choose to rebel not because he doesn’t want to do the work but just because he hates being told what to do. (Yes, you will have to deal with his rebellious spirit but let us not be the cause of provocation.)
If your children are old enough and especially if you have been homeschooling them for a while, talk to them to let them have some input on the structure you are wanting to implement. Hear their heart.
Structure is Our Friend
Structure in our homeschool is our friend, not our enemy. It provides a guide. And having a guide is important so we do not veer off without even realizing that we have veered off. It allows us to check-in and assess if we are on the right track if we need to change track or just press on.
Teaching a Life Skill
Also, our children need to learn to work with structure and the earlier we teach this to them the better it is for them.
Whether they enter school or not, they will eventually be part of the economy. Whether they are the employer or employee, they will have to work with deadlines and structure because that is how the rest of the world works. Let us not do them a disservice by not equipping them with this life skill.
Related Posts
Homeschool Planning
Raising Independent Learners
Our Homeschool Schedule
Homeschool Resource
Need more help for homeschool planning? Check out Pam Barnhill’s Plan Your Year* here.
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