The ability and desire to learn is one of the best takeaways for the homeschool student embarking on adult life. With an independent learning mindset, a young adult is well prepared to take on many of life’s challenges. Here’s how to raise independent learners in three stages.
Independent Learner Defined
We often hear the terms self-directed learning, independent learning, independent study, and many different iterations for scenarios from traditional public school to unschooling families. The sheer volume of definitions, research, and opinion out there on this grouping of topics is overwhelming.
So, for the purposes of this post, we’ll go with MY definition of independent learners:
Independent learner: An individual of any age who is able to attain knowledge and proficiency in areas as needed and/or desired. One who will pursue learning in the absence of supervision and seek out assistance as needed to achieve their end goal.
By that definition, don’t you think an independent learner will be one well equipped to take on the challenges of working for someone else or running their own business and parenting?
Your Definition
You can adapt this definition however you want. I imagine that all of us have an end goal of growing our children into happy, functioning adults. Think about how independent learning fits into that very broad goal for your family.
The Progression
I’ve broken the process up into three stages. You might be tempted to think of them in terms of elementary, middle, and high school years. Instead, I encourage you to view this as a continuum. Remember, with homeschooling, your children get to grow at the rate that’s best for them.
As parent and educator, you are facilitating these stages. Talk over goals with students so they know what you hope for them. Give them a voice in how to achieve the skills necessary to become independent learners.
Early Skills
When your children are young, they do need a lot of structure and guidance. But there’s still room to encourage independent learning. This opportunity most clearly emerges when they take a profound interest in one topic – maybe it’s dogs or dinosaurs, skateboarding or Legos. These are perfect opportunities to let them be the expert. Let them lead the way. You are there as support staff. (Think of it as going for the Best Supporting Actor Award.)
Here are more skills you can encourage:
- The ability to tell you when they don’t understand something (and to know it’s okay).
- The knowledge that some concepts take more work to learn but virtually everything is ‘learnable’.
- An internal sense of accomplishment with achieving goals. (Not always dependent on others for praise.)
Intermediate Skills
Although the time frame is flexible, most children will be working on these intermediate skills from late elementary through early high school. I think this is a very tough time for our children. So much is changing. They’re not ‘little’ anymore but they’re not quite old enough for traditionally more independent young adult skills like driving.
During this in-between time, your job is to help them navigate. Sometimes this means taking a step backward. Just keep your end goal in mind and encourage these skills when you can:
- A growing sense of responsibility for their schedule and assigned work.
- Early exploration into different ways to solve a problem on their own.
- The ability to continue to ask for help as needed.
- An individual sense of worth and accomplishment.
Advanced Skills (Teens)
As you emerge from those middle years, you’ll want to continue to encourage your child. You might consider that you’ve been demoted from the Best Supporting Actor of their early years to roadie. I’m not downplaying your role. I’m just saying you’re very much off the stage at this point. You want your child to:
- Be independent with looking at their workload and schedule and complete tasks on time.
- Continue to ask for help as needed. Learn to ask a variety of others (peers, professors, other adults, etc) for information as needed.
- Have a growing sense of confidence in themselves. I like to think of this as a quiet confidence, one that’s mature, not boastful.
Will they do all this perfectly? Of course not. But this is the skill set you aim for when you raise children to be independent learners in three stages.
Long Term
I truly believe in helping our children become independent learners. As independent learners, they can do just about anything they need or want to do, whether it’s big or small…
Yes, your 19-year-old may tell you he doesn’t know how to wash lettuce (true story from last night). Sigh. At least he knew he could learn how.
P.S. Read “The Best Gift for a Child” to get started with raising independent learners.