When we want to learn how to greatly improve, particularly if it is hard, we get a coach – think about tennis, basketball, or chess or ballet lessons. Coaches bring a useful, independent, third party perspective to the table. Coaches see things that we may not. Good coaches bring new knowledge, discipline, and technique, and they provide it in a constructive and welcome way. They listen to our concerns and gripes, and help us by providing a path to success. They have a well thought out process for us to follow.
Effective change requires the leadership provided by coaching. It is very hard to change by yourself — even when you are highly committed.
The Parent Coach
Let’s examine your three primary roles in the homeschooling environment. Each should support the other, to create the best learning experiences.
Parent
Roles – manages, leads, establishes structure, provides advice and feedback, focus on character, etc. (a very long list of things). This role is important as it establishes the structure and positive examples that support learning.
Teacher
Roles – prepares, controls the environment, conveys information, explains, stimulates thinking, asks great questions, checks understanding, sets learning goals, runs the sessions in a productive way, motivates, focus on input/understanding, measurement and testing (and many other tasks). This role is important because it transfers information, creates knowledge, and provides a positive environment for learning.
Coach
Roles – provides focus on the process of study, collaborates on and introduces the use of sound technique, monitors and measures study effectiveness, helps overcome the illusion of learning, leads the efforts toward the goal of creating a Lifelong Learner (and other tasks). This role is important because it guides the effectiveness and efficiency of individual study, helps create important lifelong habits and skills, and prepares children for the rigors of higher education and the world of work.
For studying and learning, what kind of coach does the parent need to be:
- You need to do the very same things.
- You, as the “Parent Coach,” fill an important gap in improving the process of learning for your children. Good classroom instruction is very important, of course, but smart student study techniques and habits are also vital.
- You can learn to be a very skillful coach. We have all the tools to help you do it well.
- Each of the modules in the Parent Coaching Accelerated Learning Course has a coaching component. We provide easy to use assessment tools, coaching tips, and discussion guides with behavioral learning points to make it easy.
- Learn from the very best practices of expert coaches. We have over 40 years of coaching experience to share with you.
Ad hoc or ineffective coaching carries a high price. Skillful coaching makes for good teaching. Do you have the proper balance between the three important roles?