Teaching

When the term, “teacher,” comes to my mind, suddenly, a mental image of an adult dispersing information immediately flashes before me.  Based on my own and most recent instructional experiences, I visualize an individual who is generally speaking while strolling throughout a room filled with students engaged in group activity. He or she may be seated, positioned at the front of the room at a PowerPoint in a lecture hall or facilitating a small group discussion. Within one-to-one teaching settings, the teacher directs, challenges and corrects. Traditional definitions of this term continue to emerge.  The teaching process most often assumes an offense stance. One who teaches is expected to instruct, educate, impart knowledge and facilitate learning.

In the traditional, public, Christian and private educational sectors, major stakeholders—parents, students and teachers, strive to define the paradigms and parameters of instruction.  A family’s choice to opt Homeschool as the means in which they choose to educate their children may eliminate the factor of miscommunication and false perceptions that often lead to disconnect between home and school.  Nonetheless, there are sometimes unanswered questions related to approach, preparedness and skill.

As parents, why are our roles vital in guiding and teaching of our children?  What insight can we offer as a parent-teacher that is vital to the healthy and targeted instruction of our children?

Whether in the home or support to an alternative educational program, teaching remains one among several duties that the Word of God outlines as a parental responsibility. It is the parent who leads with support and encouragement that they might help children to better understand their individual gifting and life’s purpose. Information obtained through prayer and observation becomes imperative to the learning process. The what, how, how much and to what extent become standard questions. As we lead, it is important that we seek God’s answer to the paths our children are purposed follow.

This process remains ongoing as the parent-teacher assumes the role of both, learner and teacher.