What makes homeschooling work?

The short answer to this, at least in my home, is teamwork. I know that all parents strive to create an atmosphere where the entire family is working together. What I am referring to here is educational and intellectual teamwork. Many kids don't get to experience this level of collaboration until they are in college or enter the workforce. In the homeschool environment, this seems to come naturally. The ideal homeschool setting fosters independent learning, with the child in the lead.
For many reasons, this becomes difficult in a traditional school setting. Teachers, whose work I greatly admire, are limited by concerns such as class size, administrative deadlines, mandatory curriculum use, some less than enthusiastic students...the list goes on. The focus for parents, needs to then become helping your child become autonomous thinkers that seek out the answers, that create their own bridges over obstacles. This can be difficult when it seems that your main goal is to make sure homework is done. The idea of a homework session stretching into late evening may cause some parents to quickly provide the help needed for completion.
I recently received a statement from admissions at MIT that detailed the admission policy for homeschoolers. This admissions officer pointed out the qualities that, in general, homeschoolers possess that their institution find valuable. Among these things was the independent, mature learners that homeschoolers tend to be. Below, I have outlined some techniques that I use in my homeschool classroom, and some ideas for parents like you.

A typical day for us...

Let's use math, and my oldest son (13 years old)as an example. Unlike traditional teachers, I do not start with instruction. My son's curriculum is written to the student. He grabs his own lesson manual, and reads the objective, lesson, and proceeds with the work on his own. Right from the start, he is learning to be independent. He only comes to me for assistance if a problem arises.
That is when the fun really starts. Math was not my strongest subject in school. So, when he asks for help, I first have to re-read the lesson with him. There are times when I don't know the answers. Honestly, there are time when the information on the page looks like hieroglyphics to me. As a team, my son and I seek out the answers to his problem. I offer guidance in this research process. We utilize the internet, supplemental math books, or a phone call to our curriculum provider. I encourage him try to come up with places to seek answers. Yes, it is always exciting to learn how to do something you have wrestled with. The example here, however, does not just provide the answer to the problem, but turns the student into a knowledge seeker. From beginning to end, the student is in complete control of their successful learning process.

Here are some tips:

Do you know that school textbooks from national publishers has an accompanying website? Many teachers do not have time in the classroom to utilize all the valuable tools these websites provide. Many of your child's questions can be answered by a chapter, or topic related search on these websites. You can obtain this site from information printed on the textbook, or simple ask your child's teacher for the companion website to the text.

When I would get tests back from teachers at school, my mother would require that I correct all wrong answers. Sometimes, I would complain that the answer wasn't in the book, or my teacher didn't mention the information in class. Had I had the internet available to me then, I am sure my mother would have required that I not complain about these items, but hunt for the answers. The research process would have been too time consuming back then, so she let a lot of things slide. Kids these days can quickly find the answers.

While reviewing your child's homework, jot down areas of interest that your child could research. Save these things for summer vacation weekly assignments. If during the school year your child studies photosynthesis, you can re-visit this topic in the summer by introducing related extension ideas. Better yet, tell your child to look up photosynthesis on the internet, and jot down ten things that were not taught during the school year.

The goal here is to create independent thinkers. A truly independent learner knows there is no one to blame for poor grades, and not understanding concepts. The beauty is that the triumphs are theirs to claim as well. Even when your child needs help from you or a teacher, the seeking, finding, and utilizing of this help is the goal.