Minnie, I have to think hard about why I feel so petrified about hs'ing, and I think it's because I don't feel prepared. When I was in school I learned way differently than subjects were taught, so I spent the majority of my energy learning to conform to the ways of thinking that were presented to me on the syllabus. I learned to not raise my hand to ask questions in class because my questions were so far out there the teacher would have to go on a big tangent while the other kids kicked their feet, doodled and stared out the window. KWIM? So I think of you as a professor with a clue and energy to develop a varied and dynamic curriculum. I think of myself as a uniquely-brained misfit who is smart but not equipped to teach in a way that meets someone's learning style.
I'm sure I need to get over it, though, and forge ahead.
Oh, I don't know if I had so much of a clue! You think about who you are and what you know, and more or less where you want your students to wind up, and then you just do the best you can. I found when I was teaching that I much preferred being the "guide at the side" kind of teacher, rather than the "guru at the podium" kind--and luckily, in our department, I normally had small enough classes that that was the kind of teacher I could try to be. When you're homeschooling, the teacher-student ratio is extremely favourable!!
This might sound a little odd, but I also found when I was teaching that I taught better when there were students in the class who really appealed to me--the way they thought or expressed themselves, their senses of humour or their consideration for other students in the class--really liking some of them helped me do a better job with all of them, if you see what I mean. In homeschooling, I find I like my students really quite a bit!
Tangents are good--the shortest distance between two points may be a straight line, but it's not necessarily the most interesting trip! I think your ability to think in nonconformist ways will likely wind up being a very great strength in parenting your uniquely interesting and wonderful child, whether or not you homeschool.
I'm sure you'll find your way toward something that works well for your family, whatever that may be; I have great faith in uniquely-brained misfits (also known as creative intelligent innovators)!
minnie
