Mom is doing phonics with the preschooler and pre-calc with the high schooler. So how does Dad fit into the homeschool picture? Today on Home School Heartbeat, homeschooling dad Andy Fletcher joins host Mike Smith with some suggestions.
Mike Smith: There are lots of ways that homeschooling dads can be involved in the homeschooling effort—from teaching a subject to helping with grading. But if your wife is doing most of the teaching, your involvement should probably start with her! Andy, what are some ways that you’ve found to support your wife?
Andy Fletcher: First, I provide an annual planning retreat where my wife can get out of the house, preferably for a whole weekend, just to get away from the day to day, look at curriculum, and plan out the year. Second, I join her at the start of every year for a night of what we call “copy and coffee and chocolate”! We spend the night making copies of curriculum and putting together student binders for the year. Throughout the binders I try to sneak in notes to my kids that they can then find during the school year—just little notes that say “hey, study hard, Dad loves you” or “tell Mom that Dad thinks she’s beautiful.” I also sit down with the kids at the beginning of every year, discuss expectations with my wife there and pray with them. But I think the most important thing I can do is remind my wife about the gospel. As Christian homeschoolers, we’re quick to put our hope in curriculum or in a method, and then we begin to compare ourselves with what other people are doing, so for me it’s good to continually remind my wife that we find our identity and our worth and our value in Christ alone.
Mike: Andy, tremendous suggestions for dads. Providing support for our wives is critical to nurturing healthy family. And, until next time, I’m Mike Smith.
