Homeschool Support Group
When I was taking classes on education at FSU and UNC Charlotte, one thing that was discussed was the value of teaching children to think. One professor lectured that when we teach children to answer questions, fill in the blanks, and succeed in tests, we are teaching them to answer questions, fill in blanks, and be good test takers, but we are not teaching them to think. After the class, it was interesting to listen to the students comments on the lecture, most were 'what in the world was he talking about.' As homeschool parents, we have the unique opportunity and responsibility to make sure we are raising thinkers, not just children who know how to give the right answer.
The other thing I heard discussed was the lack of writing assignments given to a child. There is a quote I like, though I'm not sure who it is by, that says 'When I write, I learn.' I think this is true, but there is more to it. Writing makes a student formulate ideas, think through and logically order information, it helps them remember what they have learned, and can do much more if the student is challenged to write a variety of types of writing. Writing can take us from the lowest form of learning, the basic knowledge about a subject, to understanding, applying, analysis, synthesis, and evaluation. It can do this because it requires thinking about the subject and coming up with ways to express oneself. But, what if your child hates to write?
Homeschooling offers many answers for this too. Since we have so few to teach, we can take time to listen and discuss issues, topics, subjects and so on, with each of our children individually or in a group. Computers offer the ability to write without having to use a pen to do so, and tape recorders can be used to tape thoughts and ideas when we don't have time to sit and listen at the moment. The idea here is to get the child to think about what he is learning, to be able to express him/herself in a logical, concise manner, to be able to rationalize their thought process, and to push them into deeper thinking skills and abilities.
Indiana State University has a very good website with information about teaching styles. They use Grasha's Five Teaching Styles: Expert, Formal Authority, Personal Model, Facilitator and Delegator. I would highly recommend going to the site and reading some of their information. http://web.indstate.edu/oit/cirt/pd/styles/5styles.html.
To determine which of Grasha's Teaching styles most closely resembles your method: http://www.iats.com/publications/TSI.html