Managing a Homeschool Tutorial

We started out homeschooling our first three children and continued as our family grew. Eventually, I was a homeschool mom to four girls and a boy.

What is your history of involvement in Tutorial programs?

Our first homeschool experience in a classroom was really more of a co-op rather than a tutorial. We met with a bunch of church families where all of the moms took turns teaching things such as poetry, science, history, and things like that. As the pastor’s wife, I did take on a bit of a leadership role but it was a very collaborative environment. It was great to get the kids out of the house and give them the opportunity to learn from teachers other than myself.

We also participated in Classical Conversations for a couple of years. We loved that. It introduced me to the fact that we could have a hybrid learning system. The classroom didn’t have to mimic the public school or even the private school style. I started researching and learned more about the philosophy of what a tutorial really could be.

After a lot of research, I started my own tutorial in my home as a “cottage school.” I taught grades 1st-9th, three days a week. In addition to traditional subjects, I also taught workshops such as STEM, math escape rooms, and BUSY BAG activities. I eventually rented a building because I gained too many students to continue teaching out of my house. Between myself and my assistant, we taught 19 children. It was a lot of work but also very financially beneficial for my family.

When I moved to TN, I was asked to become part of the HomeLife Academy Tutorial (HLT) as an instructor. When COVID became less prevalent and the HLT school grew, I moved into the role of administrator. That’s what I’m doing now.

Why are tutorials a good option for some homeschool families?

There are so many reasons that tutorials can wonderfully supplement a homeschool education. Here are a few that come to my mind:

• If a parent feels like they are struggling teaching in an area, a tutorial class might be able to fill in the gaps or fully teach that subject.

• Kids get a classroom experience without taking away the homeschool philosophy and parental ownership.

• The tutorial setting allows students to experience and benefit from different teaching styles that may work well with their unique learning styles.

• It can be so helpful for both the parent and the student to get input from instructors outside of the family who may see untapped potential or areas that need growth and improvement.

• Tutorials offer families a community of learners.

• Participation in a tutorial program gives parents extra support and resources while keeping them involved and at the heart of their children’s education.

What are some of the best aspects of your job as a tutorial administrator?

I love witnessing my student’s personal and academic strengths and being able to help steer their gifts and abilities in a positive direction for their future. I love to see the light come on when a kid grasps something and when they realize they can succeed with the gifts that God has already given them.

I appreciate having the freedom to adapt our environment to kid’s learning styles and watching them grow at their own pace as they utilize the resources we provide.

I like the process of communicating with parents about their goals for their child and working to reach those together rather than it all being about public school standards. We are able to set both social and academic priorities, because it’s not “teaching to test.”

On the more logistical side, I really enjoy planning both academic and social activities for the year. That’s a really fun part of my job!

What are some of your biggest challenges?

I find myself daily feeling the weight of everyone’s needs and wanting to meet them– for every child, all of the time.

It is also a challenge to keep kids motivated for the right reasons and for their own success rather than the approval of everyone else. In that same vein, it can be difficult to get kids to take ownership of their own education. I try to inspire long term perspectives and that doesn’t come naturally to all students.

Some days, it can be hard to juggle all of the communication that goes into running a homeschool tutorial program. Keeping in touch with parents and involving them is so critical to a healthy homeschool organization. Every family has its own dynamics and every parent has their own preferences. It can be a challenge to personally and professionally adapt to the communication styles of parents and get them the information they need in the best way for them to receive it.

I’m constantly reminding myself that I have to take one thing at a time each day. That’s difficult when I’m trying to anticipate the needs and actions necessary to get ahead of things. I have to maintain the right perspective and have reasonable expectations for myself.

What keeps you going when it’s most difficult?

That’s an easy and simple answer: my love of teaching and my students.

I should also mention what an encouragement our instructors are here. They also help keep me going.

… all of that combined keeps my perspective in check.

What do you wish more people knew about everything that goes into running a program?

I guess the biggest thing that I want people to see is the day to day mundane things. Repeating ourselves over and over. The same things everyday. At the end of every day, we look back and say “how did we get all of that done today?”

If people knew all of the things that we do in a day, they would be shocked.

But I love what I do. I want people to know what a blessing it is too.

MEET OUR AUTHOR

DONNA McMORRIS

Donna McMorris has been homeschooling for 20+ years. She has five children, 4 daughters and a son. Her four daughters are homeschool graduates and her son is in high school. Donna’s experience with multi-level classrooms comes from her involvement with homeschool co-ops and  teaching at a cottage school. She holds a BA in Education and is working on her Masters to become a reading specialist. Donna most enjoys teaching 3rd – 8th grade students and teaching students to read, but has found a new passion this last year working with the high school students.