It is one of the most difficult things for homeschool teachers to manage: the right degree to challenge your students.  It is well known that a strong homeschool curriculum is one that is challenging and rigorous.  But if we challenge our students too much, thereby focusing on the ‘product’ of good test scores, etc. do we neglect the ‘process’ of developing strong Christian adults.  The number one thing you want to avoid is not challenging your students at all.  In private schools they often speak of ‘teaching to the high end’ — meaning the high end of the class.  I recommend that you twist this to focus on teaching to the high end of your child’s intellectual ability.  It goes without saying that you can only push so hard and that continued pressure and challenge is only met with diminishing returns.  There is no silver bullet to answer these questions, but it is quintessential that we remain cognizant of them.

General challenging, homeschool, rigorous, student, test scores