Abstract:
The aim of the study was to investigate and describe how the mother in the home school fulfils her role as a teacher for her child in the foundation phase. The literature review confirmed that mothers choose to home school their children for various reasons, and use different approaches in home schooling. The home school teacher as well as the home school learner have certain responsibilities to fulfil, which bring about certain challenges that they have to face. An evaluation of home schooling showed various concerns regarding these learners’ performance and development, especially scholastically and socially. Unstructured interviews were conducted with selected mothers to explore their perceptions of their role as a teacher, the degree of differentiation between their mother and teacher roles, and the execution of their roles. An analysis of the home school learners’ schoolbooks was done, focusing on the input and feedback of the mother teacher. The researcher’s observations and reflections were included in the analysis. Findings: · The mothers do not differentiate between their mother and teacher role. · Their teaching was influenced by their own experiences, their views on teaching and learning and their views on the roles they fulfil in the home school. · Each home school situation is unique and the mothers’ perceptions of the roles they fulfil and the execution thereof differ greatly and are influenced by the context in which the home schooling takes place.
