Should I Let My Tween Check Their Own Work in Homeschool?

You’re standing in the kitchen, half a coffee down, and your tween hits you with the question:
“Am I done yet?”

And you wonder — did we actually learn anything this year, or did we just check boxes and coast?

If that’s where your head is, stay with me. Because this is the week that can shift everything.

It’s not about finishing the book or surviving the last stretch. This is about handing off responsibility without watching the whole thing crash.

This is about getting out of the way without walking away completely.

Because if you’re still sitting beside them every time they open a workbook, we’ve got a bigger problem.

Middle school is when the training wheels come off. Slowly. On purpose. Not all at once. But they’ve got to come off. You’re not failing them by letting go. You’re failing them if you never do.

Step 1: Let them mark their own work.

Yes, they’ll be tempted to cheat the system. Of course they will. That’s human nature. But here’s what happens when they do: they’ll feel the sting of getting it wrong later. And that sting teaches them faster than your lecture ever could.

Only give them the answer key after they’ve finished the work. That’s non-negotiable.
Let them see what they missed. Let them start to notice patterns. Let them feel that “ugh” moment when they realize they misread the question or rushed through it.

That moment is gold. That moment is growth.

And it only happens if you get out of their way long enough for it to land.

Step 2: Stop using the answer key as a scoreboard.

Marking it right or wrong is not the point.

Learning is.

After they check their work, go back to the ones they missed and help them reverse-engineer what happened. Show them how to work backward from the right answer. Ask, “Where did it go sideways?”
Even if they fix just one mistake on their own, that’s a win. That’s the kind of learning that sticks.

And if they question the answer key — good. Let them prove it. Teach them how to think critically, not just comply.

Step 3: Define “done.” Then stick to it.

You do not have to finish every page. That’s school brain talking.

You’re homeschooling. You’re allowed to use discernment.

Set a standard together. Maybe it’s 70 percent for a subject they struggle with. Maybe 90 percent if they’re strong in it. The point isn’t perfection. The point is mastery and momentum.

Give them a target. Let them measure against it.

If they fall short, they’ll know what to do. If they hit it, you move on.

You stop being the taskmaster. They start being the driver.

So here’s what to try this week:

Hand over the answer key—after the work is done
Walk them through how to fix their mistakes
Set a clear benchmark for when it’s time to move on

This is what real ownership looks like.

And yes, it will feel a little messy at first. That’s okay.

Messy is where the magic happens.

And if you’re thinking, “Why didn’t someone show me this earlier?” — you’re not alone. That’s why I created the 12-Week Homeschool Challenge.

It’s not fluff. It’s not overwhelm. It’s straight-up strategy, one week at a time.

Join us anytime: tweentalk.co/12-week-homeschool-challenge

Let’s raise kids who know how to think, not just check the box.

Until next time, keep talking with your tween. They’re listening more than you think.