When I grew up, homeschooling wasn’t talked about. I had no idea that there was such a thing! This article is a great online resource to get started with homeschooling.
Every state has specific laws regarding homeschooling. It is up to you to understand what your state requires of you as a parent, and your child as a student, when it comes to homeschooling. Look at your state’s educational website, as well as your county school board’s site to fully understand the expectations.
You don’t have to be perfect! Even teachers make mistakes, and it’s all a part of the learning process for yourself and your children. Take your time, relax and know that you can teach your kids a lot when you do flub. The more mistakes you make, the better a teacher you will become.
When choosing your homeschooling program, consider the ultimate goal of the education you are providing your child. If you plan to reintegrate them into a regular school, then your curriculum should shadow the curriculum of that school. On the other hand, if you plan to home school them through high school then you want to be sure that they are learning everything they need to get their GED or even to perform well on important pre-college exams like the SATs or ACTs.
Field trips are an excellent way to enhance studies and it is a great time to get together with other home schooling groups. That will be fun, and your children can interact with similar kids. It can also save money on locations you visit with groups rates.
If you want your children’s homeschooling experience to be as well-rounded as possible, then consider putting physical education on the schedule. Not only will this teach your children healthy habits, studies have repeatedly shown that physical activity helps to stimulate the mind. Even better, combine physical fitness with social time by enrolling your children in a dance class or by signing them up for a summer sports team.
Before you begin homeschooling, write down your goals. Why are you choosing this method of learning? What milestones do you expect to pass? When you chart out your path, you’ll be able to track your progress more easily. When you know what your goals are, you’ll have a way to be able to achieve them. Also write down the cons of local public schools as a reminder of why you’ve left them in the first place.
Learn when you should adapt. Not every method of teaching will work with your child. Search for another method. If your child is bored, you may need to spice things up and use documentaries, fun websites or even tutors to help your child want to learn. Continuing to push them will only lead to frustration in both them and you.
Homeschooling can be a lot of fun. Just as children in traditional schools go on field trips, you can also take your child on field trips. This is a great time to connect with your child while teaching them things they would not necessarily learn with a large group. It gives the learning environment a more personal experience.
Students in a typical classroom embody a variety of learning styles. However, parents of multiple home schooled children often overlook the fact that learning styles can vary greatly from one sibling to the next. A style that works for your oldest child may be ineffective for teaching your youngest. Don’t try to cut corners by using a single method for all your students — siblings or otherwise.
Take trips to other lands. Visiting other regions can be a fabulous cultural experience. Your kids can learn about other people this way. Understanding other cultures will help them grasp more about their own. Even if you can’t afford to go to other countries, neighboring states can still provide an insight into how others live.
If you’re homeschooling, turn off the television or move it to where it won’t interfere with your schedule. This can help you return more time to your day since you and your child won’t be distracted by a show or movie. If removing it is problematic, then try setting up a schedule for when it can be watched.
It is very important that you have your children do everything you would have them do if they were going to regular school. Have them do their chores still and give them an allowance every week. This helps shape them for their adult lives and gives them the emotional and social skills they need.
Try to find social activities your child can participate in with other home schooled students. By staying home all day home schooled students can lack in social interaction. By making sure they interact with other children you can help offset this issue. Listen to your kids- if they are very socially oriented then they may be better off in a traditional school.
Search around your area for homeschooling resources. Depending on where you live, you could gain access to lots of cultural events at a low price, such as museum tours and opera. In addition, there may be a club or online forum dedicated to homeschooling parents in your area. This allows you to gain some helpful advice from others and even share your own.
Before a session, give your child a nutritious snack or a hearty meal. This can give your child energy and help them focus on the lesson. They won’t get sleepy or lose any of your attention when you’re teaching.
Use the homeschooling opportunity to tailor the program to your child’s individual learning style. Additionally, make the effort to inform your child about his or her learning style and how they can use this knowledge to facilitate their learning. In this way, you are teaching your child how to teach themselves.
