While you may be intimidated by the idea of homeschooling, it’s quite simple to ensure that your children have an excellent education. Keeping them at home ensures safety and a good education. Keep reading to learn more about homeschooling and get an idea of what you need to do before you get started.
Do not expect homeschooling to work seamlessly right from the start. It can take up to a year before you settle into a good flow with homeschooling. Even though you have educated yourself about the process before beginning, the skill to make it all work smoothly takes some time to develop. Exercise patience and you will be more successful.
Know what your educational approach will be before you begin homeschooling. Whether you choose to go with a standard school type of environment and education, or if you prefer to focus on specific fields of study that interest your child, you should determine this up front. You will have clear goals to work towards, and the approach can be reevaluated at the start of each school year.
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.
Just because you follow a curriculum from another source, does not mean you must follow it to the letter. There are often going to be parts of a curriculum that do not suit your child’s learning style or schedule. Be flexible with a curriculum and do not be afraid to drop those parts that are not fitting for your educational plan.
Before you even begin your child’s homeschooling year, decide how many weeks you would like to accomplish the school year in. You can then break your courses up into weeks to set even tighter schedules. Do not forget to pencil in any vacation time that you will be taking so you do not forget to account for it.
Perhaps you want to avoid bad friendships, but you can’t avoid all socializing. Create play times with other family members and neighbors. Get out of the house with your kids and take them to the park so that they can play there with other kids, too. There are a lot of other clubs, such as scouts, or even team sports they can participate in.
Familiarize yourself with the homeschooling laws in your state. It is vital that you know what the laws are in your state that pertain to homeschooling. This ranges widely from next to nothing to strict rules. In some states, parents are counted as private schools and must register themselves accordingly.
Plan out a ton of activities to accentuate your child’s learning. If they’re learning about history, have them act out the time they’re learning about. They can dress up, speak like people of that time and even engage in battle, if that is what the topic is. It gives them a chance to truly experience what they’re learning, immersing them in the topic and ensuring they learn as much as possible from the lesson plan you present.
Understand what your local school board offers in the way of resources for homeschooling. Often you will find that your school board will reimburse you for educational supplies and field trips. Do your research and understand what is expected on your part as far as receipts, fees and the extent of reimbursement.
When you are first beginning homeschooling it is a good idea to reach out to others who homeschool also. People who have been doing it for a while can give you valuable advice about things that worked and didn’t work for them. Even if you have been homeschooling for a long time, it is always okay to seek advice from others.
Look into homeschooling conferences in your area. Sometimes, you will have to travel to another city to attend, but it will be well worth the trip. You will be able to get your hands on the latest and greatest homeschooling curriculum. You will also be able to discuss your options with professionals as well as other homeschooling parents.
When homeschooling you do not necessarily need to set up your home class exactly like a traditional classroom, although you do need some of the same materials. The kitchen or dining room table can serve as a desk. You will need a chalkboard or whiteboard, art materials and other important learning tools.
If your library sells donated books, visit it regularly. Teachers will often donate the materials they are finished with. Don’t fear the boxes with photocopied stuff. These can often have some of the best items. Take the time to look through them. This is inexpensive and helps support your library!
Any effort you spend on creating homeschooling activities for toddlers is not wasted. Prior to starting homeschooling, try spending time with your little one. Reserve some toys and materials like coloring books, crayons, and paper for school time use. Use your own judgment when determining what is safe and effective for your toddler’s activities.
To ensure that your homeschooling program is successful, you need to treat your home like a real school. That means that your students should follow a regular schedule and should be prepared for each lesson to start. That also means that they should be quizzed regularly to ensure that they are comprehending and retaining everything they learn.
Prior to homeschooling your kids, decide whether you’re qualified to do it. Also, analyze your child to determine what type of lesson plan you will have to create.
When you are homeschooling your children, things can get pretty hectic quickly if you are not properly organized. Create a schedule like you would if you were going to work. Do what you normally do in the morning, like making your coffee, and take a shower. Having a schedule will prevent chaos in your home.
