For parents who want more control over their children’s education, homeschooling may be an option worth looking into. Studies have shown that homeschooled children actually do better on achievement tests than their public school counterparts. It is not for everyone, however, and there are a lot of things to think about. Read these tips about homeschooling.
If you are homeschooling your child, always include reading in your daily curriculum. Depending on the age of the child, this should include reading aloud and allowing him or her a quiet time to read alone. With a younger child, begin with the alphabet, sight words and phonics, progressing to simple books. Older children will enjoy a variety of mediums, including newspapers and textbooks.
Parents who home school their children are always looking for new ideas on how to get their children interested in the work. So, why not take them outside to learn? For instance, if they are working on earth science, bring them outside to identify different trees and plants. This will allow you to really grab and hold their attention.
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.
Cook bulk meals a couple times a week. Having a few dinners frozen and ready to heat and eat in the freezer can make crazy days better. Worrying about what you are going to feed your family as you are trying to homeschool will make things more stressful than they need to be.
Don’t neglect using art when creating a lesson plan, even when art isn’t the thing that is being taught. Assign your children to make renditions of things that they read about in their studies. They can sing, paint or dance. There are no limits. Immersion techniques can be great for getting kids to learn the material, and therefore any relevant activities can help get the results you want.
Remember that when you are homeschooling you do not need to follow a classroom set up. The learning environment can be a lot more flexible, and you can tailor it to fit you and the child’s needs. If your child has a hard time rising in the morning, instead of trying to teach them, chemistry at 7am, start their classes a little later in the morning or later in the afternoon.
Tailor your homeschooling program to fit your child. By using this technique, you will ensure that your child remain actively engaged in the subject material. If your child is a visual learner, use flashcards and matching games. If your child learns best using a hands-on approach, incorporate puzzles and models. Many children do extremely well using auditory inputs, if this is the case with your child, utilize songs and rhymes to teach your child.
Find a support group or a homeschooling cooperative to help your child succeed. In a homeschool cooperative, one parent who excels in math may offer to teach math, while another parent may offer to teach English. By joining one of these cooperatives, your child will be taught information that you may otherwise not be able to teach him.
Make certain that you know what the laws are in your state. Each one is different in their requirements. Some have stringent requirements. Others are more relaxed. You do not want to get into legal trouble because you don’t understand the laws in your state. Contact your local school board for direction.
If your child is an auditory learner, there are a lot of helpful tools available for you to use. Audio storybooks, rhyming, lecturing and music are great ways to help your child learn. If you fine-tune your teaching abilities in the way, your child learns best, they will really get the most out of the lesson.
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.
Always start the day off with a healthy breakfast and make time for snacks throughout the day. You have to keep their energy level up. If you feel like your child is getting tired or distracted, offer them a snack.
Incorporate volunteering into your homeschool curriculum. There is nothing greater than helping your fellow man, and this should be taught at an early age. Therefore, begin volunteering in a local organization that welcomes children. There are many choices, including a soup kitchen, nursing home and your local Red Cross.
Outsource some of your housework if you can while homeschooling. You can’t be everything to everyone, and your new first responsibility is the educator of your children. If you have it in your budget t hire some help, even if it is just once a week for cleaning, it can help you keep your focus.
Network your child with other homeschoolers. A child can sometimes feel lonely when they are not exposed to the daily classroom full of 20 or 30 other children. To help prevent this, make sure to connect with other homeschooling families, and take advantage of socialization opportunities. This is also a great way for you to find tips for your homeschooling program by networking with other parents.
