Are you curious about homeschooling? Have you taken all the variables into consideration before starting? In order to give your children the best possible homeschooling experience, there are lots of factors to consider. You’ll find a lot of helpful information in this article.
While most states require that homeschooling programs teach a standardized core curriculum, the fact that you are working one-on-one with your student also usually translates to significantly more free time. Consider allowing your child to choose which elective courses they want to take to fill this time, or hire a tutor to supplement comprehension in the tougher subjects.
It is okay to use computers when homeschooling your children, do not completely rely on them. As you probably already know, computers are very prone to problems like viruses and freezes. Because of these problems, it is important that you continue to use textbooks and other physical materials as well.
When you need great ideas, take your kids to the local library or craft store as they often have free classes, clubs or other events. You can get a feel for what your kids like to do, and what they dislike, and keep a logbook so you know what to touch on for lessons down the road.
Even though you want to avoid having your children spend time with ruffians who may be in public school, there is a need for them to have external social interaction. Go out with friends and neighbors to keep your child social. Go to the park or the zoo and let your child play with other children. There are many organizations available for them to join, too.
Determine which approach to homeschooling you will follow. You may decide to follow a traditional curriculum, setting up a “classroom” within your home. On the other hand, you might decide to “unschool,” allowing your kids to play a large role in defining their educations. Take your kids’ learning styles and personalities into consideration when choosing an approach.
Do not get stuck on one homeschooling curriculum. You may find that your child is not doing well with the curriculum that you have chosen. There are several on the market for you to choose from. Your child might even do well to combine more than one program. Using different programs in one home is perfectly acceptable, so find the one that works best with your child and get started.
The great thing about homeschooling is that it is very flexible. Traditional classrooms are very structured with a strict curriculum. Homeschooling allows you to stray away from this one size fits all mentality, and structure your classes to suit your child’s learning style. This means if your child does not understand the traditional way math is taught, you can teach them in a way they understand instead.
You should not consider yourself to be your child’s teacher. You are more the facilitator to their education. You are there to help them, not lecture them for hours on end. Allow them to do their studies on their own and help them with any questions that they may have. You could very well learn as much as your child does if you take the time to learn with them instead of lecturing them.
Take advantage of the subjects that your kids enjoy. If you find one thing that each of them love, you should be able to take something from that subject and apply it to other subjects as well. If your kids are enjoying what you are doing with them while teaching them, it will be much more enjoyable for everyone involved.
Just as in regular school, your child may find that they are having trouble with a certain subject. If this is the case for your child, do not be ashamed to hire a tutor and do not get down on yourself. Many parents feel as though it is their fault if their child is not excelling in a certain subject; the truth is this is natural. The only thing you can do about it is get them the help they need.
When you are homeschooling it is a good idea to understand what motivates your child and use that to help them learn. If they like building things or taking them apart, try to use legos or lincoln logs to learn about shapes and balance. Your child will learn better if they are interested and engaged.
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.
Do not make homeschooling more complicated than it has to be, especially if you are working with a very young child. Young children learn a lot by reading books with parents, using a pair of safety scissors, creating arts and crafts projects and spending time outside. For your first year in the classroom, this might be the totality of your lesson plans. If you try to make things more complicated, you might frustrate the child and yourself. Keep things simple, and you will all be better off.
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.
Don’t make all your kids of all ages homeschool for the same number of hours every single day. Younger kids don’t need as many schooling hours as older siblings will, so let them have their playtime. Do not overburden older kids though, as they are more able to help you out around the house.
Now that you know more about homeschooling, you can give your kids a better education. Remember, you have to keep on improving your knowledge, so that you can pass on what you learn to your children. Remember their education lies in your hands now, and these are the best hands for their future.
