There are quite a few people who are disappointed with the public and private school systems and choose homeschooling instead. But homeschooling comes with many special and unique challenges. What you read here should help you to avoid these pitfalls.
Homeschooling a child when you also have a baby can be very difficult. You have to have time for both throughout the day. Figure out age appropriate activities for the children. Look for opportunities to get your children to interact with each other but do not force them to spend time together.
Field Trips
Socialize and have field trips with other homeschooling families. Your child will relish the chance to get out of the house and spend time with others in the same age group. Going on field trips with groups also helps to reduce costs, through carpooling and group admission.
Look into the homeschooling laws of your state. Each state’s laws vary so it’s important for you to know what is expected of you. While some states require a parent to be a participant in standardized testing, other are more lax in their requirements. You might even need to register yourself as part of a private school.
All your kids need alone time with you and each other. Have a dedicated area for special toys and crafts that they can play with. Have older kids teach younger children. The children will learn from teaching and the older children will feel a sense of accomplishment.
Hands-on lessons are a very effective way to teach children. One way to do this is through the food of foreign cultures you are studying. You can make cabbage rolls if you are learning about Stalin. If your lesson is on Africa, cook the national dish of each nation. Engaging children on all sensory levels makes it easier for them to learn and retain new information more effectively.
Family vacations can be used as learning resources. Plan vacations to areas that have museums, zoos, science centers and historical landmarks. Using one or more days as an educational experience is easy and fun when you incorporate visits to any of these places. Your whole family will enjoy the time spent together while discovering something new.
Make sure there is a place where your child can do schoolwork without being distracted. This area should not be near an area where you child plays. Set up a desk or a storage area to store all of the materials so they are easily accessible.
Classical Music
Teach using the unit study method to help your child learn the most information possible. With this method you study a single topic thoroughly before moving on to another topic. You will get more involved in each topic this way. For instance, you might have a unit on classical music. Following the completion of the six weeks unit, you and your child should attend a classical music performance to reinforce the concept of the importance of this genre of music. Taking your child to a performance will help enforce what they have been taught.
Be sure to write your thoughts out. The reasons you want to educate your own kids may seem clear in your head, but it may not fully make sense to you (or your partner/spouse) until it’s in writing. Be aware of your ultimate goals, so it will be easier to filed the concerns of others when it comes to your decision to homeschool. This will make the process easier.
Before you take steps to start homeschooling, ask yourself whether you would be a good teacher. Realistically evaluate your abilities as your child’s teacher so you are prepared for the parts where you need help.
Be very clear with yourself on what your academic weaknesses are if you homeschool. You can’t just overlook any subject you yourself aren’t proficient in. If you do, your kids will not be proficient in it either. Consider hiring a private tutor or switching off with another parent for your weaker subjects.
Now that you’ve reached the end of this article, you realize that home schooling is something that you can do. You can use what you have learned here to better teach your kids. Additionally, you will feel as though your children are well educated.