Homeschooling Does Not Have To Be Scary
For some students, the timeless tradition of attending school in a classroom simply isn't enough to engage and educate them. Others have special needs that cannot be met in public schools. When private schools aren't an option, many are turning to homeschooling as a way to protect students from subpar education and provide them with unique learning opportunities. Whatever your reason for considering homeschooling, the tips below should help you along the way.
Whether you have already begun homeschooling your children or you are just considering it, you may benefit from attending a homeschooling conference. At these conferences, you will be given tips on how to properly teach your children. You will also be able to speak with other parents who home school their children and get advice from them.
Include your child's hobbies in their learning. If they enjoy building model cars, pick up reference books for them to read and include building a car as a project. Teach them about how an engine works, how cars affect the environment and even use the speed and distance a car goes in math lessons.
Assign your children chores for the month. If you give out assigned chores for the entire month, they know what is expected of them for the next thirty days. If you use a daily or even a weekly chore sheet, they could easily become confused on what is their responsibility to take care of for that time.
Set aside time for family fun. Sure, you spend all day long together vasaras nometnes working on school work and keeping the house in order. But, do you ever really have fun together? Set up a day and time to have movie night or even family game night so you can enjoy the time you spend together.
Many parents are nervous and insecure about their ability to effectively home-school their children. To bolster your confidence, think about how much you have already taught the child you plan to home school. Chances are; they have learned everything they know from you, including important educational fundamentals like vocabulary.
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.
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.
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.
Let your kid have a long enough break to burn energy and exercise. This will lessen restlessness and help your child stay focused on his or her schoolwork. When planning lessons, schedule your break times. Let your child know when their scheduled breaks are coming up.
Spend a little time networking. Use the Internet to find families in your area that are homeschooling, and arrange activities together. It is also beneficial to connect with people across the country, as you can share ideas and techniques with one another. You will also have a support system when/if things get a little difficult.
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.
Do not listen to the people that are going to tell you that your kids will be unsocialized because they are not in a school. Oftentimes, the things that kids learn in school being lumped in with large groups of their peers are nothing to be proud of. Look into groups in your area that get other homeschooled kids together for different activities.
Research the Internet for reputable websites devoted to homeschoolers. You can supplement your curriculum with printable worksheets and activity suggestions that you can find there. You can easily find things for all age groups. Many things are available for free download, so this is a great way to extend your curriculum without extra cost.
Prior to beginning the homeschooling process, get a handle on your method of discipline. Do you think it will be sufficient as you move into the role of a teacher? Will you need to change things up a little bit? If so, go ahead and do that as soon as possible. It is much harder to institute new policies after you begin. Start strong.
No matter what your motivations are for considering home schooling, it's best to go into it fully prepared. This is an important decision and you must determine the best way to ensure your child is afforded all the educational opportunities available. Hopefully this article has inspired you to move forward with your dreams of homeschooling your child.