If you think homeschooling offers unparalleled opportunities for children, you’re certainly not alone. That said, you have to have a good knowledge base in place before you begin. The tips and advice on homeschooling below aim to do just that.
Know the state laws regarding homeschooling. Every state has different regulations concerning days for schooling and the curriculum needed. State guideline and regulations vary so make sure you are well acquainted with your state’s expectation for your lessons. More often than not, it is wise to correlate your homeschooling schedule to the school district’s year.
Turn life into a learning activity. Children can learn from everything you do through out the day. Be attentive to their use of language and guide them to use grammar properly. You could also turn dinnertime into a learning opportunity by teaching about fractions and following instructions. You will be proud of how fast they can learn.
Learn your state’s homeschooling laws. There is a wide variety of rules in different states concerning homeschooling, so research yours carefully. You might have to take part in standardized testing, or you might not. Some states may require you to register yourself as licensed private school to be able to homeschool your children.
Homeschooling means you have to be creative. There are several kinds of resources that will cost money, unless you make them yourself. For example, create your own flashcards by investing in a laminator. Get your children to help you to make the resources that you need, as they could end up having a lot of fun.
Make vacation time learning time. Take some side trips to the zoo or an important landmark. Include visits to far away zoos, museums or any place that you deem historically important. Even a simple local trip can be accomplished in a day and have many rewards. Your entire family might enjoy learning about new things.
Academic Studies
It’s important to learn life skills, just like academics. Therefore, try to incorporate both life skills and academic studies in your lesson plan. Most people know what is involved with academic studies. But, some people do not know how important it is to have life skills, like taking care of them home or driving. It is possible to teach them in parallel. You can teach your children about planting a garden while you help them learn about plant life.
Try to stave off feelings of isolation while homeschooling your kids. To avoid this, develop friendships outside of the home. Reaching out will help you to feel connected to others who share many of the same ideas and values. Cooperatives also offer opportunities for homeschooling parents to share insights and perspectives as well as develop lasting friendships.
A unit study method can have a lot of benefits while homeschooling. Using this method you focus on one topic. It will allow your children to learn even more about each particular topic. For instance, set aside a period of 6 weeks to do 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. This is a great way of learning.
Lay out your logic for wanting to homeschool on paper. Write down your main reasons for wanting to homeschool your child and make a list of your own strengths to make sure you have what it takes. Be knowledgeable on goals you plan on accomplishing so you can explain to others why you wish to homeschool your children instead of relying on public or private school for your educational needs. This keeps you calm and confident.
If you are homeschooling your children, make sure you take the time to prepare your family meals ahead of time. Cook in bulk or freeze lots of meals during the weekends. It can be a huge time saver to have a meal ready to go when you don’t have time to cook. Try out many cooking plans to figure out which is best for your schedule.
Base your lesson plans on your kid’s needs. Brainstorm with them about the things they would like to learn, know and do. Letting your child guide your lessons increases their investment in their education and helps them learn better. The things they think of may surprise you in a good way.
You should steer clear of lectures in the classroom. Teacher are professionally trained educators, but you likely are not so. In addition, when dealing with your own children, you are much less likely to get them to listen to a lecture. Be a loving teacher and instead engage them in learning. You will probably learn as many new things as your children do!
Preschoolers can be disruptive to a homeschool environment, so it is important for you to give them rules. It’s okay for the toddler to stay in the room if they are not causing a disruption to class time. Take frequent breaks to check on your other children and spend a few minutes with them. A quiet study area will reduce frustration that your older child may be feeling.
In conclusion, many parents are making the decision to home school their children. Proper research is necessary to determine if homeschooling if right for you. The information you’ve read here is a great start!