When I was growing up, homeschooling was never really thought of as a viable option. Most of these parents went to public schools and the only alternatives were expensive private schools. This article will be a primer for your homeschooling knowledge.
Check out local laws before building your curriculum. Each state has their own rules and regulations that a homeschooling parent must follow. Many states have a set curriculum available, but in some states, you might have to set one yourself. Make sure that your homeschooling methods follow the laws of your district.
Keep kids’ limited attention spans in mind when preparing your lesson plans. Hours of learning will not keep their level of excitement to the point where they want to learn. Let them have time to exercise or do nothing. Everyone will benefit from a little break.
Learning can be done all day, every day. Daily life offers more lessons than school ever can. Be attentive to their use of language and guide them to use grammar properly. Enlist their help with making dinner by letting them read directions and measure ingredients. This will be a fun and efficient way to learn.
Though you might want to keep your kids away from public school kids, they still require socialization. Schedule play dates with friends and family. Take your kids to the park and let them play with the children there. Let them become part of a club or sports team.
Where will you teach your kids? It should offer comfort, with minimal distractions. There should be an open area to build things and jump around, and a place to read, write, and take exams. In addition, you should have the ability to watch your kids thoroughly in this location.
Check out homeschooling conferences before you begin. Being both a parent and a teacher can become overwhelming. Classes can help you feel more knowledgeable and comfortable when teaching. Even if you are already successful, attending some workshops or taking some classes could be a good way to meet homeschooling parents and learn about new methods.
Make sure you know the local laws pertaining to homeschooling. Search the HSDLA website for specific information about your state. If you decide to join a home schooling organization, it can help you look more credible to local authorities should you ever be questioned. The level of assistance they can provide is well worth the minimal membership dues.
There are many benefits to homeschooling your children. In order to make sure your children are progressing, test them with your state’s tests. You might want to utilize a tutor if you find they’re testing below average in certain areas.
Academic Studies
Life skills have just as much value as academic studies. A good homeschool plan involves a combination of academic studies and life skills. Book skills are important, but teaching a child how to count out change, manage and plan a food menu, learning how to schedule a shipment and much more will be helpful for the rest of their life. Teach both types of skills at once. For instance, as you plant a garden, teach about plant life cycles and how plants are affected by their environment.
Because your child will not have the typical classroom social interactions, it is important to allow them other opportunities to socialize. You need to come up with different ways of doing things because they do not go to a regular school. Join forces with other homeschooling families to plan field trips and you can get group rates and allow your children to socialize with other children. Get your child involved in a local sporting group. You can also use formalized organizations, such as the Boy Scouts or Girls Scouts, to provide unique socialization opportunities.
Include a healthy balance of technology and traditional. If you are using a dial-up modem, a home school curriculum that relies solely on online access is especially vulnerable to delay and frustration. You don’t want to lose valuable class time due, so always maintain backup lessons that don’t rely on the computer.
Now that you’ve seen how easy it is to make homeschooling successful, you can use this advice for your classroom. Use the tips here to be the best teacher you can. Stay determined and inspired, and your children will receive a stellar education at home.