It can be difficult to decide whether or not to homeschool your kids. There are numerous programs and approaches from which you can choose, and the added responsibility of taking on the teacher’s role may make you hesitate. Read on for some valuable information to help you make an informed choice.
If you just had a kid or have one that’s young, it can be tough to take on homeschooling. You need to set up specific times to address each child’s needs. Plan some activities for both children. Allowing your older and younger children to interact in the classroom environment provides invaluable learning experiences for them both.
One on one time can help instill a personalized atmosphere for your child. Designate a small area in your home in which your younger child can play or relax in a safe setting. The older students can help by reading to them, too. They will both learn more, and the older child will feel useful and confident in their skills.
Be sure to give your children plenty of hands-on learning opportunities. For instance, if you’re teaching them about another country, have them learn some recipes native to that land. For instance, your children may cook perogies and cabbage rolls to go along with a lesson about Stalin. When exposing them to Napoleon, have them create a menu of French foods. Information is always remembered better when all of the senses are involved.
The Homeschool Association is a great resource that will teach you about laws and guidelines regarding homeschooling. For example, some states require that your child take a series of specified standarized tests. You must also reach out to someone in your school district to verify your homeschooling intentions. Otherwise you may find yourself subject to truancy charges.
Always adhere to the homeschooling laws for your state. You can find lots of state-specific information on the website of the HSLDA. Belonging to a homeschooling organization will help if the authorities ever have any questions about what you’re doing. The provided assistance will also be worth the cost.
Talk to others in the same situation as you. People get into homeschooling for a number of reasons these days. You can likely find or create a group of others with similar goals as yours. Finding a homeschooling community online can be a great way to get both ideas and support.
Be aware of when you should throw in the towel. If your child is having trouble with a lesson, don’t get frustrated. Take a break and come back with a different method of teaching. Tactile learner enjoys a hands on approach, while some children are visual learners and observe and them imitate. If you keep pushing them, everyone will end up shutting down.
You can be creative in the ways you allow your children to get together with others You must think outside of the box since your child is not attending public school. Form a group with other parents who home school and take field trips together. Find a sports group to join. A great way for your child to socialize with other kids is by joining the Girl or Boy Scouts.
Make sure you do not become isolated while you are involved in homeschooling your kids. Finding local networks is very helpful for homeschoolers. Create a network by researching area homeschool groups and utilizing online resources. If you have a good list of people to go to you will get the most out of it.
When public school isn’t working for your child, look into homeschooling. This will make things less stressful for your child. On top of that, it builds relationships between parent and child. This is a great way to remove your child from a stressful situation.
Homeschool will bring tense situations because of your intimacy with your family. Focus on learning when you are in the classroom and leave other issues for later. If things get tense, you can provide a break to be flexible. This will help you and your kid.
Support Group
Create a support group consisting of other homeschooling families. There are a growing number of families turning to homeschooling. Reach out to see who you can find in your area that homeschools. You can also search the internet for homeschool blogs and community forums. There is so much information to be shared! In addition, your kids will make new friends. Homeschooling can be much easier if there’s a support group behind you.
Different states and counties have different homeschooling rules and regulations, so be clear about what they are before you begin. Just because you have the option to homeschool your child doesn’t mean that there are no rules to follow. Depending on where you live, it may be as simple as filling out a form stating your intention to home school your children. You may find that your children are required to take state tests. Therefore, you can avoid legal situations.
Younger Ones
Allow older children to assist younger ones. If there are children who are older or who are more advanced in their education, you can let them help the younger kids. The older kids gain a confidence boost and the younger ones gain a new way of learning. Who knows? Your older kids may even be better at teaching than you are!
As a homeschool educator, don’t allow the educational guides and textbooks to limit the scope of your teaching. These are only tools, they shouldn’t control what you do. Invest in great tools and use them in addition to the unique curriculum for your kid. Homeschooling is intended to be your plan, not someone else’s.
With the advice from this article, the choice should be clear. Make use of it and get started with homeschooling to assist your kids in learning right from home. Very soon you can enjoy the special bonding experience that is the result of teaching your children at home.