learn how you can school your children at home

3
Learn How you can School Your Children At Home What will your kids grow up to be? A doctor, lawyer or an astronaut? They can be anything they wish when they have a great educational foundation. Homeschooling can be great for you. Keep reading to see how to achieve success. While most states require that homeschooling programs teach a standardized core curriculum, the fact that you are working one-on-one with your student also usually translates to significantly more free time. Consider allowing your child to choose which elective courses they want to take to fill this time, or hire a tutor to supplement comprehension in the tougher subjects. Get in touch with other homeschoolers in your area. Homeschooling can be a lonely path if you do not make an effort to seek out support. Many areas now have homeschooling co-ops, where parents in a community work together to share resources and offer help. These are provide a valuable social outlet for your child, who does not have the same opportunities to make friends as a child in a public school. A strict homeschool schedule is a top priority. Each Sunday, take the time to plan the week's lessons, excursions and meals. It is important to begin each school day with a structured plan that your child can get used to following. They will learn easier and be more productive when they know each day's expectations. You need to think about if you have a place to turn into a classroom. It has to be a place where the kids feel comfortable yet won't be distracted. Your child should have enough room to act, dance, do some arts and crafts, relax and of course read and write. You should be able to see your children from all areas of the room, also. Think of yourself as a guide rather than a lecturer in the homeschooling environment. The truth is, you are probably going to come across topics that you don't understand very well. Have fun learning with your little one and don't be afraid to say, "I don't know; let's research it!" when a difficult question arises. While many modern homeschooling programs come with a recommended schedule, be sure to check your state regulations before planning your curriculum. Many states require that homeschooled children learn on the same 40-week schedule as their public school counterparts. In states without such regulations, you will have more flexibility in planning the schedule.

Upload: dave5parrish3

Post on 12-Aug-2015

165 views

Category:

Documents


0 download

TRANSCRIPT

Page 1: Learn How you can School Your Children At Home

Learn How you can School Your Children At Home

What will your kids grow up to be? A doctor, lawyer or an astronaut? They can be anything they wishwhen they have a great educational foundation. Homeschooling can be great for you. Keep readingto see how to achieve success.

While most states require that homeschooling programs teach a standardized core curriculum, thefact that you are working one-on-one with your student also usually translates to significantly morefree time. Consider allowing your child to choose which elective courses they want to take to fill thistime, or hire a tutor to supplement comprehension in the tougher subjects.

Get in touch with other homeschoolers in your area. Homeschooling can be a lonely path if you donot make an effort to seek out support. Many areas now have homeschooling co-ops, where parentsin a community work together to share resources and offer help. These are provide a valuable socialoutlet for your child, who does not have the same opportunities to make friends as a child in a publicschool.

A strict homeschool schedule is a top priority. Each Sunday, take the time to plan the week's lessons,excursions and meals. It is important to begin each school day with a structured plan that your childcan get used to following. They will learn easier and be more productive when they know each day'sexpectations.

You need to think about if you have a place to turn into a classroom. It has to be a place where thekids feel comfortable yet won't be distracted. Your child should have enough room to act, dance, dosome arts and crafts, relax and of course read and write. You should be able to see your childrenfrom all areas of the room, also.

Think of yourself as a guide rather than a lecturer in the homeschooling environment. The truth is,you are probably going to come across topics that you don't understand very well. Have fun learningwith your little one and don't be afraid to say, "I don't know; let's research it!" when a difficultquestion arises.

While many modern homeschooling programs come with a recommended schedule, be sure to checkyour state regulations before planning your curriculum. Many states require that homeschooledchildren learn on the same 40-week schedule as their public school counterparts. In states withoutsuch regulations, you will have more flexibility in planning the schedule.

Page 2: Learn How you can School Your Children At Home

Set goals for each of your children. You should havetwo lists of goals per child; one short-term and onelong term. Setting weekly goals will help you stayhttp://www.hslda.org/hs/ on target toward reachingyour long-term goals. If you have these goals writtenwhere your children can see them, they will be able tostrive to accomplish what you have planned for them.

Relying on electronics, like computers, can be a badthing. Sure they can be great tools to use to teach yourkids from home, but what do you do if there was to bea problem with them? Use them, but have alternativeteaching methods ready in case your computer diesand will be down for a while.

The great thing about homeschooling is that it is veryflexible. Traditional classrooms are very structuredwith a strict curriculum. Homeschooling allows you tostray away from this one size fits all mentality, and

structure your classes to suit your child's learning style. This means if your child does notunderstand the traditional way math is taught, you can teach them in a way they understand instead.

Know your shortcomings. It is unlikely that any parent can singlehandedly teach their childeverything they need to know from kindergarten through 12th grade. There are several options forupper-level courses. For instance, online high school and distance learning programs can help yourchild succeed in the later grades and prepare for the GED and college.

Visit zoos and other attractions to expand what you are teaching your kids. Discuss the animals andtheir habitats. This could supplement a geography lesson. Additionally, you may think aboutendangered animals and what has happened to diminish their numbers. There are many applicationsto this, including observing the tourists!

There are many lessons that you could include many different ages of kids in. You can take a virtualtour of a new city on the computer. Older kids can learn about the history while the younger kidscan learn about the languages spoken and easier topics that are age appropriate. It is a great way toget the entire family involved with the learning process.

When you start homeschooling, it is vital that you make sure that you allow time for your familyrelationships. While you may be extremely busy with homeschooling, don't forget to spend qualitytime with your loved ones. Demonstrate their importance by setting aside time for date nights,movies or just some quiet time together. This will ensure a strong relationship.

Use the unit study technique to get your child to learn the most possible information. Focusing on atopic allows you to present it in details and let your child do some research on their own. That way,you can go more in-depth than you otherwise might. For example, take six weeks and study classicalmusic. Once you have studied music in the class, schedule a fired trip to a musical performance toexperience the joys http://www.lessons.my/how-to-find-new-tutors/ of music. The experience will be

Page 3: Learn How you can School Your Children At Home

one your child will not forget.

Make sure that your children follow the rules and complete their assignments. If you allow them toslack, they can get into a bad habit. This will help to distinguish leisure time and school time.

It is important to incorporate recess into your homeschooling routine. Recess at public schools arebecoming shorter and shorter, but it is an important time for your child. It is a time for them to expeltheir extra energy, which enables them to concentrate better while they are learning. Try toincorporate a few of these breaks in your child's day.

Make your homeschooling days an adventure from time to time. Just because you are "home"schooling, it does not mean you have to sit at home. Take your children to the library, go on a naturewalk, visit a museum or check out your local natural center. All of these activities make forwonderful lessons, and they give the children hands-on experience that is an essential part oflearning. You will make your lesson plans more exciting by doing this, and you will also help toprevent boredom in the classroom.

Once you have educated yourself on the basics of homeschooling, you can decide whether this issomething you want to try. Many children thrive when they are taught at home, while others dobetter in school. Consider your children and their learning styles before you make a final decisionabout their education.