Deciding to teach your child at home is a decision that may seem like it is simple. That is far from the truth. In fact, it is much more difficult to teach a child yourself than to have them enroll in a traditional school setting. Here are several tips that will make the process a lot simpler for you.
Before you plan a homeschooling curriculum, make sure that you check out your state law. States have different rules and regulations as to how many days you need to homeschool your child. Many states may provide a specific curriculum, but sometimes you might need to develop a plan yourself. It is also beneficial to model your homeschooling year after the schedule followed by your local school district.
When your kids do not attend school with other children, it’s important to ensure that they still receive some social interaction. Schedule play dates with kids from your neighborhood or even other homeschool families. You can take your children on a field trip to the local playground and they can interact there. Be sure to join sports teams, scouts or other clubs.
Be flexible. If a teaching method doesn’t seem to be working, try something new. Sticking to something that is not working does neither of you any favors. A new approach can help your child see the subject in a new way. This might help shed some light on a previously confusing topic.
Figure out what motivates your children. The same thing will not motivate all children, so find a motivational tool for each child and use it. Keep your rewards age appropriate and reward your children for accomplishing each of their school goals for the year. They will work hard for the things that make them happy.
Create a schedule for when the kids are in class and when they’ll get breaks. They can’t learn all day long! You need to adhere to the schedule as tightly as possible to ingrain the routine into everyone’s lives, even yours. The more you stick to the plan, the better the outcome.
While you want your home schooled student(s) to learn as much or more as their traditionally schooled counterparts, remember that you don’t have to follow any guidelines when you are the teacher. Try different teaching and learning techniques to see what works best for your student. Also, consider using a reward program to make learning more exciting.
Write down a list of the pros and cons of homeschooling and public schools. Use the list to make sure your kids get what you wish they’d get from public schools. You can use this is a checklist for things to focus on and things to stay away from. Keep this list so that you can use it as a reference.
Now that you are armed with some great tips about homeschooling, you are now on your way to being a great teacher. Do not worry if some of your subjects are a little rusty. The best part about homeschooling is teaching something to your children while you learn new things in the process.
