3
Helpful Suggestions For Homeschooling Your Children Kids in public schools face many hurdles today, the bulk of which we never had to deal with when we were young. The best way to help your kids avoid these pitfalls is to homeschool them, and the helpful hints in this article should help you be hugely successful in your endeavor. Your child's progress is their own and should not be weighed against others. It is easy to fall into the trap of comparing the education levels of your child versus another, yet when it comes to homeschooling, it is like comparing apples and oranges. Each homeschooled child is going to learn at their own pace, which means that their successes will be individual and constant. You need to think about if you have a place to turn into a classroom. This space should have limited distractions and be comfortable for everyone. In addition to a desk area for writing and exams, you will need an open space for activities such as dancing or science experiments. You should also be able to see all of your children at the same time, even if they are doing different activities. Find out what your state has in place as far as homeschooling regulations. Some states have very strict rules with many hoops you have to jump through, so you must find out what your state requires of you before you get started. Some states are more lax, so start researching today! Homeschooling has to be fun! Excitement helps a child want to learn, and the more you can provide, the better. While creating the lesson plans, the teaching itself, procuring supplies and other tasks related to your new job can be frustrating, the end result is so positive that you should consider it http://www.lessons.my/listing-category/visual-arts/ as you trudge through your day. Include activities which are fun for both yourself and your kids, such as cooking, music lessons and acting scenarios out (don't forget to dress up!) An advantage to homeschooling is that many places offer discounts to those who are home-schooled. It is a good idea to check around with local museums, science centers and theaters since most do offer discounts. This is a great way to have a fun day with your child, while teaching them in a creative way. If you have kids in the home that are not yet school age, spend some quality time with them prior to starting the day's lessons with the older kids. If they can get their fill of attention time before you get busy with the older kids, they are likely going to be able to entertain themselves while you work. Look into different events in your area. Oftentimes, you will find that you can go to places like Science Centers, museums and even musicals or ballets at a discounted rate. If you are unsure about how to find out about discounts, look for your local homeschooling network website. You should be able to find all the information you need for discounted family educational outings right there on the site. Find learning materials that work well with your child's learning style. You do not need to stick with one particular book and work your way through it. If your child is a visual learner, find books that emphasize learning with pictures, puzzles and games. Your children will stay on task and will learn quicker if you alter your teachings to fit their learning style. Know what the homeschooling laws in your state are. Check out the HSLDA website, which will be an invaluable resource to learning about the laws in your area. A homeschooling association can be

Helpful Suggestions For Homeschooling Your Children

Embed Size (px)

Citation preview

Page 1: Helpful Suggestions For Homeschooling Your Children

Helpful Suggestions For Homeschooling Your Children

Kids in public schools face many hurdles today, the bulk of which we never had to deal with when wewere young. The best way to help your kids avoid these pitfalls is to homeschool them, and thehelpful hints in this article should help you be hugely successful in your endeavor.

Your child's progress is their own and should not be weighed against others. It is easy to fall into thetrap of comparing the education levels of your child versus another, yet when it comes tohomeschooling, it is like comparing apples and oranges. Each homeschooled child is going to learnat their own pace, which means that their successes will be individual and constant.

You need to think about if you have a place to turn into a classroom. This space should have limiteddistractions and be comfortable for everyone. In addition to a desk area for writing and exams, youwill need an open space for activities such as dancing or science experiments. You should also beable to see all of your children at the same time, even if they are doing different activities.

Find out what your state has in place as far as homeschooling regulations. Some states have verystrict rules with many hoops you have to jump through, so you must find out what your staterequires of you before you get started. Some states are more lax, so start researching today!

Homeschooling has to be fun! Excitement helps a child want to learn, and the more you can provide,the better. While creating the lesson plans, the teaching itself, procuring supplies and other tasksrelated to your new job can be frustrating, the end result is so positive that you should consider ithttp://www.lessons.my/listing-category/visual-arts/ as you trudge through your day. Include activitieswhich are fun for both yourself and your kids, such as cooking, music lessons and acting scenariosout (don't forget to dress up!)

An advantage to homeschooling is that many places offer discounts to those who are home-schooled.It is a good idea to check around with local museums, science centers and theaters since most dooffer discounts. This is a great way to have a fun day with your child, while teaching them in acreative way.

If you have kids in the home that are not yet school age, spend some quality time with them prior tostarting the day's lessons with the older kids. If they can get their fill of attention time before youget busy with the older kids, they are likely going to be able to entertain themselves while you work.

Look into different events in your area. Oftentimes, you will find that you can go to places likeScience Centers, museums and even musicals or ballets at a discounted rate. If you are unsure abouthow to find out about discounts, look for your local homeschooling network website. You should beable to find all the information you need for discounted family educational outings right there on thesite.

Find learning materials that work well with your child's learning style. You do not need to stick withone particular book and work your way through it. If your child is a visual learner, find books thatemphasize learning with pictures, puzzles and games. Your children will stay on task and will learnquicker if you alter your teachings to fit their learning style.

Know what the homeschooling laws in your state are. Check out the HSLDA website, which will bean invaluable resource to learning about the laws in your area. A homeschooling association can be

Page 2: Helpful Suggestions For Homeschooling Your Children

very helpful if the BOA or CPS contact you regarding the education of your children. You have to paydues, but the help you get will be well worth it.

Just because your child is being home schooled does not mean you should be too lenient on them.Make sure they are not allowing them to take too many days off of learning for either theirconvenience or yours. While it is okay to take a vacation or allow them to take a day off because theyare sick, do not allow this to be a habit.

Find learning materials that work well with your child'slearning style. You do not need to stick with oneparticular book and work your way through it. If yourchild is a visual learner, find books that emphasizelearning with pictures, puzzles and games. Yourchildren will stay on task and will learn quicker if youalter your teachings to fit their learning style.

It is very important that you have your children doeverything you would have them do if they were goingto regular school. Have them do their chores still andgive them an allowance every week. This helps shapethem for their adult lives and gives them the emotional

and social skills they need.

Look for thematic activities. There are a number of books on the market for this. You can also createyour own. This is where you take one activity and apply it to several different applications.Incorporating math, science, and language arts into am activity increases the learning for children.It can also simplify your planning.

Make sure you have set aside a specific area for your "school". That doesn't mean that you can't takefield trips to other areas of the house. Setting aside a specific space means you can stay organized,and can help your children to focus when they are in this area.

Try to find social activities your child can participate in with other home schooled students. Bystaying home all day home schooled students can lack in social interaction. By making sure theyinteract with other children you can help offset this issue. Listen to your kids- if they are verysocially oriented then they may be better off in a traditional school.

Make sure that your workspace is fully equipped with supplies when homeschooling. While one childis engaged in serious learning, the other can be kept occupied with crafts. Encourage your child tosee what he can make independently on his own. This is a great way to learn.

Don't attempt to copy the traditional classroom setting and schedule. Just because a typical schoolclassroom has their students sitting at desks and setting specific times for each subjects does notmean you need to. In fact, it is better if you have your child standing and actively involved ratherthan he or she sitting in a desk. Traditional classrooms have to do this because they have lots of kids.It would simply be chaotic for teachers to have all their students standing while teaching. Use thestrategy that works best for you and your child.

Now that you http://education.ohio.gov/Topics/Quality-School-Choice/Home-Schooling have a better

Page 3: Helpful Suggestions For Homeschooling Your Children

idea as to how to go about homeschooling your children, you are sure to provide them with a greateducation. Remember, you have to keep on improving your knowledge, so that you can pass on whatyou learn to your children. Their education and future now resides within your control. Take thetime to educate yourself and make the most of this opportunity.