Nowadays, there is a rise in parents opting for homeschooling their kids. Now while this virtual based education has many benefits like flexibility, and an opportunity for the child to direct and customize the education, there are many challenges that one has to overcome to reap the benefits of homeschooling. It is difficult to maintain structure in learning and get a routine going. Here are a few tips that will definitely help you navigate your way through this creative way of learning, homeschooling.
Make a Plan See it through
Plan out the entire school year beforehand. List out the long term goals and make short term goals to achieve the long term goals. Breaking down big targets into small projects is very helpful in achieving your goals in a manageable way. By making long term and short term goals you can also track their progress. Make use of organizational charts and maps to keep a close eye on their progress.
Getting your goals on a paper and being able to visualize them makes it more believable and achievable for you.
It’s all about Scheduling
Make a daily schedule that will plan out their day. The good thing about homeschooling is that your child can also be a part of the decision making process. Include them in the schedule making process and take their opinions into account. If they want to take a holiday on a Monday rather than a Saturday, let them. Tell them the number of hours they have to study and how many hours are to be dedicated to each subject weekly. Then, let them decide what and when to learn.
Plan out the time to study, play, their hobbies, and some chores as well. Be flexible with the scheduling. Give them additional chores to do that they are willing to do. Give them a choice, for example, let them choose any two chores from five chores.
Including them in the decision making process is a good opportunity to teach them time management and goal setting skills. It is a wonderful opportunity to make them independent as well as responsible thinkers.
Choose a fixed workplace
In order to maintain structure and order in their education there needs to be some form of discipline. Choose a place in the house that will be their workplace. Keep all their study material in this place. Stick their timetable in that place. Give them the creative liberty to organize the place as they want so that they are comfortable working in that space. However, don’t force them to study in that place only. If they want to study on the dining table, let them, but tell them to return all the material to the workplace once they are done.
Learning beyond the four walls
There is knowledge wherever you see and it is not confined to the boundaries of the classroom. Since you have chosen to homeschool your child there is an opportunity for them to learn from textbooks as well as their surroundings. Dedicate a specific amount of time for them to learn this way also. Stimulate and challenge their mind with board games, quizzes, crossword puzzles, Sudoku and much more. Let them watch serials that will broaden their perspective and teach them good values. Try to inculcate the habit of reading in them. Every book brings a new story and you learn something different every time, not to mention increase their vocabulary and improve their writing skills.
Let them do different chores like writing letters, buying groceries, cleaning their own rooms to make them more responsible and confident.
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Learn together Play together
In homeschooling you are their parent as well as the teacher so you have to handle both the responsibilities. Do activities together. Keep an open mind, explore new hobbies, new games, and new fun stuff to do together. If there is any subject the entire family likes then do quizzes and tests on that subject together. This homeschooling is an excellent way for you to bond more with your child and understand them better. There are so many things you can do with your family here are a few that will teach as well as be fun for your children:
Cooking
Going on trips and picnics to the zoos, botanical gardens, museums etc.
Learning a new language
Watching a new show
Gardening
Taking trips to new places, learning about them, and making a project about everything you learn there
Get Creative
Best part about homeschooling is flexibility. Homeschooling is an excellent example of reaching a goal by different paths. Don’t be afraid to try something new. Be bold, get creative. If there is a new teaching method you want to apply then don’t hesitate because if it doesn’t work out you can always go back to the way things were as you are the one calling shots here.
Collaborate with other Homeschoolers
It is always good to talk to people who are in the same boat as you. Discussing with fellow homeschoolers will give you confidence that you are doing the right thing. Sharing always helps. You can learn about the different methods or new things they are using and if you find it useful you can use it with your own child.
Be financially ready
With the increasing school and college fees you may think that homeschooling is the cheaper option but that is not true. One parent always has to be at home as the primary teacher and that added with the cost of all the materials and supplies required, it becomes quite an amount. Make sure you are financially prepared to take upon this challenge.
Socialization is important
An important part of school is that the children get to socialize with children of their own age. With homeschooling this interaction may be hampered which may in turn hurt their confidence and self-esteem. So to avoid this make sure that they have adequate interaction with their peers by letting them play with other kids and connect them with other children that are being homeschooled.
Check Local Regulations
There are some local rules and regulations and regulations for homeschooling everywhere. Make sure you are abiding by these rules before homeschooling so that there are no problems later.
No matter what happens, believe in yourself and your child. There is no hurdle you can’t overcome together. All the best with homeschooling and handling the little troublemakers on your own!