A homeschooled child is a well-educated child, but only if you put in the effort to ensure their lessons are fun and rewarding. When you want to learn as much as you can about successful teaching, you must read advice from experts. This article will provide what you need to know now.
Just because you follow a curriculum from another source, does not mean you must follow it to the letter. There are often going to be parts of a curriculum that do not suit your child’s learning style or schedule. Be flexible with a curriculum and do not be afraid to drop those parts that are not fitting for your educational plan.
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.
Limit the distractions in your workspace. This does not mean that you have to have a classroom. Simply, shut off the ringer on the phone, turn off the television and if the computer is not used for school, shut it down. The fewer distractions you have to compete with, the smoother your lessons will go.
Always take advantage of back to school sales just as if your child was going to regular school. You cannot disregard the cost savings of supplies during these sales. Children love to get new school supplies and you can stock up for the entire year easily as long as you have storage room.
Plan out a ton of activities to accentuate your child’s learning. If they’re learning about history, have them act out the time they’re learning about. They can dress up, speak like people of that time and even engage in battle, if that is what the topic is. It gives them a chance to truly experience what they’re learning, immersing them in the topic and ensuring they learn as much as possible from the lesson plan you present.
Relying on electronics, like computers, can be a bad thing. Sure they can be great tools to use to teach your kids from home, but what do you do if there was to be a problem with them? Use them, but have alternative teaching methods ready in case your computer dies and will be down for a while.
Allow your child to take a break and exercise a little. This will keep your child from becoming restless, which will help him or her focus on the lessons you teach. When planning lessons, schedule your break times. Let your child know when their scheduled breaks are coming up.
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.
Read a variety of titles to ensure that your child receives a well-rounded education. How-to articles can give you a variety of hands-on activities to do with your child. Before you child begins studying a specific subject such as World History, visit your local library and check out a children’s history book along with an age appropriate book. Use the children’s history book to give you a broad overview of the information that should be taught, and use the other book for specific information to include in your lesson plan.
Utilize the unit study approach to ensure the child learns everything there is to offer. This method involves studying a single subject at a time. This will allow you to teach each subject on a deeper level. One such unit study might be classical music. Take a month or two to study this topic. When six weeks have passed, taking in a classical performance as a field trip will solidify what has been taught. The long lasting impact of the experience will be beneficial.
Keep in mind that things will not always be pleasant. You may have to play the bad guy and make your kids do things they don’t necessarily want to do. Flash cards is not always fun, and a boring book is not enjoyable. Consider rewarding your child for completing these difficult tasks. This can help to motivate him and increase learning opportunities.
If you are brand new to homeschool, don’t try to do too much as once. Ease into your routine. For example, during the first few days, focus primarily on one subject. Add additional topics as you feel more comfortable, but make sure you do it in a timely manner so that your children stay on track.
Make certain that you know what the laws are in your state. Each one is different in their requirements. Some have stringent requirements. Others are more relaxed. You do not want to get into legal trouble because you don’t understand the laws in your state. Contact your local school board for direction.
It is very important that your child realizes that just because they are getting schooled at home does not mean they can come and go as they please. There are certain things you need to do to make them realize this. For instance, teaching them in the living room in front of the TV is not likely going to help them take the work seriously. Find a designated, quiet area in your home to teach them.
As long as you take the time to be organized, keep reading and provide your knowledge to your kids, your homeschool experience should be a good one. Keep striving for excellence in both your teaching style and lesson plans and you’ll find your kids become excellent members of society down the road.
