Nowadays, homeschooling has become more and more popular, for a variety of different reasons. But, before you pull your children out of public school and teach them at home, it is important that you are properly educated on the subject. In the piece that follows, you are going to read some homeschooling information that you must know before making the choice to have your children home schooled.
Treat homeschooling like a job. You’re a teacher now, and that means you also have to seek out more education. Professional teachers take “PA” days to attend conferences and training, so you should, too! Find homeschooling events near you or even attend one as a vacation. You’ll find they teach you not only specific topics you might not know a lot about, but also how to be a better teacher and how to plan out homeschooling lessons like a pro.
Use hands-on lesson planning whenever possible while homeschooling your children. For instance, when teaching your children about a different culture, cook food from the region. If you are teaching about Japanese culture, prepare rice and noodles and watch some Anime. When learning about wars, you can cook foods from the countries you are studying. Children will absorb information more readily when they are use all their senses.
Understand what your local school board offers in the way of resources for homeschooling. Often you will find that your school board will reimburse you for educational supplies and field trips. Do your research and understand what is expected on your part as far as receipts, fees and the extent of reimbursement.
Tailor your homeschooling program to fit your child. By using this technique, you will ensure that your child remain actively engaged in the subject material. If your child is a visual learner, use flashcards and matching games. If your child learns best using a hands-on approach, incorporate puzzles and models. Many children do extremely well using auditory inputs, if this is the case with your child, utilize songs and rhymes to teach your child.
Write down the pros and cons of home schooling. Seeing in writing will help you and your spouse determine more easily whether it’s the right decision. When you put your goals and reasoning on paper, you stay better prepared to field questions about taking your children out of public school. This inevitably makes vocalizing your reasoning an easier process.
Carefully research which curriculum you are going to use, but remember that you are the one that makes or breaks it. Having a strong curriculum is important, but it is even more important that you take the materials and put your special touch on them. If you need help, draw on your homeschooling network for support.
For children who are kinesthetic learners, there are many different things you can do to help stimulate learning. Gardening, doing puzzles, going for nature walks or building things are all great ways to bring out their greatest potential. Children who learn by doing tend to lose interest in lectures and notes on a board.
If you’re homeschooling, turn off the television or move it to where it won’t interfere with your schedule. This can help you return more time to your day since you and your child won’t be distracted by a show or movie. If removing it is problematic, then try setting up a schedule for when it can be watched.
When you are homeschooling your children you should always take the time out to read to them. You can read books that have some relavance to every subject you are teaching them. There are so many books out there you can see just how many you can read together in a school year.
It’s important that you know how your child learns best. As their parent, you probably know your child better than anyone else does. Use this knowledge to your advantage. For instance, if your child learns better by reading, focus on teaching them via books or the computer. If they are better at listening, verbally teach them.
Set aside a room or a part of your home to school in. Some kids have a hard time changing their mindset from home, where they relax to school where they need to focus and work. If you make a schooling area in your home, your child will know that when he is in that area it is time to learn. Make sure this part of your home is designated as school only so you and your child are serious when you are in this room.
Make your homeschool schedule work for you. Just because the local school runs from nine to two, that does not mean your classroom has to run that way. If later mornings are better for your family, have your child study, then. If it works best to teach for an hour, take a three-hour break and then teach for two more, make that your schedule. One of the best things about homeschooling is the flexibility, so take advantage of it!
Take some time to educate yourself on a few different styles of learning. Different children have different ways that they learn the best. Some enjoy tactile learning, while others are more visual or auditory learners. Continue to research so that you are able to provide the best experience for your child. This provides them with the best education.
Now that you have read this article, you can see that there is a lot to consider when figuring out if homeschooling is right for both you and your children. After all, taking your children out of public school and teaching them at home is a major change. However, if you use the tips from this article wisely, the decision should be much more clearer to you.
