For some students, the timeless tradition of attending school in a classroom simply isn’t enough to engage and educate them. Others have special needs that cannot be met in public schools. When private schools aren’t an option, many are turning to homeschooling as a way to protect students from subpar education and provide them with unique learning opportunities. Whatever your reason for considering homeschooling, the tips below should help you along the way.
Before you begin a home schooling curriculum, you must check the laws of your state. States have different rules and regulations as to how many days you need to homeschool your child. The majority of States have a standard curriculum, but you also might have to put together something on your own. Most of the time is will be best to arrange your homeschooling year according to your local school district.
Follow the lead of your child regarding homeschooling. While you may be tempted to homeschool your child all the way to graduation, he or she may not feel the same way. As your child gets older, the idea of regular school may become more appealing. Always listen to your child, and take the time to look into all available options.
Have you considered the financial hit you may take by homeschooling your kids? For example, having only one parent working could severely reduce your income. If you already stay at home, home schooling will consume the time you spend on home and cooking. This is potentially costly.
Exercise a little creativity with homeschooling. A lot of materials are pretty expensive, so you should think about making them yourself. You can make flash cards instead of buying them. Your kids will especially enjoy it if you allow them to assist in making them!
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.
Prior to making the decision to homeschool your child, evaluate the relationship that you have with them. If you do not have a great relationship, you are likely going to have difficulty in getting them to cooperate with homeschooling. Discipline in the home is critical if the child is going to do well in a homeschool setting.
If you must focus on two things, in particular, focus on reading and math. These subjects can be difficult for some children to learn. They are also going to be the most-used subjects throughout their lives. A solid mathematics and reading foundation will help them throughout the rest of their schooling and lives.
Don’t try to do things exactly as a school would. One of the benefits of homeschooling is the flexibility; do what works for your child. If he or she is more comfortable sitting on the floor and working, forgo the desk. If math is of particular interest, spend a little more time nurturing that subject. Cater to your child while working through the curriculum.
Allow your child regular breaks to get some exercise and burn of excess energy. This will reduce any restless feelings they have, and help them focus on their schoolwork. Have breaks in your schedule and allow your child to know when they’re coming.
No matter what your motivations are for considering home schooling, it’s best to go into it fully prepared. This is an important decision and you must determine the best way to ensure your child is afforded all the educational opportunities available. Hopefully this article has inspired you to move forward with your dreams of homeschooling your child.