Homeschooling’s rewards are matched only by its difficulties. Parents are required to be teachers and principals. As teachers, they are responsible for day-to-day instruction in subjects ranging from Mathematics to English and History. They are also often tasked with designing their child’s curriculum for the year, a job that usually falls to school principals with advanced degrees.
On one hand, homeschooling can promote maximum academic success and preparation because parents are enabled to focus on their children’s specific needs.
On the other hand, parents are constantly challenged to make homeschooling fun and rewarding for their child. How can parents promote the best possible learning environment at home?
Here’s 5 tips for homeschooling your child:
1) Create structure and formality. Many home-schooled children fondly recall days spent doing schoolwork in pajamas, but class time should not be confused with relaxation time. Home school in pajamas doesn’t work for most. Try mimicking the structure of mainstream school by having your child get dressed and ready to start working at a set time every morning. Take restroom breaks, recess, etc. at scheduled times as well.
2) Enroll your child in extracurricular activities. Sports, music, and theater programs will help ensure your child’s social development doesn’t fall behind his or her peers. Alpharetta-MiltonPatch’s “Mom Talk” discussion really highlights how socialization of homeschoolers is home education’s greatest controversy and challenge.
3) Tailor the curriculum to your child’s specific needs. Advanced children are able to progress into more difficult concepts sooner than they would at mainstream schools, while special needs children can spend more time laying the foundation for future success by doing remedial work. Of course, most home schooled children fall somewhere in between these two extremes. Take advantage of the fact that you, as a parent, know what’s best for your child!
4) Don’t let academics take a backseat if you are parenting a child pursuing acting, sports, or other demanding pursuits. On Location Education provides on-location tutors for kids with demanding work schedules.
5) Include financial education. Teach your kids about the importance of good financial sense and how to budget and save for their goals. Studies show home schooled children are more likely to pursue entrepreneurial ventures as adults, so there’s no time like the present to prepare your children to manage their finances. Home school Fever has some guidelines for parents looking to incorporate financial education into their home curriculum.
And remember, Math Game Time’s fun, educational math games and math worksheets can help keep your child excited about learning for the long haul!