Homeschooling your child takes time, effort, and dedication. It certainly is not for the fainthearted. There is so much to consider, so many subjects, the areas to focus on, and ensuring that you can develop an appropriate teaching style that will help your child excel.
It is very easy to become overwhelmed with all the decisions and options available. The good news is that you don’t have to memorize all the rules and regulations before you begin. So, don’t panic and cram regulations before you start.
The truth is homeschooling will be as much of a learning curve for you as it will be for your children. The most important thing is that you begin on the right path and proceed with care and open-mindedness.
The more you absorb about the learning process, the more you will mold your teaching style and the subjects to match. So, before you begin, here are a few trips to get you started.
Begin with Research
As with most things in life, it makes sense to do your homework. Get online, speak to people who already homeschool, subscribe to magazines, visit the library and ask questions, read books, etc.
When you begin your research, you may well be surprised at the wealth of knowledge out there, and the more information you pick up, the easier the process will be. It will also help you decide if you are making the right decision. It will advise you on what you need.
It will give you some inside knowledge of the trials and tribulations to expect. Perhaps it will be easier than you thought, perhaps more difficult, but going onto a lifestyle this potential demanding is better done with your eyes open.
Your States Requirements
Every state is different, as we well know. So, you need to do some investigation into what your state requires in terms of homeschooling. Rules and regulations tend to vary quite drastically from state to state. In certain states, such as New York, you are expected to create an annual declaration of intent which you must file for the local superintendent.
You will also need to create an individual homeschooling instruction plan. You may need to record and maintain attendance, ensure tests are carried out, and submit quarterly reports. Some States may not need quite as much red tape, but it is important you look into your States law and follow it to the letter.
Join a Homeschooling Community
There are communities for pretty much everything, and homeschooling is no different. There are probably many people in your area already homeschooling, so why not pick their brains and get some real-life homeschooling accounts?
The parents in your area will already be aware of all the state laws, and they can advise how this relates to the real world. Have a look online and see what you can discover.
There may even be scope to meet these people. Perhaps you may even be able to attend weekly or monthly homeschooling meetings with people in your area.
The Curriculum
We have all heard of it, the curriculum, but now you have to be well aware of it. The curriculum is essential for homeschoolers. It is the basis for all standards and practices in the teaching world. It works as a central guide to all teachers, including homeschoolers, and is essential for advising you on what you should be teaching. This is so every student, including your children, are ready to pass those vital examinations via the practice of essential academic experiences.
The curriculum encompasses many teaching materials, such as traditional textbooks, worksheets such as 1st grade worksheets, and a lot more. They generally tend to cover the very basics, e.g., reading, writing, arithmetic, and science, as well as more in-depth subjects and individual teaching approaches, which may be based upon the child’s own talents and interests.
There are state conventions as well as curriculum fairs that you may wish to attend. Each year these are held several times, and they demonstrate teaching methods, ideas, and advice, as well as sell a lot of homeschooling paraphernalia that you may find useful.
Adapt Your Teaching Style
Your teaching style may be dependent on how your child learns. You may wish to adopt a different style for different subjects. For ones that they find more difficult, you can slow the pace and introduce more props and teaching aids. This is where homeschooling can be extremely beneficial.
You can give your child one-on-one treatment. In a classroom, they are always only going to be one of x amount of kids. You can take your child to a river to learn about rivers; you can take them to a church when learning about architecture, a band when learning about music, etc. It is up to you.
Your teaching style can adapt to your child’s needs, and this may well serve them well when it comes to absorbing and learning from each subject.
The Learning Space
How are you going to create a space that is conducive to teaching in your home? Do you have a spare room where you can set up a mini classroom? Do you have a kitchen table that will suffice? It may be ab idea to cover the walls in the room you intend to use with teaching materials.
A map of the world, the periodic table of elements, and the solar system are just a few teaching aids that won’t look too bad on the wall. Think about a cabinet where you can keep and store all your teaching materials too. The more organized you can make the space, the better. And if it gives off that schooling environment atmosphere, something different from the rest of the house, an air of a place to learn, all the better.
A Schedule
It is important that you set a routine from the start and stick to it. School starts at 9 am in uniform if need be. Hour-long lessons until 12 when you stop for lunch. Whatever you decide, stick to it. Routine will help you in the process.
Read more on the blog about homeschool supplies and how to organize your homeschool supplies.
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