Homeschooling is a wonderful way to be with your children as you help them grow into well-rounded teens and adults. Doing so gives you the opportunity to tailor your children's education according to their needs, your lifestyle, and your beliefs. Homeschooling also gives them a safe place to stay while studying the people and places around them. With the ability to personalize your child's education, you can truly foster a lifelong passion for learning.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Overcome the First Obstacles
Step 1. Legally establish the education you will teach at home
In the United States, each state has different laws and regulations regarding home study. Generally speaking, New England is the country with the most stringent requirements. Before starting your children's education, first research the laws where you live and notify them properly, as well as make a future deadline checklist for yourself (if applicable).
- Because homeschoolers are personally committed to ensuring that they correctly understand all laws pertaining to homeschooling, local support groups are generally the best resource for the most accurate legal information where you live.
- Keep in mind that the legal requirements for homeschoolers vary by country, state, and sometimes even by school district, so you will need to do some research.
- In the case of the United States, the HSLDA (Home School Legal Defense Association) and the “A to Z Home’s Cool” provide useful guides to understanding what it means to homeschool legally (see external links below).
You may need to have a file with your children's work. It is very important to do it from the first day of teaching in case the government of the place where you live requests it
Step 2. Make sure you can afford the expenses
Depending on how you plan to approach "homeschooling," the amount of money you will invest in your child can be very large. It is possible to do it with $ 300 or with $ 2500. It all depends on the materials you will use and the activities you plan to carry out.
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Unfortunately, the activities are not always free. In order to get the best possible quality (and learn more in the process), you could supplement your classes with excursions to planetariums, art exhibitions, lectures, museums, nature reserves, and the like, although this can cost money.
For the record, the figures mentioned above represent the extremes of the average homeschooling range
Step 3. Enroll your child in community activities
Get him to participate in some kind of sport or other activity that he likes; your child will need to have social interaction and spend time outside the home. Don't force him to do something, but don't let him give up so easily either. These activities get kids socialized and also teach them important life skills and staying committed to something.
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Homeschooling your children will not "spoil" them. As long as you make sure to meet their emotional, social, mental, and physical needs, they will become successful adults in the future. Ask them what activities they would like to do that meet their interests and get them started on the right track.
Research states that home schoolers are as involved as their public school educated peers. They help the community and can make the same amount of social connections
Step 4. Inform the rest of the family
Your other family members who care about you and your children can be helpful and supportive in your efforts for a good homeschooling, or they can also make hurtful criticisms. Think about how you will tell them what you plan to do, listen to their responses, and respond to their questions and concerns. Help them understand that you are prepared and determined, and don't let any negative attitude affect you. They care and over time, as your children show good results with their homeschooling, they are likely to reconsider and become your greatest advocates.
In fact, why not help with your child's learning? They surely have experience in areas that you don't. Let them know that you want them to be part of your child's life too, how could they refuse?
Method 2 of 4: Your Teaching Method
Step 1. Be confident in your teaching abilities
You are the person who cares the most about your child's future. Therefore, you are the only one qualified for the role of parent in charge of the education of your child at home. Homeschooling is a big responsibility, but if you adapt it to your family lifestyle, it can work well, regardless of your education or experience. You don't need to give up the rest of your interests; you can still have a life outside of school at home.
While it is very easy to teach your child all the studies related to elementary school, it may be more difficult for you to have the confidence in yourself when it comes to transitioning to teaching in high school. But it is possible and people have done it. Just keep in mind that you will learn too
Step 2. Learn about the different methods of homeschooling
There are many different styles and they can be taught through resources and used as such. Schools of thought vary widely when it comes to this topic, so it is best to take a seat and find your position within this range of beliefs.
- Unschooling (autonomous learning): This is an anarchic approach in which the student becomes independent. It is based on the idea that a student is more likely to learn more quickly and easily if he studies the things that interest him.
- Diane Lockman offers a reading, thinking and communication oriented approach with a strong Christian emphasis. It even offers high school courses online.
- Unit studies, in which each unit is dedicated to a different topic. You can often find units (and other assorted curricula) online.
- Charlotte Mason's methodology and focuses on "the environment, discipline and life."
- Montessori or Waldorf methods, in which the child is more independent and "discovers" rather than being told.
- An eclectic mix of different styles
- A complete online curriculum package as Global Student Network
- A private online school, such as the International Virtual Learning Academy
Step 3. Determine your own homeschooling style
Examine your own intentions and motivations. Why do you want your children to be homeschooled? What do you consider a "good" education? What do you think about children, teaching and learning? How do your children seem to learn best? These questions can help you decide which method to use and create the most appropriate learning environment for your family and your children.
Also, keep in mind that a method that works for one child may not be the best for another. Also, there is a possibility that the method you prefer may not be the most suitable for him. Talk to your child about their expectations before starting to put together the school year outline
Step 4. Design your curriculum
The sheer volume of materials and methods available can be overwhelming for a parent who is just starting out in homeschooling their child. It's easy to forget how useful all of this is! Identifying your method will be the first step in narrowing down your options. There are many resources to help you navigate through the maze of ideas. Research, read, and plan what you want to teach and how you will teach it.
- Libraries and bookstores have books on homeschooling methods, experiences, and proven curricula.
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The Internet also offers a never-ending source of information: basic information on various topics, online shopping for curricula and materials, articles on methodologies, support groups, and public school curricula. It even has free lessons on most topics from teachers, other homeschoolers, and even TV stations.
True classical education involves teaching reading, thinking, and speaking with considerable mastery. However, home schoolers, while agreeing with the classical education system, generally have a wide variety of resources for their children to experiment with, despite not having an official curriculum. All up to you
- To start, you'll want to touch on topics like art, science (Biology, Physics, Chemistry), languages, music, math, history, and geography.
Step 5. Seek local support
You can find local groups that meet regularly, organizations that hold regular seminars or conventions, or even online groups that exchange ideas and resources. Many groups organize cooperative classes (taught by other parents) on a variety of topics. If you begin to feel overwhelmed, frustrated, or completely alone when it comes to your family's educational process, a support group may offer counseling or simply a comforting acknowledgment that you know from other parents that you are not alone.
These groups are invaluable resources for advice on how to comply with the homeschool laws where you live. If you have any questions, a local support group is the place to go. Also, your child may meet other children who have the same type of education
Step 6. Gather your supplies
The materials for homeschooling vary greatly according to the teaching method. You can order textbooks, study kits, and learning tools online or at home school curriculum and materials outlet locations. As a cheaper alternative, many homeschoolers turn to libraries, used book stores, curriculum exchanges, thrift stores, and yard sales.
Back-to-school sales at local discount or office supply stores are the perfect places to get some basic supplies like pens, notebooks, and glue. Stock up on enough material and you will have no problems throughout the year
Method 3 of 4: During the teaching process
Step 1. Plan your day
If you choose to have a more formal educational environment in your home, you can prepare by collecting your lesson plans, materials and textbooks, or even setting up a room to carry out studies and activities. Regardless of which method you've chosen to teach at home, the best thing you can do to make things easier for yourself is to plan and prepare as much as you can before you begin.
A different method could mean that your preparation should include field trips for the rest of the year in all subjects, placing learning objects around your house, or simply switching to a mindset where you use day-to-day life as an opportunity to learn. no established plans or textbooks
Step 2. Find hands-on activities
Everyone benefits from seeing things first hand. Some activities that can be educational and easy to do are: gardening, cooking, sewing, composting, science projects, hiking, repairing the house, caring for pets, and taking apart appliances (just make sure there are no lasers or dangerous electronics working). Your children will learn different things depending on their ages, but they will all be better educated.
Make sure your activities are informative and that children learn from them. Planting flowers can be a learning activity or one in which a child must play in the dirt. If you do activities around the house, accompany them with a reading or another complementary tool
Step 3. Keep a file for each of your children's work
A thick three-ring binder with dividers for each student is a great way to keep track of schoolwork along with legal necessities. Label each separation with the topics being studied. After your child has completed a page, punch it out (using a three-hole punch) and place it in the appropriate section of the book. Remember to date each page or it will be a huge problem to find out later.
This is especially helpful if your child is planning on going to college, as some schools require work records for students who have been homeschooled. In addition, you can always use the materials to have a future reference with which to educate your next child or for your friends or family
Step 4. Follow your instincts
Trust your knowledge and instincts when it comes to your own children. Not only are you the most responsible for the education your children receive, but you are often the only one best able to recognize what they do and do not need. Use the evaluations and insights of others to guide you, but trust your own instincts regarding what your children need to learn and do during their educational progress.
Questioning is normal. You might get the impression that you do it all the time, especially in the beginning. This is when your support group becomes useful and when you should use the tools (such as the Internet) that are available to you. Chances are, you are as qualified as any other parent and have nothing to worry about
Step 5. Evaluate your progress periodically
Progress assessment occurs naturally through the individual homeschooling process, although in some areas the law requires periodic official testing or evaluation of homeschoolers. However, personal assessment should not only consider your child's academic progress, but also how the process works for all family members.
- If the teaching methods don't suit your child's learning style well, if the curriculum is too structured or not structured enough, or if the homeschooling process seems to be making things worse rather than better, then it's time for a change. Fortunately, change is something you can do quite quickly with just a little research.
- If you are not comfortable with your level of knowledge about a topic, there are standardized progress tests, such as the FCAT (Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test), that your child can give and whose results can come by mail. There are also many other tests that you can order or give online.
Method 4 of 4: Always think of your children
Step 1. Prepare your children in advance
Explain to them what will happen in a few months, including how daily life will be structured for them and for the rest of the family. Explain to your older children that while they may drop out of school, it doesn't mean they will drop their education or their friends.
- Ask them what they would like to study. For example, if you like to look at the stars, get a telescope and study astronomy. Make sure it's something that excites them. Homeschooling should be fun for students, not punishment. That is the best motivator.
- If it helps, let them know that they are part of the 1.5 million (and growing) students who will study from home this year.
Step 2. Give your tweens or teens plenty of time to adjust
Children who drop out of the standard education system for homeschooling often need some time to adjust. Instead of immediately going to “homeschool”, you may want to engage in unstructured activities and build your routine little by little. Determine the “recovery time” needed for each individual child and work with them to create a different and more enjoyable learning experience.
If they are concerned, do your research and back up your opinions with those of others'; They should not think that this is an arbitrary decision on your part. If they think they will fall behind in their studies, let them know that this means that they will be able to start taking college courses early. At best this will speed up your educational process
Step 3. Don't lose your child's old connections, and form new ones
Encourage your child to stay in touch with the friends he already has. You can encourage (but not force) him to befriend another home schooled child. In many cases, this will happen spontaneously if your family interacts with others in similar conditions through cooperative classes, field trips or sporting events for children who study at home.
One of the best things about studying at home is that you don't need 8 hours to teach your child. In fact, in a conventional institution they spend most of their time waiting. You could get to do in 4 hours what your previous school took 7. This means that both you and they have more time to develop as people
Advice
- Your local education committee can loan you a curriculum, or you can find many online.
- Since your children will have more time to learn than those studying in public or private schools, organize activities outside of the educational program, such as reading about the history of European royalty, learning a new language or skill. This will give them a more complete education.
- Get each of your children their own library card. Weekly trips to the library are a great way to spark interest in reading and learning. There are many excellent books for children, and the library is a great source of additional materials to supplement your courses. In addition, many libraries provide hours of storytelling a week and other programs geared toward home schoolers (another opportunity to socialize).
- Join an online homeschool forum or Yahoo group. Forum posts are great ways to get support and encouragement without leaving your home. Also, you can often talk to friends online about difficulties that you can't share with people in real life. These groups can be unique to some religion, teaching method or curriculum, or they can be open to all who educate their children at home. They are incredible sources of ideas and information for new and experienced educators.
- Regular trips to the library will cultivate a spirit of self-learning, something that children in public schools rarely develop. This also cultivates a love of reading in your child. He will surely appreciate it.
- Address the problem of "socialization." Get your children involved in sports activities, youth organizations, drama or music classes, youth groups, Boy Scouts groups, intellectual organizations, etc. Doing so will give them an opportunity to learn social skills and make friends. Homeschooling can give a young person the opportunity to interact with many different people in different situations, not just students of the same age in a classroom or on a playground.
- Take pictures! Don't forget to record homeschooling activities, even those that may seem monotonous. By documenting your life in a homeschool setting you show that you are active and that you are moving forward with your learning experiences. Create a scrapbook at the end of the year or start a family website, both for memories and a creative way to tell other people about your homeschooling. You can also share photos and record memories by creating a homeschool blog.
- Be a cheerful teacher. Homeschooling will become depressing for both you and your children if you get angry and frustrated with daily stresses. Take care of yourself, giving yourself time to revitalize and prepare for the multiple responsibilities combined in your roles as parent and teacher.
- Be sure to plan fun excursions like visits to botanical gardens, farmers markets, airports, or post offices. Since your child receives all the attention from his teacher, he is likely to learn a lot from these trips.
- Seek outside help when needed. If there's a topic that you don't know well enough to teach your children, consider hiring a certified tutor or asking a friend (or perhaps another homeschooling parent) with a deep understanding of the subject. be afraid to come to your house and share it with your children.
- Be flexible. If you and your family start to feel exhausted, stuck at home, or bored with daily lessons, go on a field trip! Do something fun as a family, like visiting a museum, going on a picnic, or going fishing. Not every day will turn out as you planned, plus illness or emergencies can also disrupt homeschooling. Be open to changes and enjoy the ride!
- If you are homeschooling a child with learning difficulties, seek out other people in the same conditions as you through support groups or specialized associations. This is a great sub-community, and positive support along with resources are essential to the success of homeschooling.
- Be mindful of the use of your time. Homeschooling is not an invitation to laziness. It is a door to creating a learning style that is best for your family. Those who get up early can use the morning hours to study while night owls prefer the afternoons and nights to do so. Look at the times when both you and your children are most productive.
Warnings
- Be careful when using a traditional textbook or an online curriculum. These programs have many benefits, but they are not appropriate for all learning styles and can carry negative aspects of a traditional classroom into the home. Take care to adapt whatever curriculum you use to meet your family's needs and goals.
- Don't get obsessed with your kids! Take care of yourself, go out with your spouse, occasionally talk about something other than education and children and everyone will be much happier.
- Do not exaggerate! The opportunities for educational activities and social interaction are so many that both you and your children could be overwhelmed trying to do them all. Determine what you think is most important, as well as the things your kids enjoy the most, and stick with that.
- Don't spend too much on the curriculum and materials. Homeschooling doesn't have to be expensive! Use free and low-cost resources that you can find in your community or on the Internet, and don't waste your money on never-before-seen or untested curricula.
- Don't ignore the homeschooling laws where you live. Find out the legal requirements for homeschoolers and follow them. Even ignoring what might seem like a technicality can lead to legal trouble for you and your children.
- If grades are part of your homeschooling, don't give good grades out of love or compassion. If they can do better, tell them. A “C” is acceptable for most schools. If your kids are doing work with a “C” grade, have them repeat it or study more until their work is worth an “A”. Of course, you want them to do well in their current studies, but beyond that, remember that they need to be well prepared for classes in college or for the world of work.
- For your child's best benefit, if you suffer from a mental illness such as agoraphobia, depression, or bipolar disorder, reconsider the idea of homeschooling.
- Don't insist on comparing your child to others. Your child will have more time, more days of the year, and more opportunities to learn than those with traditional instruction. Enjoy the versatility that this privilege gives you and worry less about comparing it to public school children.