By Sherri Chekal
1. Have fun. Attitude is everything with home learning. Enjoy learning and your kids will enjoy it. Make it drudgery and they will respond as well. Try to make even boring tasks, pleasant at least. This is not to say that everything must be a 3-ring circus, but if you have a fresh, upbeat attitude even with times tables and spelling tests, this will reflect well on your children's enjoyment and learning potential.
2. Limit interruptions. My biggest interruption is the phone. Get a good answering machine and use it during regularly scheduled learning time. Or use voice mail. Record a message that states from this time to that time we are home educating and will get back to you after we are finished. Tell friends and relatives that this is the case, and eventually they will learn to respect this. This also means well meaning drop in visits and babysitting for friends, etc. Keep your children's learning time sacred and your family will benefit from this.
3. Dedicate your time to their learning. If you are doing 101 things while your children are trying to do bookwork, how can you expect them to concentrate and finish tasks at hand? Keep your focus on them, it is a priority that rewards!
4. Keep it simple. Be careful not to fall into the "Curriculum of the Month" club. Trying and swapping and changing your education plans with every new program that breezes by will kill your children's spirit. This is not to say that you should stay with something that is not working, just be careful not to flit about like a butterfly in a field of flowers. Your children will quickly learn that all it takes in a bit of whining and they'll have a new book, workbook or system in no time. Also, simplify your life. Too many commitments and outside activities and responsibilities can really wreck havoc with your schedule. Try to keep your life simple and you will be rewarded.
5. Have FAITH! In yourself, your kids and in God. If you are doing the best you can, you will be rewarded. How can you do any worse than an overworked, underpaid public school teacher with only 6 hours and 24 - 30 children to teach? Overcome your own shortcomings with help, tutoring assistance and your own re-education. Don't count yourself short. Children learn in any environment even the slums of Calcutta! Provide them with your time and enthusiasm, good basic materials and faith and you will do as well if not better than that poor teacher can. You have the best interest of your children in your heart. Let it work for them.
6. When in doubt READ! If the washing machine is flooding, the baby is sick, your toddler is fussy and lunch is burning don't just give up, get reading. Reading is the best way for your kids to learn and retain. Gather up the brood and snuggle on the couch with a good classic. Reading aloud is a wonderful activity for your family. Even experienced readers will love to hear a story aloud, especially when they don't have to sound out each word and get through those they may not know. There is a rhyme and rhythm to books read aloud that delights even little ones. Make it a drama performance, use voices change the sound levels of your voice, and discuss the plot. You can even tape record your story time so that pre-readers can listen again and again and enjoy the story while you worry about that washing machine!
7. Surround yourself with home school mentors. Whether it's an online group, or a support group, or just a great mom you met at church or at the library, keep in touch with these people! Ask questions; ask for helpful advice, most likely, they will be happy to help, because someone in their life helped them. Don't do this alone. Even a good home education magazine will help you in your quest. Read home education books when you are in need of a little boost.
8. Use the Library! What a wonderful resource most public libraries are. Not only books of any and every subject but reference books, video tapes, audio tapes, learning materials, computer accesses, computer software and so much more. With just a notebook and some pencils, I truly believe you could educate your children with just a library at hand! Don't spend a fortune on all these reference books for home. Use the libraries! And the librarians love homeschoolers
9. Take frequent break days. If you are sick, or some family obligations make a day difficult, take a day off. Instead of great big weeks off or even the whole summer, take frequent days off through the year to refresh and empower you. The children will be pleased and you will get a chance to regroup. Just make sure they aren't every other day!
10. Watch for outside time stealers! Field trips and social outings and classes for this and that are important, just make sure you are not overdoing it. Too many errands and outings can kill a day's learning and overwhelm your schedule. Remember that you are home schooling not car schooling! Try and schedule a day that is busy and three or four days that are not. Your family will appreciate this!
copyright © 2006 by Sherri L. Chekal
Sherri Chekal is the art director at Westvon Publishing. She is the editor of the popular http://www.TheParentTeacher.com and the http://www.TheHomeschoolShop.com websites, as well as offering her graphic talents to several bands through websites, promotion and writing talents.
Homeschooling: The Art Of Real-Life Education
By JB Anthony
Homeschooling is the education of through the non-traditional system of education found in mainstream public and private school. In homeschooling, a child is being taught the same subject matters as those students going to traditional, mainstream, public or private schools. Although homeschooling does not have the strict structure found in mainstream education, when done properly, homeschooling a child can, nonetheless, develop him or her into a well-rounded person based on the more natural and nurturing atmosphere that the home is.
Parents who are not very familiar with homeschooling are often concerned about the kind of learning experience in homeschooling their children. They worry that they will not be able to give their children the adequate academic education needed for college. On the contrary, homeschooled children fare better when they reach college. Universities welcome the diversity of experiences offered by their homeschooled students who are academically-sound as well as actively enthusiastic in in-campus extra-curricular activities. When it comes to the academic course requirements of homeschooled children, homeschooling parents need not worry. The homeschooling kits from K to 12th grade are available in local bookstores, and even online. Furthermore, there are many free online curriculum for homeschooled children.
Social development is also one concern of parents who are contemplating on homeschooling their children. They fear that homeschooled children do not get enough interaction from their peers and from the outside community. What these parents don’t know is that homeschooled children and homeschooling parents can join a homeschooling support group. Here, relevant learning experiences such as going to theme parks, a trip to the zoo, a tour in the museum or library can be done together with other homeschooled children, thus, providing a more natural environment or scenario for children to both learn and interact with their peers and form social bonds in a highly-educational context. Community services with other homeschooled children in the area will also expose and immerse the child in the real-life situation of the community, allowing them a better and healthy view of what they can do as individuals and as a group, to help society.
Homeschooling is not for the faint-hearted parent as it requires much dedication. Homeschooling requires much time, patience and creativity from the parent. For working parents, homeschooling might be harder than one thinks. However, if you hear about the violence in public schools, gangs, the ratio of teacher to students and the inability of your children to absorb as much as they can due to distractions, homeschooling is definitely the only other option for parents who want nothing but the best for their kids.
JB Anthony is the webmaster of http://www.guide-to-homeschooling.com For links to homeschooling curricula, homeschooling kits, homeschooling groups in your area, articles resources on homeschooling, please visit http://www.guide-to-homeschooling.com
Homeschooling is the education of through the non-traditional system of education found in mainstream public and private school. In homeschooling, a child is being taught the same subject matters as those students going to traditional, mainstream, public or private schools. Although homeschooling does not have the strict structure found in mainstream education, when done properly, homeschooling a child can, nonetheless, develop him or her into a well-rounded person based on the more natural and nurturing atmosphere that the home is.
Parents who are not very familiar with homeschooling are often concerned about the kind of learning experience in homeschooling their children. They worry that they will not be able to give their children the adequate academic education needed for college. On the contrary, homeschooled children fare better when they reach college. Universities welcome the diversity of experiences offered by their homeschooled students who are academically-sound as well as actively enthusiastic in in-campus extra-curricular activities. When it comes to the academic course requirements of homeschooled children, homeschooling parents need not worry. The homeschooling kits from K to 12th grade are available in local bookstores, and even online. Furthermore, there are many free online curriculum for homeschooled children.
Social development is also one concern of parents who are contemplating on homeschooling their children. They fear that homeschooled children do not get enough interaction from their peers and from the outside community. What these parents don’t know is that homeschooled children and homeschooling parents can join a homeschooling support group. Here, relevant learning experiences such as going to theme parks, a trip to the zoo, a tour in the museum or library can be done together with other homeschooled children, thus, providing a more natural environment or scenario for children to both learn and interact with their peers and form social bonds in a highly-educational context. Community services with other homeschooled children in the area will also expose and immerse the child in the real-life situation of the community, allowing them a better and healthy view of what they can do as individuals and as a group, to help society.
Homeschooling is not for the faint-hearted parent as it requires much dedication. Homeschooling requires much time, patience and creativity from the parent. For working parents, homeschooling might be harder than one thinks. However, if you hear about the violence in public schools, gangs, the ratio of teacher to students and the inability of your children to absorb as much as they can due to distractions, homeschooling is definitely the only other option for parents who want nothing but the best for their kids.
JB Anthony is the webmaster of http://www.guide-to-homeschooling.com For links to homeschooling curricula, homeschooling kits, homeschooling groups in your area, articles resources on homeschooling, please visit http://www.guide-to-homeschooling.com
Guide To Homeschooling: How To Start With Homeschooling
By JB Anthony
To homeschool or not to homeschool is a tough choice a parent has to decide on. And once the decision of homeschooling your child has been made, the next step is to start homeschooling and to start it right.
Let us say for example that given the advantages and disadvantages of homeschooling, after having considered the amount of work, creativity and patience it requires from the parent, you decide that homeschooling is, indeed, what your child needs, you ask the next question: What are the things you need to do and to find out once you have decided to homeschool your child?
First and foremost, prepare the home environment. Make the necessary physical re-arrangements and organization of areas where your child can study in. Set up a schedule for your lessons by day or by week. It is also important to start developing a record system for your child’s progress within the year, and for possible state requirements on homeschooling.
Next, find out these homeschooling requirements. Usually, different states have different homeschooling requirements. It is helpful to get in touch and join a homeschooling support group in your area to help you along with the necessary information on the state requirements for homeschooling. Homeschooling support groups is also advisable for when you need to expose your child to educational trips and tours to museums, libraries, zoos, as usually, parents from your homeschooling support group will plan these outings together for their children.
Choose a curriculum and homeschooling method for your child. At the beginning, a parent usually dabbles between different homeschooling methods for the child. But as the year progresses on, the parent may narrow the child’s homeschooling methods based on the child’s learning style and learning ability, and based on the child’s positive response to a method.
Know what resources you need for the year. As parents, the responsibility of knowing beforehand the books, materials and homeschooling supplies you might need for the entire year rests solely on your hands. But as mentioned, things become a lot easier with a homeschooling support group, with a sensible parental head between your shoulders, with a nurturing heart, and with time.
JB Anthony is the webmaster of http://www.guide-to-homeschooling.com For more information on How To Start Homeschooling, and for homeschooling materials, please log on to http://www.guide-to-homeschooling.com
To homeschool or not to homeschool is a tough choice a parent has to decide on. And once the decision of homeschooling your child has been made, the next step is to start homeschooling and to start it right.
Let us say for example that given the advantages and disadvantages of homeschooling, after having considered the amount of work, creativity and patience it requires from the parent, you decide that homeschooling is, indeed, what your child needs, you ask the next question: What are the things you need to do and to find out once you have decided to homeschool your child?
First and foremost, prepare the home environment. Make the necessary physical re-arrangements and organization of areas where your child can study in. Set up a schedule for your lessons by day or by week. It is also important to start developing a record system for your child’s progress within the year, and for possible state requirements on homeschooling.
Next, find out these homeschooling requirements. Usually, different states have different homeschooling requirements. It is helpful to get in touch and join a homeschooling support group in your area to help you along with the necessary information on the state requirements for homeschooling. Homeschooling support groups is also advisable for when you need to expose your child to educational trips and tours to museums, libraries, zoos, as usually, parents from your homeschooling support group will plan these outings together for their children.
Choose a curriculum and homeschooling method for your child. At the beginning, a parent usually dabbles between different homeschooling methods for the child. But as the year progresses on, the parent may narrow the child’s homeschooling methods based on the child’s learning style and learning ability, and based on the child’s positive response to a method.
Know what resources you need for the year. As parents, the responsibility of knowing beforehand the books, materials and homeschooling supplies you might need for the entire year rests solely on your hands. But as mentioned, things become a lot easier with a homeschooling support group, with a sensible parental head between your shoulders, with a nurturing heart, and with time.
JB Anthony is the webmaster of http://www.guide-to-homeschooling.com For more information on How To Start Homeschooling, and for homeschooling materials, please log on to http://www.guide-to-homeschooling.com
Home Schooling - The Disadvantages
By James Hunaban
While there are many benefits to home schooling there is also a downside, so you have to give it some serious consideration before you go down the home education route.
One thing to consider is the time that you have to devote to the schooling of your children. You may have to sacrifice part of your social life, as well as the disruption to your shopping routine, coffee mornings, and other daily business.
You must realize that the onus is on you to ensure your child gets an education which is good as or better than he/she would have got at a regular school. If your child’s education is seen to be lacking in any way, it will reflect badly on you as a teacher and as a parent.
If you are truly dedicated to tutoring your child by yourself you will probably have to put any career plans of your own on the back burner. This could mean financial hardship and all the added stress and worry that this brings.
You will lose some of your freedom of course, as one big advantage of regular schools is the fact that they give you a break from the kids, and a bit of free time to get on with other things. Even when you have assigned homework, you have to be on duty to give help if required. All obvious stuff, I know, but worth thinking about.
Something else to think about is that with your child staying at home all the time, when are they going to get out and interact with their peers and adults? You will have to make a special effort, as no doubt you are aware, this is a very important part of growing up.
To achieve a well rounded education, you should enroll your child in various outside activities, although you could say that this defeats the object of home schooling, at least to some degree.
It has been noted that the child who is home schooled does not seem to do as well in SAT tests as their regular school peers.
James Hunaban is the owner of http://www.home-schooling-advice.net/ a site full of Home Schooling information.
While there are many benefits to home schooling there is also a downside, so you have to give it some serious consideration before you go down the home education route.
One thing to consider is the time that you have to devote to the schooling of your children. You may have to sacrifice part of your social life, as well as the disruption to your shopping routine, coffee mornings, and other daily business.
You must realize that the onus is on you to ensure your child gets an education which is good as or better than he/she would have got at a regular school. If your child’s education is seen to be lacking in any way, it will reflect badly on you as a teacher and as a parent.
If you are truly dedicated to tutoring your child by yourself you will probably have to put any career plans of your own on the back burner. This could mean financial hardship and all the added stress and worry that this brings.
You will lose some of your freedom of course, as one big advantage of regular schools is the fact that they give you a break from the kids, and a bit of free time to get on with other things. Even when you have assigned homework, you have to be on duty to give help if required. All obvious stuff, I know, but worth thinking about.
Something else to think about is that with your child staying at home all the time, when are they going to get out and interact with their peers and adults? You will have to make a special effort, as no doubt you are aware, this is a very important part of growing up.
To achieve a well rounded education, you should enroll your child in various outside activities, although you could say that this defeats the object of home schooling, at least to some degree.
It has been noted that the child who is home schooled does not seem to do as well in SAT tests as their regular school peers.
James Hunaban is the owner of http://www.home-schooling-advice.net/ a site full of Home Schooling information.
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