Until somewhat recently, homeschooling had something of an undesirable reputation in terms of socialization and emotional growth. Today, we realize that is not the case. Computers and social media have made it so that homeschooled children can connect easily to others their age. To learn more about homeschooling for today’s child or teen, continue reading.
Every state has a set of homeschooling laws in place. Different school districts have varying requirements on how many days a child must be homeschooled, or how the lesson plans should be structured. The majority of States have a standard curriculum, but you also might have to put together something on your own. Align your year with that of the nearest school district to maintain uniformity.
Kids are full of energy and do not have very long attention spans so keep this in mind when you are homeschooling. Hours of reading books and studying will not get them interested in learning. Children need to run around and do nothing every now and then. It will be a beneficial move to everyone concerned.
Don’t neglect using art when creating a lesson plan, even when art isn’t the thing that is being taught. Making craft representations of the subjects of lessons is a great way to learn. They could try clay, music or even put a skit together about the Civil War or Great Depression. Your children will remember a lesson more efficiently if they are required to render it in a different medium, either by doing an illustration, writing a short play or anything else you can think of.
Make contact with your area’s Homeschool Association to gain a good grasp of the specific laws, regulations and practices that they want you to follow. Depending on your state, you may have to register your homeschool as a privately owned school, or make sure your kids can pass standardized tests. You must also reach out to someone in your school district to verify your homeschooling intentions. Otherwise you may find yourself subject to truancy charges.
Make a list of the positives and negatives of public school and then do the same for homeschooling. Use this list to create a lesson plan that ensures your kids get everything from homeschooling you felt they missed at the public school. It will literally become a checklist of situations to avoid and those which you need to focus on as a part of proper learning. Study this list and make sure that it is on hand at all times.
You need to know when you need to throw in the towel and give in. If your lesson plan isn’t working, try something different. Think up a different way to teach them. There are a ton of resources, including hiring someone to help. Try new methods regularly but focus on the ones that seem to work best.
It is very easy for your children to feel isolated when they are being homeschooled. Local networking offers an invaluable resource to connect parents and home schooled students. Check local groups or find discussion boards about homeschooling online. A solid group of fellow homeschoolers will provide many perspectives, insights, and experiences to enhance your homeschooling.
Education is so important for a child’s development. Children that are homeschooled have just as much room to grow as any other child. They learn so much more when they’re immersed in their lessons. It is your duty to provide your children with a great education.