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How to Home School Kids
Have you ever considered homeschooling your children? I have – many times. I have a number of friends who homeschool their children and I’ve met a whole bunch more since I’ve been working at The Kids Gym. I’ve had many conservations on How to Home School Kids and I have to say, each discussion edges me a little closer to going for it. Homeschooling Moms are inspiring. And they seem so relaxed and comfortable in their decision to homeschool.
Just yesterday, I met a friend in the park who is happily homeschooling her 2 boys. For her eldest son, traditional Schooling became an unworkable option. He started School at 4-years-old but became more and more anxious. He started having nightmares and breaking out in hives before School. When the why becomes so important, you find a way to work out the how. And start reading posts, just like one. Special Thanks to Katrina D Keller for her helpful tips below.
So, you’ve finally decided to homeschool your children. You’ve made plans to hire tutors to provide home tuition (if not, find one here). You’ve talked to your kids’ teachers, friends as well as other parents, and thought long and hard about all the pros and cons of homeschooling. You’ve even transformed your spare guest room into a fully-equipped little classroom.
Once you’ve decided that your son or daughter will be homeschooled, things may become a bit overwhelming. There will be moments where you might be reconsidering the entire undertaking.
You may be wondering:
- How will this whole homeschooling thing work?
- How can make my child not to miss school?
- How can I get him out of school?
- How will he or she cope?
- What do I teach?
- What about textbooks?
- How will he or she make friends?
- How will we deal will all the stress?
Yikes!
But, it’s perfectly fine if this is your first time. Most parents feel this way because they’ve no clear idea where to begin.
Don’t worry, homeschooling isn’t as difficult what most people seem to think it is. And the best thing about homeschooling is that the experience can be fun and fulfilling.
Here are some useful tips on how to homeschool your children:
List your reasons for homeschooling
Write down all the main reasons why you have decided to homeschool your children.
List the goals you want to achieve from homeschooling.
Ask yourself:
- How long will you homeschool?
- How do the schools fare where I live?
- What do I want my children to achieve from the education?
Keep in mind—homeschooling is more than a full-time job and things can become extremely daunting if not managed according to plan. So make a list of all the reasons why you wanted your children to be homeschooled and follow them. It will help you stay focused.
Set realistic educational goals
Regardless whether you’re teaching them Biology or Literature, always try to achieve your educational goals.
Determine in advance what you want your child to learn and how can you measure their progress.
Make a list of short-term and long-term goals and stick to them as much as possible.
Homeschooling should be fun
As we mentioned earlier, homeschooling is more than a full-time job and can tire you out. It’s not always fun and you may have second thoughts on why you’ve decided to homeschool in the first place. Balancing the roles of a teacher and parent isn’t easy.
However, homeschooling can be fun. For instance, after you finished teaching Spanish, watch a Spanish movie or a TV program with your child or meet up with some Spanish speaking friends for a playdate. This will not only increase your child’s interest and curiosity in the language, you’ll also learn a few things.
Reach out to homeschooling support groups
You aren’t the only parent homeschooling their children. As homeschooling becomes more and more popular, it’s very likely that you’ll find a homeschooling community in your area. Find them and consider joining in any one of the groups.
You can also search for homeschooling support groups online. Search for homeschooling support groups on social media sites like Facebook. You’ll find Facebook pages of homeschooling support groups in your area.
You can follow them or send a friend request asking them to add you. Homeschooling groups are helpful when you’re looking for specific questions about homeschooling, homeschooling conferences and much more.
Learn how to teach
Just because you have a Masters degree in Math or French, doesn’t make you a good teacher. You should have teaching skills and the knowledge on how to teach a particular subject in a manner your child will understand.
Improve your teaching skills by taking teaching courses, reading books, and attending teaching workshops.
Socialization and life skills are important
Socialization is something most parents’ homeschooling their children give much thought to. Parents know that one of the major downsides of homeschooling is lack of socialization among the children.
Your children may not be able to make friends easily when they’re homeschooled. It’s much easier to find friends if your kids are attending a traditional school. That’s why it’s so critical to involve your son or daughter in their community.
Encourage them to:
- participate in sports
- scouts
- charity groups
- other homeschool groups
- Take your kids on field trips with other children. Make sure the field trips have activities where they can work with other groups on the trip.
About the Author:
Katrina D. Keller is a well-known blogger who has a wide variety of interests. She is a Writer, Editor & Blogger. She is currently a blogger for https://smiletutor.sg/blog in a genuine effort to provide the best quality content to her readers. She loves reading books. When she is not working you can find her travelling or hanging out.
Have you considered homeschooling? Or are you already homeschooling your children? We’d love to hear your comments below.