Homeschooling is not new. Parents have been homeschooling their children for many years. There are many reasons why parents choose to homeschool their children. The reasons are varied, but the most common are religious, philosophical, or out of concern for the academic environment in the public schools. However, there are many reasons why parents choose to homeschool their children.
There are many things homeschoolers do that are not good for their sanity, including the following: a) Having less interaction with their children b) Having less interaction with neighbors c) Being more isolated from the secular world d) Living in the country with no nearby medical care e) Living in the country with no nearby pharmacy f) Staying away from society, including secular friends g) Staying away from government-run schools, if they are nearby h) Staying away from all non-Christian groups, including secular friends i) Staying away from the public school system, if they are nearby j) Staying away from employers who are not Christians k) Staying away from the
One of the biggest challenges for homeschool parents is keeping up with the kids whilst still working or studying. There are many things that make homeschooling easier, but it is possible to get overwhelmed. We have 5 tips to help keep you sane. These are for any homeschooling parent who needs to maintain sanity!
Homeschooling your kid takes a lot of time and effort, and with the coronavirus epidemic affecting children throughout the country, parents are finding themselves juggling a job, a house, and a classroom at the same time. We consulted professionals for homeschooling advice to help you adjust to your new position as a teacher.
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5 homeschooling suggestions to get you started
According to Jamie Gaddy, a college education professor, homeschooler, and content and community manager for Homeschool.com, managing your child’s education may seem like the last straw for stressed-out parents. She said, “Relax.” “Trying to integrate a school schedule into your day at home while still working may be very stressful.” Instead, begin with these suggestions and adjust as needed.
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1. Outsource the majority of your job.
Choose a few key core topics that you don’t want to teach and locate a ready-made curriculum for each. Jamie Heston, a homeschooler, homeschooling consultant, and board member of the Homeschool Association of California, stated, “You don’t have to do everything with your kid.” Heston discovered readymade math and language arts courses when she first began homeschooling her children, then developed her own activities and lessons in other areas. She said, “Just having a few of things I wasn’t accountable for let me take the jump and start.”
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2. Keep them focused on the job at hand.
Even if your child’s school provides a curriculum, you’ll still have to deal with what is perhaps the most difficult aspect of teaching: keeping kids engaged. Here are some suggestions to help kids stay focused on their studies:
- Provide incentives. Give your kid a reward if he or she completes a task or stays attentive for a certain period of time. Gaddy suggested, “Make it something they’ll like.” You may give your kid more screen time, allow him or her select what the family eats for supper, make up a Zoom date with a friend, or let your child choose a reward at random from a basket of stickers, tiny toys, and snacks.
- Motivate yourself by listening to music. Is your kid able to concentrate with music playing in the background? Make a pleasant playlist for them to listen to while working. Tell them you’ll all walk outdoors for a break as soon as the music stops, Gaddy suggested.
- Work and play should be alternated. Make a to-do list as well as a list of enjoyable activities. Gaddy recommends that your kid work for 10 minutes before engaging in a pleasant activity of their choosing for another 10 minutes.
- Speak with the instructor. Before you get too worked up about your kid having to do all of the tasks that the instructor sends home, find out which ones are required. Then prioritize what’s essential and give yourself a break on the rest.
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3. Don’t be afraid to think beyond the box.
To learn, your kid does not need to be seated in front of a computer or at a table with a textbook. Gaddy suggests doing a lot of hands-on activities like baking (which is a fantastic way to learn arithmetic) and playing games. “You teach reasoning and critical thinking abilities when you play games,” Gaddy said. You may even ask your kid to assist the family in dealing with the present situation. According to reports, Americans spent $178 collecting goods to fend off the coronavirus, so enlist your child’s assistance in finding methods to save money.
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4. Follow a schedule — or don’t.
Make a timetable if you’re a super-organized person who thrives on them, Gaddy said. If precise timetables stress you out, create a to-do list or an informal plan for your day instead. Remember that, unlike schools, you have the whole day, as well as nights and weekends, to spend with your children. So, unless you work during those hours, there’s no need to adhere to a strict 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. schedule.
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5. Follow your children’s lead.
Allow your child’s learning style and interests to direct and influence your homeschooling. Allow your kid to read books and make reports on what they read if they like it. “Google some scientific experiments,” Gaddy advised if kids like science and getting their hands messy. Studying the Revolutionary War was one of her favorite things to teach her children. She said, “We created corn husk dolls and candles.” “During that particular period, we did things they did.”
And don’t lose hope. “This is a fantastic chance to spend some quality time with your children,” Gaddy added.
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Quick tips for students of all ages
If the epidemic has forced you to homeschool, you’ll need some ways to keep yourself (and the kids) motivated. The ideal technique is determined by you, your personality, and the ages of your children. Here’s a breakdown of how to homeschool by age:
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Years of pre-school
Make a game plan. Play is the name of the game in preschool education. J. Allen Weston, executive director of the National Home School Association, said, “Children of this age need to play, experience the environment, and acquire social skills.”
Concentrate in brief spurts. Spread more intense “focus” activities out throughout the course of the day in 15-minute intervals.
Get your hands dirty. Along with reading, the day should be packed with plenty of hands-on activities to help youngsters develop their motor abilities. Here is a list of preschool activities. Other suggestions include making a weekly project centered on a letter of the alphabet, putting up a math center with countable items, and practicing writing in a salt tray.
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Years in elementary school
Start with the fundamentals. Children’s foundations for middle and high school are laid in the elementary years, so reinforce math, reading, and other key topics. Get ready-made courses in these areas and handle the enjoyable things yourself to save your sanity.
Make it enjoyable. Gaddy believes it is critical to make learning enjoyable for primary students. Children may find a love of studying in elementary school and begin a life of pursuing their interests and curiosity.
Plan things for the youngsters to do indoors. Look for methods to make learning and practicing the fundamentals enjoyable for your kids by using games and activities that involve physical activity. Homeschool.com has compiled a list of 50 free at-home activities for kids. Here’s a “huge” list of indoor activities for kids that may help you and your family stop the virus from spreading.
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Years in middle school
Encourage critical thinking. Middle school is where kids begin to study on their own and think critically. Here are some ideas for promoting independent thinking: Urge open-ended questions, encourage discussion, and ask your kid to study and educate you about a subject. For instance, ask your kid to imagine themselves as a historical person and compose a speech from their perspective.
High school preparation. Keep in mind that middle school prepares you for high school. Keep reinforcing the fundamentals of reading, writing, and arithmetic that you learned in elementary school.
Provide options for students to choose from. Encourage and assist your pupils in pursuing their interests, whether they are in a certain subject area or a specialized field. Begin to provide electives, or topic options, for courses and research.
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Years in high school
Maintain your concentration. High school is when students begin to think about the future. It’s critical to keep your kid focused on the fundamentals, particularly if they want to go to college. Language arts, math, health, science, geography, history, and a foreign language are among the basic high school courses.
Keep a watchful eye on the horizon. Set college and/or professional objectives with your children. Then collaborate with them to create a curriculum that will help them achieve their objectives. Begin by reviewing a list of often needed high school courses for college entrance. Then students must select whether they will take these courses online or at a community college in their area.
Take virtual field excursions to study. Right present, your high schooler is unable to participate in an out-of-state field trip or even visit the local museum. As a result, send them on a virtual learning adventure. “There are so many possibilities,” Gaddy said. “Virtual tours are being offered by museums and Broadway musicals are providing free streaming versions. During this period, so many free resources have been available.”
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Resources for homeschooling that are completely free
Do you have no idea where to go for a homeschool curriculum? These websites provide free tools and programs to help you get started.
This story was syndicated by MediaFeed.org and originally published on LendingTree.com.
Makidotvn/iStock contributed to this image.
One of the biggest concerns a parent has is whether or not they are providing a nurturing and supportive environment for their child, and if they feel like they are, then that is great news. However, no matter how great their situation, there is bound to be times when you feel like you are running on empty, and it is those times that you need to find a way to solve the problem.. Read more about homeschooling basics and let us know what you think.
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