While every child, including yours, is entitled to a good education, public or private schools are not your only option. Homeschooling is growing in popularity as the preferred method of teaching children. You can give your children a great education in many different ways, right at home. This article will help you decide if homeschooling is right for your family.
Verify the laws of your state when it comes to choosing your homeschool curriculum. Legislation regarding homeschooling differs from state to state. Some require you to submit lesson plans, and others allow you free reign. Some states have a required curriculum, but others you will have to make your own. In most cases it is best to organize your homeschooling year to coincide with the school district.
Speak with other homeschooling families and go on outings with them. This will be enjoyable and give your kids a chance to socialize. You can also get group rates for certain places you go to.
You can learn from life itself. There is more that can be learned apart from the standard class curriculum. For example, correct grammatical mistakes they make as they talk. Also make your child an active participant in preparing a meal, learning math through measuring and portioning. This will be a fun and efficient way to learn.
Though you might want to keep your kids away from public school kids, they still require socialization. Plan to get together with family and friends for playdates. Take children to the local park and allow them to play with kids who are there. Encourage them to join clubs, teams and other groups.
Think carefully about where to hold your homeschooling lessons in your home. Where can they study without distraction? If you do not have an area big enough for everything you need to teach, you can always hold lessons in other rooms of the house as well. It should also be in an easily visible area.
When teaching older children and preschoolers, make sure that you give them some one-on-one attention. Make sure that there is a dedicated area with appropriate toys and crafts that will hold their attention. If possible, allow your student to interact with and ‘teach' the younger ones. This will help them both to learn, and the older kids will appreciate your confidence in their ability to teach.
You may not prefer your kids socializing with kids at public schools, but the interaction they get is important. Plan some play dates with neighbors, cousins or other home-schooled children in your area. Let kids play at the park with other children. Go out of your way to get your children involved in ballet, sports, 4H, or other clubs where they will be able to interact with others.
Reach out to like-minded parents who homeschool. Parents decided to teach their children at home for many different reasons. You might find some parents that decide to homeschool for the same reasons you did and have the same values. Homeschooling groups will allow you to get a lot of great support and information, especially if you're just beginning.
In a time of budget cuts and overcrowded schools, there has never been a better time to consider homeschooling. In order to make sure your children are progressing, test them with your state's tests. This will let you know of any weak areas that you need to work on.
It is our sincere hope that this article has given you a complete and thorough understanding of the subject of homeschooling. Armed with this information, you can now make a wise decision regarding your children's education. Even if you ultimately decide not to homeschool, you can still use this advice to help your children get the most from their education.
Try to be as creative as possible when you are teaching. There are, of course, commercially available resources, but they can cost a pretty penny. You can easily make flash-card or laminated materials. Have the children help you and education will seem more fun to them.