Perhaps you already dismissed homeschooling. Maybe it is time to revisit it. It is becoming more and more popular and a lot of new tools are available to parents now too. Discover the tools necessary for the job.
Remember that kids don't have the kind of attention spans that adults do, so they need breaks to do well. Scheduling these breaks throughout the day will allow your child to stay interested in learning by reducing the monotony of continuous classes. Give them a chance to relax and do nothing or bounce off of the walls for a bit. This will benefit everyone.
If you have both a preschooler and an older child, you need to make time for one-on-one with the preschooler at times. Set aside an area with learning toys and crafts with which they can play. Enlist the older children to teach younger kids. This will allow both groups to learn and will instill confidence.
Textbooks are important but they should not be your only tool. Children learn from all reading material, from magazines and newspapers to comic books. The news of the day can spark interesting debate and is a useful learning tool. In the process, they will develop analytic abilities that last them throughout their life.
Homeschooling teachers should be creative. Some of the teaching resources available in the marketplace are extremely expensive, so you could end up blowing your budget if you do not take the time to create some of your own resources. Create your own flash cards using index cards that you laminate. Encouraging your children to be involved in making materials helps them feel as they are a valuable part of the process.
Prior to starting homeschooling, attend workshops or conferences. Being a teacher can be quite overwhelming. Classes and seminars can offer inspiration and guidance for almost everything involved in homeschooling. Even if you are already a seasoned homeschooler, these events are still a great place for your continuing education.
Hands-on lessons can make teaching your children a lot more enjoyable. You could take a field trip, do some experiments, collect some specimen or even cook an exotic dish. You don't even have to be learning about a whole culture; when studying Stalin, you could cook traditional eastern European dishes such as pierogies or cabbage rolls. If you are learning about WWII you can make German or Japanese foods. If you learn things with all of your senses you can learn more in the long run.
Life is the best way to learn. Always look for occasions to teach your child something new. Listen to their speech and correct any grammar mistakes that they make. You could also turn dinnertime into a learning opportunity by teaching about fractions and following instructions. Your child will pick up these skills quickly and benefit from this diverse education.
Check your state laws to see what rules there are about home schooling in your area. Visit the HLSDA website to get more information on that. You should join a organization for homeschooling to ensure you are on the up and up. The help will be worth any membership fees.
Homeschooling has many advantages that public schools do not provide. If you are worried, however, that your child may fall behind you can structure your lessons to imitate what your child would experience in school. Some schools will give you access to their tests so that you can track your child's progress. It will give you a chance to assess any weak areas in your curriculum and seek out a tutor if needed.
When homeschooling is done properly, your children will love it. You will find that there are benefits not only for your children, but for you as well! Now you know what many of the benefits are and how to prepare. Start homeschooling as soon as you feel ready to take the plunge.
Look into the homeschooling laws of your state. There is a wide variety of rules in different states concerning homeschooling, so research yours carefully. Standardized testing for homeschooled students is even required by some states. Some states force homeschool parents to register as private schools.