Without a proper education, your children will have a hard time succeeding. They will be living with you for a long time or working a bad job. How can you ensure that your children get a good education? Homeschooling might be the answer for you. Consider the following advice when homeschooling your children.
Homeschooling can be really difficult if you also have a baby or very young child to take care of. In this situation, spend certain parts of the day on each child. You can even include lessons which keep both kids engaged. Have your older child help out your younger child in a way that helps them as well, such as reading a book.
You must know the laws of your state. Each state has its own set of rules and requirements for homeschooling standards, so never assume that your bases are all covered. Some states want parents to have standardized testing done, and other states have different rules. Some states go so far as to expect parents to register as a school.
Check your state law prior to scheduling a homeschooling curriculum. Some states have different laws for teaching at home. The majority of States have a standard curriculum, but you also might have to put together something on your own. You should attempt to follow the school district's calendar when organizing your homeschooling lessons for the year.
If you are teaching both younger and older children, make sure that you have one on one time with them. Create an area just for them with special toys and craft supplies. Guide the older children in teaching the younger ones. This will show the older kids that you trust them, and encourage bonding between them.
Have the whole family pitch in with chores, or hire a cleaning service. Homeschooling requires a lot of time. Don't try to do everything on your own. If help is offered, do not be too proud to accept it.
Lesson planning is important but don't forget to plan your budget for materials. Use this budget to purchase materials, go on field trips and buy school supplies. Create an account for every student. Pad the budget a little in anticipation of unexpected expenses.
All your kids need alone time with you and each other. Set up a place for your kids to have arts and crafts matericals as well as educations toys. The older students can help by reading to them, too. They can both learn, and you can instill a sense of pride and responsibility in your older kids.
Stay in contact with other homeschoolers. There are any number of reasons that people decide to homeschool, so find people who have similar objectives as you do. Find parents who share the same beliefs that you do. Joining one of these organizations can be an invaluable source of support, even more so during those critical first few months.
Single Subject
Study units separately so your child can learn the most. Using the unit study approach, the student covers a single subject during each period. They can dive deeper into a single subject. One example is a 6-week unit on classical music. Attend a live classical music performance at the end of the six weeks to impress its value upon your child. This provides a more well-rounded approach-one that is likely to remain with your child much longer.
When teaching your kids something, provide hands-on opportunities. For instance, if they are learning foreign cultures, cook foreign foods from that culture. 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 World War II is your topic, pick foods from each county as you learn about them. Your children can learn more by engaging all five of their senses in holistic lessons like this.
Your child needs an excellent education to be successful in the modern world. Knowledge opens doors, and the proper education is vital for that. You have the ability to give your kids a great education by way of homeschooling them. Take the advice you learned here and use it to watch your children's minds expand and grow.