There are countless reasons why you may have the desire to homeschool your children, whether this is due to the issues surrounding public school security and safety, or even simply wanting to teach your children more alternative views.
Thankfully, no matter why you decide to start, it doesn’t have to be difficult to master the art of homeschooling when you have all of the right skills and ideas!
This guide contains some of the best steps that you can follow to provide your little ones with the ultimate homeschooling experience, so what are you waiting for? Read on to discover more!
Accept Your Limitations & Adapt Accordingly
The first and most important step that you need to follow when you decide to homeschool your children is to recognise and accept your limitations.
It’s likely that you are not a qualified teacher, and that you may have very little experience in specific subject areas. It’s also likely that you don’t have the ability to provide your child with a whole gaggle of other kids to socialize with in class. These are all limitations that you need to think about and examine before you undertake the responsibility of homeschooling, as it’s essential that you can take the opportunity to adapt accordingly so that they don’t have to miss out.
Fortunately it can be super simple to fill the gaps, as there are so many innovative ideas that you can explore to make sure your children enjoy a complete learning experience. To tackle your lack of professional training, you can take some to read informative resources on the web that were created to help guide teachers in the right direction.
You can also choose to take a course, whether through an open university or even online, as this is a brilliant way to pick up worthwhile skills and ideas.
To combat a lack of socialization opportunities, you can organize play dates with other local homeschoolers or even encourage your children to join a sports team. Sports teams help keep your kids active, teach them team-building skills, and encourage them to make friends with other children their age.
Try To Create A Month-By-Month Plan
When you first start your homeschooling journey, it can seem a little tricky to try and fill each day with sufficient learning opportunities. Figuring out what to actually do to actually help your little ones grow and flourish when you have no real plan of action will certainly be difficult, so you need to sit down and try to create a 4 week plan that will keep you busy and ensure your kids can stay on track.
It will be hard to pull new topics out of thin air when you’re sitting around the table with your kids ready and eager to learn, but having a good plan to work from will mean that you will be raring to go.
Try to plan one month in advance, as looking ahead for no more than 30 days is a manageable time frame that allows you breathing space to think up enough inspiration to fill each day with fun. When you take the time to plan, you can ensure that you aren’t missing out on any topics that may be of great importance.
Take a couple of days around the middle of the month to sit down and plan for the month that approaches. It’s a good idea to use the same notebook, as this way you can build on any previous months lessons and link smoothly from one topic to the next without any abrupt changes.
You don’t need to feel limited by your plan, as you don’t have to set out day-by-day agendas. Instead, work freely and explore your chosen topics by picking whatever feels right on that day. If you need a little inspiration, then don’t fret, as you can find fourth grade worksheets and countless other resources on the web.
Don’t Limit Yourself To One Setting
Nearly every public school student will gladly admit that one of the most terrible restraints of their chosen educational route is the fact that they have to be trapped inside a boring classroom for hours each day.
Having to watch through the windows while the world passes you by as you sit motionless at a desk can make a child feel as though they are almost imprisoned at school, and this could be why such a large percentage of kids lose focus, cause mischief, or sit daydreaming rather than actually learning.
For this reason, you should never limit yourself to one setting when you’re homeschooling your children, as heading outdoors and exploring new and interesting places will keep your kids interested and inspired.
When you head outside, you can immerse your kids in the full experience of learning. They’ll be able to explore the world in all of its fascinating beauty on their own terms, using their initiative and imagination to the fullest.
Exploring different settings will likely inspire your children to ask more questions, and the fresh air and sunshine will be wonderful for their well-being too! You can set up a lesson in your backyard, travel to a local park, head to a museum or art gallery, and so much more.
There might be a certain topic that your kids would be better off learning in action, like farming or gardening, science (biology, physics, etc).
This allows you to take your lessons to a new level with kinesthetic lessons that allow them to get involved rather than forcing reading from a book. Such lessons will encourage your little ones to become inquisitive and confident learners.
Take A Day Off
One big issue that many new homeschoolers find is that it can become difficult to take a day off. Each day can be seen as a learning opportunity for your little ones and it’s all too easy to immerse them wholeheartedly in the world of education, but both you and your kids need to be able to relax and unwind every now and then for the sake of your physical and mental health.
It can be a good idea to implement one day each week to rest and self care, as this is a good habit for your children to get into from an early age. This is something that would rarely be taught in public schools too, as more often than not even after the school day is done a child will be sent away with ‘homework’ that eats into their free time.
Choosing a Monday is always a good option, as this is a day that most people dread due to it signalling the end of the weekend and the start of a new week. Instead, your kids will look forward to Mondays as they can chill out and relax at home.
Using your day off as a chance to indulge in self-care will benefit both you and your kids. You can have a long sleep in, make a quick (but healthy) meal, and even have a long hot bath. Just make sure that you have 24 hours once a week where your kids don’t have to think about lessons or learning, as you all deserve a little break!
With any luck, this ultimate homeschooling guide will help you to become a confident and inspiring teacher in no time at all. Good luck, and don’t forget to have fun!
