Overcoming Homeschool Burnout

Overcoming Homeschool Burnout

by | Sep 12, 2013 | Tips

At some point in your homeschool journey, you’re bound to experience burnout. It is important to do your best to avoid this though. Otherwise it will affect the learning process. With this in mind, here are a few tips to help you along your journey. Know Your Limits You need to know your child’s limitations from the very beginning. Take into consideration how fast or slow you must move, which is based upon your child’s learning capacity. Since most people are average learner’s you cannot expect them to fly through something they are not ready for. Avoid Strict Scheduling Instead of setting a strict schedule, establish an interesting routine. Nevertheless, it is still important that they do their routine activities before playing. Even if these routine activities vary from day to day, they are still important. Occasionally you may wish to throw in some incentives to get them to finish their routine activities earlier. Have Fun It is also important to make homeschooling fun. Not only will this help you avoid homeschool burnout but it will also help you develop a good relationship with your child. Being able to relate to your child will make it easier to handle any struggles with curriculum or motivation. So, you may want to include some of your own interests in their homeschoolng. Whenever your child sees that you are pursuing your interests, they will be more motivated to do this too. Don’t Mimic Traditional Schools Another thing that you may want to do is include unusual teaching methods within your homeschool. Since you can be more flexible than traditional schooling, this is...
Homeschool for Kindergarten

Homeschool for Kindergarten

by | Sep 6, 2013 | Pros and Cons

Homeschooling for kindergarten surprisingly stirs up a lot of controversy. Apparently, parents who have been responsible for the education of their children for the first five years of their lives are suddenly woefully incompetent. Granted, some have been incompetent from day one, but others continue to do a great job of parenting. Socialization seems to creep up as the main reason to send our five-year-old children to school. Many people believe that while a parent is not capable of teaching coping skills to a child because another five-year-old child can teach it simply and efficiently by pushing them into the nearest chair. Then, the child who has been pushed can learn that they are not supposed to tattle. Many people believe that a parent cannot possibly teach their children how to cope with people who are different within the homeschool environment. Some misunderstood assumption is that homeschooled children are locked within the walls of their house and the confines of their yard for the entire school day. Oh, wait. No, it’s the public school kids who are locked up all day in the confines of the classroom and schoolyard. Occasionally, teachers go to great lengths to organize a field trip and gather several parents to help monitor the perfectly socialized and well-behaved children. Many people believe that a parent cannot possibly teach their child to read. Some kids come to school reading. Those kids are expected to sit by and wait while the other 22 kids catch up. Teachers will say that they diversify for those students who are ahead, but for most of them, that is their best...
5 Tips for Home Schooling a Teen

5 Tips for Home Schooling a Teen

by | Aug 19, 2013 | Tips

Advice for Success in Learning Home schooling a child or a teen is a big undertaking, but it is well-worth the effort. However, when teens begin discovering their independence, it can be a little more challenging than teaching a younger child. Consider the following 5 tips for home schooling a teen, and make it a fantastic learning experience for everyone concerned. Moms, dads, and even grandparents are often some of the very best teachers of all, and a little advice from those with experience can make it a little less stressful for anyone just beginning to educate their teenager at home. 1. Maintain a School Schedule and Stick to It Public schools have strict schedules, and this can be very beneficial when home schooling a teen. If a teenager has never tried to get out of completing assignments, a schedule might not be necessary, but others require more structure. Maintain a school schedule, and stick to it. Do not give in to requests for days off, and do not cave in to a teen that insists they will do it later. Start giving in and those types of requests will be made again and again. Choose the hours of home schooling, and sustain those hours. Make home schooling a top priority, and maintain consistency. With some teens, giving in just one time will open up the door for arguments on scheduling and time spent studying. 2. Check the Work for the Day Each Evening When home schooling a teen or any child, do not let a day go by without checking their work. Papers will pile up very quickly,...