Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Homeschooling: You Can Teach Your Kids At Home

By Joanna Rickson


You may have heard something about homeschooling, but not really understood how it works. Teaching your children at home is a perfectly acceptable alternative to sending them to a public or private school. Before you get started, however, you need to know the basics. Keep reading to find out more.

Make flashcards for every subject that you homeschool your child in. That way, they have something to study with when you are not personally available. It can help them learn while traveling in a car. Flashcards also make a good lesson plan or activity if your spouse has to do the homeschooling for you one day.

Try to find social activities your child can participate in with other home schooled students. By staying home all day home schooled students can lack in social interaction. By making sure they interact with other children you can help offset this issue. Listen to your kids- if they are very socially oriented then they may be better off in a traditional school.

When you are first beginning homeschooling it is a good idea to reach out to others who homeschool also. People who have been doing it for a while can give you valuable advice about things that worked and didn't work for them. Even if you have been homeschooling for a long time, it is always okay to seek advice from others.

The internet can be your best teacher's helper. There are so many websites with creative lesson plans, downloadable lessons and printable worksheets. There are even ones with great educational games that track your child's skill levels and progress and print out reports and documentation. Take the time to find a few great sites and use them to enhance your lessons.

Just because you follow a curriculum from another source, does not mean you must follow it to the letter. There are often going to be parts of a curriculum that do not suit your child's learning style or schedule. Be flexible with a curriculum and do not be afraid to drop those parts that are not fitting for your educational plan.

Do not purchase materials that are not returnable. You do not want to spend good money on material and find that the curriculum is nothing like advertised. Many quality programs will allow you a trial period before you have to keep the books and materials. Look into the return policy prior to making any purchase.

Every state has specific laws regarding homeschooling. It is up to you to understand what your state requires of you as a parent, and your child as a student, when it comes to homeschooling. Look at your state's educational website, as well as your county school board's site to fully understand the expectations.

Once you have educated yourself on the basics of homeschooling, you can decide whether this is something you want to try. Many children thrive when they are taught at home, while others do better in school. Consider your children and their learning styles before you make a final decision about their education.




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