General Tips For Home Schooling

By Ina Woolcott

1. School schedules and resources were developed for ease of teaching not for ease of learning. This is a big difference!

2. I suggest you do one simple thing: begin with your child, not the resource. Observing your child(ren) whilst they play and learn will give you valuable clues that we as parents can interpret. This way you will be able to get a feel for what motivates your child and you can use it to both of your advantages to make home schooling an extremely happy and enjoyable experience

3. A short exercise or a particular routine to set the mood of learning can be implemented to focus the child's attention and get them into the right frame of mind for the day ahead. Meditating is a good technique for relaxing, or reading a short story.

4. Perhaps have one break mid morning, one break mid afternoon and lunch in-between. A few short breaks will help a child absorb what they have learned and refresh them for the next lesson. This will also give space for reflection on the activities done for all parties involved.

5. Nap times need to be scheduled for younger children. If you have an older child who you are also home educating, now is your chance to have one on one with them to tackle more demanding subjects. If you have no other children, now is your chance to relax!

6. Allocate a child their own study and work space where they can peacefully and without interruption get on with a project or some work. You should firmly support assisted independent learning.

7. If your child is older theory and practice or application of a skill/method and concept, especially in science, may be useful to scheduled separately.

8. Have a time for creative independence so the child can be free to create, read and explore their interests with your supervision, or perhaps without if they are older.

9. Don't become a slave to your curriculum. Packaged curriculum's and workbooks are occasionally a valuable tool. Try not to depend on them though, used excessively such materials are a bland substitute for the real thing. Kids need the opportunity to experience the world first hand using all the senses and the mind. For instance these experiences could include animals, mud, sand, water, plants, cooking, repair, all aspects of family life, arts and crafts, construction, model building, theatres/stage productions or shows, machinery, travel..the list really is endless!

10. Always ask your child for their input, involve them. Be surprised at how well they know what they need and how they want to go about achieving it.

11. In the first year don't buy anything expensive.

12. It is not necessary for children to finish everything they start, sometimes -even years later- they come back to it, sometimes they don't. Don't force them to do anything they really don't want to. It will only make the experience un-enjoyable.

13. Home educating is an adventure. There is nothing that HAS TO be learned at a certain age. Everyone develops at their own pace

14. If you wish have a set time to start and end your day. Depending on the work you want to cover in any given day, a home schooling parent can decide when a lesson should begin and end.

15. If all the work you want to cover is covered earlier than you expected and there is time left over, then you can always finish early and do something together like going for a walk, swim or go to the playground.

16. If for instance a math lesson has 20 problems, this doesn't mean your child must do all of them. Once a concept is grasped there is little point going over the same thing again. This may cause a child to become bored or lose interest in a subject.

17. Trust yourself and your instincts above all. You know your children better than anyone else!

18. Maintain a sense of humour (if you can!) as at times the going may be tough. Keep things fun and try and try and remain light-hearted.

19. It is helpful if you have a good relationship with your child. This may sound a bit odd but if you are always at each others throats this can make home schooling difficult. You will be spending a lot of time together.