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Homeschooling
your child is not an easy matter to decide about.
This is especially true for parents who do not really
have that much background when it comes to homeschooling.
Parenting skills are indeed needed if you want to
homeschool your kid - and if you want to be successful
in doing so.
If you
are a first-timer in the arena, it is normal to
feel pressured. What parent would not want to be
successful in this endeavor? It is the future of
the child we are talking about here. However, do
not fret just yet. Back in the day way before education
laws were implemented and established, virtually
all children were homeschooled. With no schools
to go to back then, homeschooling was the only option
for parents. If they were able to do that, then
there is no reason you cannot. It does not really
require you to take parenting classes, just so you
can homeschool your child.
Do not
worry about your parenting skills. Yes, they will
definitely come into play as the authoritative figure
in the makeshift classroom. But do not worry too
much just yet. The first thing you need to deal
with is your curriculum. The Internet is filled
with curriculum programs you can check out and use
as basis. However, do not go with just any curriculum.
You need to consider the learning abilities of your
child. Is biology the appropriate course your kid
should take this year? Or is he ready for chemistry?
Pacing is the key here, and this would be backed
by parenting
classes as well. You need to pace with your
kid and you need to balance this out as well. Do
not go too fast that your kid would feel too pressured
about finishing his lessons, that he would just
skim through the material and not really retain
the lessons. Do not go too slow either that your
kid would feel that he is being held back.
When
you have decided which curriculum to go with, you
should then consider the matter of schoolbooks and
other printed materials. Homeschooling can be hefty
on the budget so you may need to scour the market
a bit. Still, never jeopardize quality for quantity.
Yes, used homeschooling books can still be used
- provided they do give your child relevant and
updated material.
Once
you have your curriculum and materials up and running,
this is then the time when your parenting skills
would be tested. The key here is for your child
to distinguish your role as the teacher, that you
have already taken on that role and that you are
no longer his or her parent.
Typically,
homeschooling would start after you have fed your
child a well-balanced breakfast. After breakfast,
you can start your day by having warm-up exercises.
These would definitely wake your child up and provide
him or her energy needed for the school day.
After
these exercises, you then proceed with the homeschool
program you have prepared for the day. Studies
show that mornings are when children's minds are
at their most alert. Therefore, what better way
to start the day with a little Math? After your
Math class, you can then proceed to whatever subject
you have prepared for your program. Creative Writing
is a great subject to tackle after Math because
it gives your child's mind a little breather after
those difficult Math problems. Make sure your child
gets ample time to hone his or her writing skills.
Do a little poetry or even short story writing.
After
Creative Writing, you could then serve lunch. Lunch
could be some leftovers from last night because
you would be spending your morning educating your
child, after all. If you want to prepare something
for lunch, then it should something you can prepare
quickly. Just make sure it is a healthy meal still.
After lunch, you can then tackle Social Studies,
History, and Current Events all in one. Just make
sure the topics you discuss are related with each
other.
Science
can be done after Social Studies and its related
subjects. Make sure to hold interactive projects,
experiments, and activities so that your child can
readily apply what he or she has learned. And to
end the day, you could include Art lessons, to test
creative waters. Improve your parenting skills by
giving your child credit where it is due. Do not
forget to compliment his or her artwork.
You can
also hold field trips once in a while. Such trips
will be good for your parenting skills for these
provide the opportunity to spend a few hours with
your child outside your makeshift classroom.
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