Over the years, I've discovered some "secrets" that work for all my children, regardless of age or ability, and seem to be present in other successful homeschooling families.
1. Find curriculum your child loves
I've forced my children to muscle their way through curriculum, kicking and screaming the whole time. I thought it was a discipline issue. When I finally gave up and changed curriculum, the sudden and long-lasting change made me realize that the problem was the curriculum not the child. Find curriculum that your child loves. My children love the historical fiction of Sonlight. They enjoy the concrete/abstract flow of Math U See. They love the projects and activities of Telling God's Story. My little boys enjoy the tiles of All About Spelling. Try different things until you find the curriculum your children love.
2. Pay attention to energy level
Children's energy levels and flows are different from adults'. Don't ask for more than 60 minutes of seat time for a child age nine or younger. Don't ask for more than 30 minutes sustained on a single subject. Do things to break it up. Build in "recess" time and snack time. Alternate subjects that take significant brain energy (math) with subjects that take less energy (listening to a history book). You can also add "jumping jack breaks" in between subjects.
My youngest son gets worn out quickly with reading. I let him color for 2 minutes, then read 10 words, then 2 more minutes of coloring, then 10 more words, etc. If you spot any signs of sagging energy, like making more mistakes or moving slower, then you know you've gone over limit with energy. Stop what you're doing and try something different.
3. Read alouds
Reading a good book aloud is a never fail proposition. There is something significant that happens when a child hears a good story in the voice of the person they love most in the world. Find a book that is age appropriate for your child, and then read aloud to them every day. Many parents allow children to color and build with blocks while they listen.
4. Homeschool in pairs if you can
Our oldest homeschooled alone. We never did that again. When we buddy our children up, they do so much better. The quiet, lonely ones have a sibling to be with. The competitive ones push themselves to stay up with their sibling. Sometimes we have to differentiate for math or reading, but all other subjects are easy to combine when kids are three or fewer years apart. It just works.
5. Teach to weaknesses and strengths
If you have a child with specific academic weaknesses, it can be tempting to focus on that area. But then the child is spending huge amounts of time on something that is difficult and usually unpleasant. It works better to also give them time with a subject they are really good at. It builds their confidence, and may strengthen underlying skills that help the area of struggle. My little ones love doing Visual Perceptional Reasoning. They are crazy good with visual intelligence, but we do it anyway because it builds them up.
6. Keep a predictable daily schedule
I think scheduling issues are one of the biggest reasons families give up on homeschooling. The people who say things like, "we don't pay attention to the time, we can do school anytime," are usually the ones who end up doing nothing and giving up. Resist this myth! Set up a schedule for yourself and keep to it. It doesn't have to match anybody else's schedule, but it does need to be consistent. Our kids do better with high brain energy subjects in the morning and then activities in the afternoon.
7. Naptime
We've always had little kids in the house who need naps, so it was by accident that we discovered how healthy & helpful it was for older kids (and me!). Everybody benefits from some quiet time after lunch. Our younger kids lay in bed, awake is OK but they often fall asleep. Our older kids lay on the couch with a book, and also fall asleep regularly. And I get two hours with no one talking to me.
8. Do activities — art, science, cooking
With seven children at home, this is a challenge for me, but every time I take the time to do an activity with the kids, I'm rewarded with solid learning and big smiles. Artistic Pursuits has great art projects. There are many great science activity books for younger kids like Science Activities. Story of the World has a fantastic activity book that goes with it.
9. Don’t compare your hours to the school system
Many parents, new to homeschooling, worry if they finish before 3pm. I know it's hard, but don't compare yourself. The homeschool environment is so different from the classroom environment. Classrooms spend lots of time on lining up, taking attendance, attending to group dynamics, going to assemblies, etc. Your home environment may spend extra time on the child helping to make lunch, or going grocery shopping. Worry about your child's academic progress, not the hours you keep.
10. Believe in yourself
The last one is the most important. While I disagree that *every* parent can homeschool, I do believe that *most* parents can. Believe that you are capable. If you feel unsure, fake it till you make it. If you feel frustrated, try a new curriculum. If you feel tired, take a break. Keep experimenting, keep learning, and stay connected to your child. Nobody is as invested in your child's future as you are.
No comments:
Post a Comment