| Here are a few tips to help those new to home | | | | understand that home schooling is real school and |
| schooling or those who may be struggling with or | | | | if they attended a brick and mortar school they |
| just interested in home schooling. | | | | would have to do the work presented to them |
| 1. You must have a plan: Figure out which direction | | | | by the teacher. |
| you are going in with your home school education | | | | At times in the beginning of our home school |
| plan before you start. Do your research to see | | | | journey a couple of my children have had what I |
| what is available and make a choice. Day 1 of | | | | refer to as a home school is no school, type day. |
| home schooling is not the time to scramble | | | | I swiftly let them know that home schooling is |
| around looking for school work for your child. | | | | just as important as if they were sitting in a |
| 2. Have a scheduled time for school work: Yes | | | | traditional classroom and that they would face |
| homeschooling should be flexible when you need it | | | | consequences if they did not complete their work |
| to be for Doctor appointments, shopping or | | | | as I knew they could. |
| special occasions but try to keep to some type | | | | Once they realized that they would lose privileges |
| of schedule and stick to it. Pick a schedule that | | | | such as viewing their favorite television programs, |
| works best for you and your child and stick to it. | | | | playing video games on the weekends or even |
| It will be so much easier for you and your child if | | | | playing with their favorite toys just the same as |
| they know they have a set time to get their | | | | if they neglected to do their work in a traditional |
| work done. | | | | school the problem cleared right up. |
| It will be much harder if every day you are trying | | | | My children knew I meant business and they |
| to find the time to fit school in when it really | | | | eventually adapted to our home school schedule. |
| should be a top priority. | | | | It can be a little hard on them at first especially if |
| When we decide to home school our children we | | | | they are used to attending a brick and mortar |
| make a commitment that we need to take | | | | school. What you view as school time they may |
| seriously. It only hurts our child if we do not teach | | | | view as complete freedom and a long vacation |
| them as we set out to do. You only get out what | | | | until they get used to and fall in line with the |
| you put into it. It is so easy to just put it off until | | | | schedule. |
| tomorrow. Children can easily fall behind too, so | | | | 5. Have fun: Home schooling can be a fun and |
| scheduling is important. | | | | wondrous adventure if you choose to make it |
| 3. Have a set bedtime: This is important in our | | | | that way. Enjoy the time with your child. |
| house because children can easily get off track | | | | Make the lessons fun with activities that go hand |
| and if they are going to bed at a different time | | | | in hand with what you are teaching them. Do |
| every night it is kind of hard to stay on a set | | | | science experiments. Teach your child to prepare |
| schedule for school. Also children need to be well | | | | easy recipes. You could have themed parties or |
| rested so they can have a easier time | | | | fun times with arts and crafts like painting, |
| understanding and retaining the information that is | | | | working with clay, making homemade cards or |
| taught to them. | | | | jewelry etc. |
| 4. Establish consequences: Home school is not the | | | | You can also take them on fun educational trips. |
| equivalent of no school at all and children must be | | | | Young children love these type of activities and |
| made to understand that from the beginning. No | | | | you can enjoy them together.Make the most of |
| child is perfect and at times they may not feel | | | | your home schooling education plan. It can be a |
| like doing their work. They have to made to | | | | wonderful experience for you and your child. |