Your first step in developing your homeschooling curriculum is to decide what you want your child to learn. It is important to have a plan and set some specific goals. Once you know what you want your child to learn, you can start to identify learning materials.
To get started you can consider using some of the prepackaged curricula offered online and through mail-order catalogs. When you are first starting out it can seem overwhelming to develop a curriculum all on your own so these prepackaged curricula can be lifesavers for first-time homeschoolers.
Check out book fairs and school supply outlets for units and mini-lessons related to a certain theme. Once you have some basic ideas, you can then expand them to take in your child's particular interests and learning needs.
Consult with the public education in your state or district. Most subjects have national core curriculum guidelines as well as state core curriculum guidelines. They can be found online at state education websites. Even if you don't follow it exactly, it can give you a basic framework that you can then work with and modify.
Look for groups or organizations in you area that have parent-teachers that you could swap books, language tapes, software and other curriculum materials with.
There are lots of ways to help you develop a homeschooling curriculum. Just be sure to focus on the needs of your child. What works for one person may not work for another. Try to tailor your homeshooling curriculum specifically for your child.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Homeschooling Tips
Tips to remember as you get started homeschooling.
What is your motivation? Why do you want to homeschool your children? Is it for safety, academic, philosophical, or religious reasons? Before you can design you own program and develop curriculum you need to know why you’re doing it.
Find out the local Education laws. You can talk to the local school district to find out what is required when it comes to homeschooling in your area. Education laws vary by state and by town. Some are quite strict when it comes to curriculum. Others require certain benchmarks to be met by a certain age.
Be able to separate your teacher role from your parent role. There are times where as a parent you may give in, but as a teacher you must demand that your child meet high educational expectations.
Be patient. It takes time to understand your child’s educational needs and how you best work together. What works as a parent may not work as a teacher. Work hard to develop the teacher/student relationship.
Try to find other homeshool parents in your area. They will be a good source of support and advice. You can also plan projects and field trips with them. Use the internet or local community resources to find other homeshooling parents. One thing you should keep in mind is to discuss your particular schooling approach with other parents to make sure that you are compatible before you join forces.
You should set aside a certain time and place for your child’s educations to take place. It needs to be structured. Make sure the place is free from distractions. This is something that is often overlooked, but it is important to have a defined area that is set aside for school.
It is important that you have methods to evaluate you child’s progress. Many area laws require some sort of evaluation. Make sure you set achievement goals that are in line with both your expectations and the legal expectations and then keep those goals in mind when designing curriculum and teaching your child.
Make sure you have a plan and a good sense of direction. Some local school districts require a homeschooling plan, but even if yours doesn't you should have one. It is important to know what you are trying to achieve and how you’re going to get there.
Try to make sure that your child has ways to socialize. There are lots of avenues outside of school that your child can build relationships and find friends. These could include: sports, scouting, church, neighbors, etc.
What is your motivation? Why do you want to homeschool your children? Is it for safety, academic, philosophical, or religious reasons? Before you can design you own program and develop curriculum you need to know why you’re doing it.
Find out the local Education laws. You can talk to the local school district to find out what is required when it comes to homeschooling in your area. Education laws vary by state and by town. Some are quite strict when it comes to curriculum. Others require certain benchmarks to be met by a certain age.
Be able to separate your teacher role from your parent role. There are times where as a parent you may give in, but as a teacher you must demand that your child meet high educational expectations.
Be patient. It takes time to understand your child’s educational needs and how you best work together. What works as a parent may not work as a teacher. Work hard to develop the teacher/student relationship.
Try to find other homeshool parents in your area. They will be a good source of support and advice. You can also plan projects and field trips with them. Use the internet or local community resources to find other homeshooling parents. One thing you should keep in mind is to discuss your particular schooling approach with other parents to make sure that you are compatible before you join forces.
You should set aside a certain time and place for your child’s educations to take place. It needs to be structured. Make sure the place is free from distractions. This is something that is often overlooked, but it is important to have a defined area that is set aside for school.
It is important that you have methods to evaluate you child’s progress. Many area laws require some sort of evaluation. Make sure you set achievement goals that are in line with both your expectations and the legal expectations and then keep those goals in mind when designing curriculum and teaching your child.
Make sure you have a plan and a good sense of direction. Some local school districts require a homeschooling plan, but even if yours doesn't you should have one. It is important to know what you are trying to achieve and how you’re going to get there.
Try to make sure that your child has ways to socialize. There are lots of avenues outside of school that your child can build relationships and find friends. These could include: sports, scouting, church, neighbors, etc.
Homeschooling: Getting Started
When you get started, homeschooling can sometimes seem quite overwhelming. You want to provide an education for your child at home, but your just not sure how to go about it or if you can handle it. Here are a few tips as you consider homeschooling that may help remove some stress.
One thing that you should remember as you begin this endeavor is that there is no no one size fits all. What may work for one person might not work for someone else. Different parents have different skills and life experiences that will influence how they teach and the approach that they take. It is a good idea to glean information from many different sources, but ultimately you have to find something that works for you and your child.
One of the first things that you need to do is to understand the laws and regulations pertaining to homeschooling in your state. Check with your local school district as well as your state office of education. A great resource on the legal end is the Home School Legal Defense Association. They can provide you with a wealth of information as well as assistance as far as the legal aspects are concerned.
Another thing you can do to help in the homeschooling process is to find others that are homeschooling. The internet has definitely made the world a smaller place and it is easy to find others that share your same ideas and philosophies. Use this tool to help you find other homeschool parents. Yahoo groups, Google groups and MSN groups are great places to start networking with others. On many of the social networks you can also find groups. Finding other homeschoolers that you can share curriculum, tips, support and supplies with is a valuable resource in the homeschool endeavor.
Use books and magazines to help you learn more about homeschooling and help you develop a plan and curriculum. There are many out there that are valuable resources for you. Also many of the homeschooling groups that you may find on the internet have homeschooling newsletters that you can sign up for that will contain ideas and tips.
Once you decide that you are going to homeschool, you need to develop a curriculum that will meet your students needs as well as fulfill the requirements the local school district or state has. There are many materials and resources available that can help you do this. Again, the internet is a valuable resource in helping you find these resource materials, but it can also be big and overwhelming. To help narrow your search for materials and find things that work, use others that have "been there, done that". That is where your networking discussed earlier can be such a valuable tool. Use online homeschool groups so that you can ask your questions to real people who have homeschooled. Find homeschool forums that can connect you with others that are homeschooling. Again, remember that what works for others may not necessarily work for you, but many times you can at least get a starting place from which to build a program is tailored specifically to your child.
Lastly, just try not to be overwhelmed. It's not easy and that's ok. Even teachers in public schools find it difficult at times developing curriculum and finding the best ways to educate students. Try to break it down and take one step at a time. Use all the resources available to you, including other homeschool parents, and your homeschool experience should turn out just fine.
One thing that you should remember as you begin this endeavor is that there is no no one size fits all. What may work for one person might not work for someone else. Different parents have different skills and life experiences that will influence how they teach and the approach that they take. It is a good idea to glean information from many different sources, but ultimately you have to find something that works for you and your child.
One of the first things that you need to do is to understand the laws and regulations pertaining to homeschooling in your state. Check with your local school district as well as your state office of education. A great resource on the legal end is the Home School Legal Defense Association. They can provide you with a wealth of information as well as assistance as far as the legal aspects are concerned.
Another thing you can do to help in the homeschooling process is to find others that are homeschooling. The internet has definitely made the world a smaller place and it is easy to find others that share your same ideas and philosophies. Use this tool to help you find other homeschool parents. Yahoo groups, Google groups and MSN groups are great places to start networking with others. On many of the social networks you can also find groups. Finding other homeschoolers that you can share curriculum, tips, support and supplies with is a valuable resource in the homeschool endeavor.
Use books and magazines to help you learn more about homeschooling and help you develop a plan and curriculum. There are many out there that are valuable resources for you. Also many of the homeschooling groups that you may find on the internet have homeschooling newsletters that you can sign up for that will contain ideas and tips.
Once you decide that you are going to homeschool, you need to develop a curriculum that will meet your students needs as well as fulfill the requirements the local school district or state has. There are many materials and resources available that can help you do this. Again, the internet is a valuable resource in helping you find these resource materials, but it can also be big and overwhelming. To help narrow your search for materials and find things that work, use others that have "been there, done that". That is where your networking discussed earlier can be such a valuable tool. Use online homeschool groups so that you can ask your questions to real people who have homeschooled. Find homeschool forums that can connect you with others that are homeschooling. Again, remember that what works for others may not necessarily work for you, but many times you can at least get a starting place from which to build a program is tailored specifically to your child.
Lastly, just try not to be overwhelmed. It's not easy and that's ok. Even teachers in public schools find it difficult at times developing curriculum and finding the best ways to educate students. Try to break it down and take one step at a time. Use all the resources available to you, including other homeschool parents, and your homeschool experience should turn out just fine.
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