Contrary to what people think, homeschooling nowadays has become a great schooling option that parents can consider for their children. There are many benefits of homeschooling, and for some children – the option of being able to school from anywhere (including their home) might be a better choice to pursue.
Homeschooling has experienced increased popularity and success in this modern era due to technological advancement. The availability of technology and online resources has revolutionized homeschooling. With better access to educational apps, virtual study rooms, and interactive materials, homeschooling parents and students can provide a well-rounded and up-to-date education.
If you are a parent and are considering or have provided your children with homeschooling, we have curated some great tips below that can ensure you achieve success in your homeschooling journey.
- Establish a Routine
Establishing a routine in homeschooling is crucial for children’s development. It can help to foster relationships, build self-confidence, and also help children to easily adapt to changes.
More than that, the routine can also create a sense of safety, relaxation, and openness to learning, these will help to contribute to focus and discipline. However, implementing routines for your young children might be difficult – especially if they’re doing homeschooling.
You can start by ensuring they have a reasonable bedtime, thus you can encourage them to wake up early. Just like they will do if they enroll in regular school. You can also establish a morning routine, which consists of your children needing to make their bed, take a bath, and have breakfast before starting their homeschool routine. A morning routine can help create a structured start to the homeschool day.
- Communicate Clearly
Engage with your children each morning to discuss the daily plan. Clarify any questions they may have and ensure they have everything needed for the day’s homeschooling task. Discuss task timelines and establish deadlines to maintain progress.
You should also encourage your child to share their learning experiences and offer positive feedback. Since your children may feel isolated during homeschooling, encouraging them to share what they feel is crucial.
You should also maintain communication with your child’s tutor whenever possible. Email them regarding any concerns or questions you have in mind.
- Engage with Homeschool Mentors
Aside from engaging with your children’s mentors, you can also try to communicate and find other homeschool mentors online. Whether through online groups, local support networks, or connections from the library.
Stay connected and seek guidance from experienced individuals who can provide valuable insights and advice. Don’t hesitate to ask questions, as many are willing to help based on their own experiences. Avoid going through the homeschooling journey alone, and consider utilizing resources like home education magazines and books for inspiration.
- Find Educational Resource
Though you hired a mentor for your child’s homeschooling journey, you as the parent can also be in hand to engage in your children’s study. Some parents might also prefer to tutor their children by themselves, no matter what the case is – you can utilize your nearest local public library to find educational resources. You can also surf the internet to find a wide array of books, reference materials, videos, audio tapes, and learning resources.
- Set Goals Together with Your Children
Establishing goals in homeschooling goes beyond creating a task list. Goal-setting is a powerful tool that motivates homeschoolers and prepares them for life. For an effective goal-setting journey, you should follow the S.M.A.R.T rule.
- Specific: Clearly define what your child wants to achieve. Specify the desired level and set a detailed milestone.
- Measurable: Ensure goals can be measured.
- Attainable: Confirm that the goals that have been made are realistic and achievable within the given time frame.
- Relevant: Align goals with your child’s aspiration, not someone else’s. Do keep in mind that goals should be personally meaningful and reflect what matters to them.
- Time-Bound: Set reasonable time limits for achieving the goals. The aim is to create urgency and challenge while remaining within practical and achievable bounds.
- Promote Social Interaction
While homeschooling may seem isolating to some children, the truth is it doesn’t have to be. Recognize that homeschooled children might miss the daily classroom interaction. Thus, to address this, you can help your children to actively seek out opportunities for social engagement. For example, explore some sports, art classes, martial arts, or other activities that can cater to your child’s interests. Nowadays social interaction doesn’t have to be limited to school only!
- Set up a Good Homeschool Workspace
Since homeschooling takes place at home, it’s crucial to establish a special study room that can foster focus and concentration. Ensure the study room is comfortable, free from noise, and devoid of distractions that might hinder your child’s learning experience.
Maintaining cleanliness, redness, and an organized environment can help support your children’s productivity. If you are too busy to clean the house by yourself, you can hire a part time maid for home cleaning Singapore instead. Their professional team of cleaners will be able to ensure your children have the best and most optimal study environment.
- Establish a Reward System
Last but not least, you might want to incorporate a reward system to motivate your children in their homeschooling journey. Create a chart with varying rewards based on the difficulty of tasks, making it easier to manage your children’s learning process throughout the day.
You should also discuss with your children to determine appropriate rewards for each task based on its difficulty. For example, you could offer an extra half-hour of game time if your child achieves their learning goals of the week, or you can also buy something that your children have been eyeing for a while.
