As I wrote in the story of my homeschool journey, taking our son out of public school wasn’t a quick or easy decision. My advice for parents begins with the acknowledgement that becoming a homeschool teacher overnight is daunting. It’s not just re-learning some of the material (I forgot A LOT over the years!), you’ll also have to create a curriculum or implement an existing one, neither of which is easy. It helps to take it one step at a time and know that it is absolutely doable.
Observe
Spend time watching how your child learns and note his/her interests, strengths, and weaknesses. This will help you create an effective teaching plan and daily schedule.
Experiment
There will be trial and error in this process. Stay flexible and be willing to adapt as needed. Doing this helped me discover new homeschool strategies and overcome the challenges.
For example, my son doesn’t like reading fiction, which made up the bulk of reading he was expected to do. It was a near daily battle to get him to focus and get it done. So, he asked if he could alternate by reading fiction one day and something non-fiction the next, and I agreed. I fought far fewer battles and he spent more time reading. Double bonus!
Present Alternatives
Know that every day can be different in terms of focus, motivation, and confidence. Have some back up activities, like creative arts or cooking ready to go. It helps shift the mood and may help them be more receptive to other subjects later in the day.
Have fun
Brainstorm ideas with your child about how to structure the home classroom. Let them help you come up with activities and ask them to think about how they learn best. Then, incorporate those ideas into your workspace and lesson plans.
For example, we let our son choose his desk and many of his school and art supplies. I had him help me organize our workspace, deciding where shelves and posters were placed, and what would be organized in drawers and cabinets. When he said he needed visual reminders and asked for a cork board to post his schedules and lists, he got to pick the one he wanted. It amazed me how much this helped him feel more in control and engaged in his education.
Find Solutions
Every challenge is an opportunity to teach new skills. Sometimes difficulty learning a concept, or planning how to complete an assignment or project, can be solved by coming up with a different approach.
For example, even small assignments overwhelmed my son because he struggled to envision how he’d get started (let alone finish). So, for the first two years I would go over each assignment with him and break them down into a series of easy to follow steps. This made things manageable because he only had to focus on one thing at a time. By year three he could do this on his own for many assignments, which was fantastic to see!
If tests and quizzes cause anxiety, a weekly review with a few practice questions (or redoing a few lessons) can help identify and reinforce trouble spots. The repetition can also bolster their confidence.
Network
Find local homeschool groups and take advantage of the local resources they offer. Many groups have decades of experience among their members, and they know all the best places to find materials, assistance, tutoring, and extra-curricular classes.
Speak to other homeschooling parents to see what advice and wisdom they can share. This is also a great way to make new friends for you and your child.
Advocate
Experts can be incredible sources of information and support, but my advice to parents is to trust your instincts. Never hesitate to question what you’re being told if it doesn’t seem right or isn’t a good fit. Overall, the homeschool program we picked has been great, but the occasional assignment or requirement didn’t work for my son. When that happened, I reached out and collaborated with the Distance Learning administrators to come up with alternatives. Remember, you know your child best and what works for other children might not work for yours.