Homeschooling your child is an exciting time and comes with many responsibilities, including deciding how much to assign for each subject. Biology is often a difficult subject to assess against that, primarily due to the vast breadth and depth of topics that it tends to cover over the span of the school year.
This article will discuss how to go about estimating the amount of work to assign for biology in homeschooling, covering the importance of setting objectives and expectations, the right materials and activities needed to learn, proper age and level alignment, and creating a proper schedule.
Setting the Right Objectives and expectations
When it comes to homeschooling, it’s important to set the right objectives and expectations for yourself and your student. Objectives should not only be realistic and appropriate for the student’s capabilities, but also exciting and engaging.
Objectives should also build upon knowledge acquired throughout previous learning, while also pushing the student to explore new concepts and ideas. Most importantly, objectives should contain measurable goals so that progress can be assessed over time and adjusted accordingly. When setting expectations it’s also important to understand that time and workload will vary by student.
Some students may need more time to understand material and complete assignments, others may need less depending on their ability and level of interest. It’s essential to communicate these expectations to the student, as well as ensuring consistent check-ins to make sure the student is on track and focused.
Materials Needed
Having the right materials to learn is an essential part of homeschooling biology, and the materials needed should be determined based on the objectives and expectations that were set. Many students will benefit more from hands-on learning and manipulating materials as opposed to pure memorization and theoretical questions. Educational documentaries, books, and websites are great supplements to traditional textbooks and lab manuals, and can be used to provide visual aids and further exploration into certain topics.
In order to ensure a comprehensive learning experience, materials should cover all eight of the core areas of biology, which are molecule and cell, genetics, evolution, organismal, structure and function, ecology, development, and integration. Appropriately structured activities can also be implemented to enhance learning, as well as engage the student in areas they may be especially interested in.
Age and Level Appropriateness
When homeschooling biology, it’s important to pay attention to age and level appropriateness. Biology is traditionally a college-level subject, however the level of instruction and activities should be tailored toward the age and level of the student.
Younger students should focus on more fundamental concepts, while older students can delve deeper into advanced topics. By appropriately tailoring instruction toward each student, homeschooling biology can be more engaging and rewarding for both the student and teacher.
Creating a Proper Schedule
Creating a proper schedule for homeschooling biology can be a daunting task but is essential in keeping the student on track. The schedule should be planned well in advance, taking into consideration special needs, holidays, and other events not related to instruction. When constructing a schedule, make sure to plan for manageable amounts of time per day, ensuring that the student is not overwhelmed.
As with any subject, it’s important to incorporate lesson planning that is structured yet flexible enough to allow for unexpected changes. By doing this, the student is still able to pursue other interests in their spare time while also making progress on their homeschooling biology coursework.
Conclusion
Homeschooling biology can be a challenging but rewarding experience for both student and teacher. Estimating the amount of work to assign in biology can be intimidating, but by setting the right objectives and expectations, obtaining the proper materials, aligning the instruction to the student’s age and level, and creating a comprehensive yet flexible schedule, homeschooling biology will be something to look forward to.