The American Academy of Pediatrics recently released a policy encouraging schools to provide parents with options for remote learning. As a result, homeschooling has become an increasingly popular choice among parents across the nation seeking alternative methods of teaching their children. Many parents looking to homeschool as an option might be confused about how to approach the task of teaching their child and determining whether their child is receiving the necessary education.
Homeschooling offers parents the exciting opportunity to customize their child’s education according to their individual needs. But parents need to be aware of the challenges associated with homeschooling and answer important questions before starting the journey.
In this article, we will answer some of the most important questions that you should ask yourself before setting out to homeschool your child.
1. What guidance is available to help me get started?
Homeschooling can be intimidating at first and parents may feel unprepared to take on this responsibility. Fortunately, there is increasing support available to help parents get started with homeschooling.
Many schools and education boards now provide resources to parents on how to create a homeschool curriculum as well as advice on selecting applicable educational materials. There are also several organizations that offer support and guidance to parents who want to homeschool their children; such organizations can provide parents with the direction and knowledge necessary to begin the homeschool journey.
2. How can I make sure my child is learning the necessary skills?
The goal of homeschooling is to provide your child with the necessary foundation of knowledge and skills and to ensure that they are learning age-appropriate material. Parents can also use existing curricula and education frameworks to create a suitable learning environment for their child.
For example, Common Core State Standards (CCSS) provide an outline of what knowledge and skills students in different grade levels should acquire. Parents can also often reach out to a local school or board of education or other special subject authorities to acquire the right materials, advice, and guidance. Additionally, parents can often reach out to experienced homeschoolers in their local community who can provide invaluable insight and knowledge into the process of homeschooling.
A variety of free-to-use websites and forums also exist to provide parents with advice and support on how to create a successful homeschooling environment.
3. What instructional resources and materials are available to support homeschooling?
Parents starting out in the process of homeschooling can take advantage of a variety of instructional materials and resources. For most areas of traditional schooling, there are dozens of resources available to supplement the home-based instruction.
Much educational material, such as books and worksheets, is easily acquired from local stores and libraries. There are also educational websites and online tools available to help parents create engaging and interactive lessons for their child. For subjects that require specialized instruction, several tutoring organizations offer tailored instruction for subjects such as music and art.
Additionally, many online tutoring websites and apps provide support for a wide range of subjects and areas of study.
4. How do I assess my child’s progress?
Parents of homeschooled children must be aware that assessments are a necessary part of the homeschooling process and an effective way of measuring progress. Assessments help to provide an objective measure of whether a child’s learning is progressing at an appropriate rate and whether they are receiving the necessary instruction to reach their educational goals.
Parents can easily administer assessments by using print or online materials, or by enrolling their child in an assessment program. They can also partner with a local school, or take advantage of organizations that offer standardized tests.
5. How do I create a flexible learning schedule for my child?
Creating a learning schedule provides structure and discipline during the homeschooling process. It also helps to ensure that the child receives the necessary instruction in their chosen areas of study. As such, parents should create a learning schedule that allows for flexible pacing and that provides ample opportunity for independent learning and exploration.
When creating a learning schedule, parents should consider the specific needs of their child and plan accordingly. Parents should also strike a balance between providing sufficient time for completing lessons and allowing ample opportunities for rest, recreation, and exploration of other interests.
6. What is the best way of establishing a learning environment?
Creating an environment that is conducive to learning is essential to the success of the homeschooling process. Parents should make sure that their homeschool classroom is clean, organized, and distraction-free. Ideally, the learning environment should be located in a room or area with ample natural light, clutter-free furniture, and easy access to educational materials.
Displays of projects, artwork, and academic awards can also help to create a positive atmosphere in the learning space.
7. How can I motivate my child to progress in their learning?
Motivation is key to any successful endeavor, and this is especially true for homeschooling. Parents should strive to provide the necessary support and guidance to keep the learning process engaging for their child.
This includes breaking down their lessons into manageable goals, providing them with ample praise and encouragement, and fostering an atmosphere of exploration and curiosity. Parents can also utilize rewards and incentives to encourage motivation and reinforce good behavior. Rewards such as individual plaques and certificates, or trips to the movies or the zoo, can act as positive reinforcement of progress.
8. How do I find local resources and support for homeschooling?
Local resources and support are essential for any homeschooling parent as they provide advice, support, and guidance to help them successfully homeschool their child. Parents should take time to research the local homeschooling options and find out what is available in their area. Organizations such as homeschool co-ops and homeschool associations can provide valuable guidance and support to help parents achieve their own individual homeschooling goals.
They can also provide homeschooling parents with a sense of community and the opportunity to connect with experienced homeschoolers and like-minded educators.
9. What activities and extracurriculars can I make available?
Homeschooling provides parents with the unique opportunity to provide their children with access to extracurricular activities. While in many traditional schools these activities are limited to students who can attend in person, homeschooling allows parents to make a wide array of activities available to their children. Parents can explore a variety of activities, such as music and art lessons, drama classes, sports leagues, and other opportunities for exploration and education.
Parents should research the various extracurriculars available in their area and give their child the opportunity to explore as many of them as possible.
10. How can I ensure that my child is still connected to their peers?
One of the main concerns of parents homeschooling their children is that their child will miss out on any opportunities to connect with their peers. Fortunately, there are various ways for homeschooled children to remain connected to their peers without the need to physically attend school. The internet provides homeschooled children with ample opportunities to interact with other students.
There are a variety of online forums and platforms, such as chatrooms and discussion boards, which allow homeschooled children to interact with peers and discuss their respective interests and experiences. There are also physical activities such as field trips and volunteer work through which homeschooled children can remain engaged with their peers.
11. How do I handle potential socialization concerns?
Socialization is an important part of a child’s development, but it presents a unique challenge to parents homeschooling their children. Encouraging social interaction between homeschooled children and other young people is key to ensuring that they maintain a healthy social life.
Parents can facilitate social interactions between their homeschooled child and other children by attending community activities, by joining homeschooling co-ops, or by reaching out to other homeschooling families in their area.
12. How can I provide specialist teaching for areas such as Maths, Sciences and Languages?
Most parents are equipped to handle basic teaching in the traditional academic areas of Maths, Sciences and Languages. However, specialized instruction is often required to help the child reach their goals. Parents should investigate the resources available to them, such as worksheets, websites and specialized tutors, to ensure that their child receives the necessary instruction.
Parents should also make sure that their child is gripping the concepts taught by the materials available and answer any additional requests or queries that the child may have.
13. How can I ensure that my child will be ready to join a traditional school in the future?
Though homeschooling provides innumerable benefits to children, the parents should also be aware of their child’s future educational choices, including the possibility of them attending a traditional school at some point. Parents should make sure that their child is keeping up with their peers and is equipped to join a traditional school if needed.
This can be achieved through periodic evaluations and assessments to ensure that the child is meeting attainment levels expected from traditional schooling.
14. How can I create a well-rounded education that incorporates more than the standard subjects?
Homeschooling offers parents the opportunity to expose their child to a wide range of areas of study and arts, as well as the traditional academic subjects. Parents should utilize this opportunity to introduce their child to different languages, music, arts, and sports.
Parents can find many of these activities through homeschool co-ops and other organizations that provide additional activities and events. Additionally, they can encourage their child to explore their interests and skills independently.
15. What resources are available to help me in my own learning as a teacher and homeschooler?
Parents should be aware that homeschooling is a process of continuous learning. As such, they should seek out support and resources for their own learning as a teacher and homeschooler. Be it in the form of books and websites or workshops and conferences, there are a variety of resources available to parents to help them in this process.
Many local libraries and bookstores stock books catering to the specific needs of homeschooling parents. There are also organizations and websites dedicated to information sharing and support amongst homeschooling families.
Conclusion
Homeschooling is a growing trend amongst parents looking to provide their children with an alternative form of education. It presents parents with an exciting opportunity to create a personalized learning experience and customize their child’s education according to their individual needs.
But in order to successfully homeschool their child, parents must invest time, energy, and other resources. With the help of the questions answered in this article, parents should be better equipped to make the important decisions necessary to embark on their homeschooling journey.