Homeschooling is becoming increasingly popular, with up to millions of children in the United States opting to receive their education at home. With this shift in education, it’s important to ask yourself, “What should I teach my child in homeschool?
”. This article will provide 15 questions to ask yourself as you’re designing your child’s homeschool curriculum.
1. What Is Your Child’s Learning Style?
It’s essential to acknowledge your child’s individual learning style to determine the best way for you to teach each subject. Every child has different preferences and capacities, so it is beneficial to get to know and understand this before beginning the homeschooling journey.
There are various methods that may work best for each child’s learning style, such as audio, visual, hands-on, and experiential. Consider what types of instruction your child may respond to best and decide on a plan of action.
2. What Subjects Does Your Child Need?
One of the most important areas to focus on when teaching your child is to make sure they are covering all the necessary principles of basic education. This includes key courses like English and Mathematics, as well as Science, Social Studies, Language/Foreign Language, History, and Arts.
Depending on your child’s age, you may also put an emphasis on certain other subjects, such as Health and P. E. , Music, and Technology.
3. What Is the Best Curriculum to Use?
With the wide variety of curriculum options out there, it can be overwhelming trying to decide which is the best for your child’s education. The choice largely depends on your preference, what your child needs, and what suits their learning style best. Common curriculum choices include classical, Charlotte Mason, Eclectic, Montessori, Waldorf, and Unschooling.
Be sure to thoroughly research each option before choosing.
4. What Resources Are Available?
Finding the right resources for homeschooling can be highly beneficial for your child’s education. There are countless options out there, from textbooks, workbooks, and online resources, to hands-on lessons, audio and video recordings, magazines, and more.
Make sure you’re finding reputable sources that align with the curriculum you’re using and have engaging and educational content.
5. How Will You Structure Their Day?
Creating a daily routine and “school-time hour” for your child is so important when homeschooling. It’s essential to prioritize their academic goals, while also scheduling in breaks throughout the day. Decide if you will have it structured like a regular school day, or have different times for different tasks.
This will ultimately depend on what works best for both you and your child.
6. How Much Time Will You Spend Teaching Each Subject?
With homeschooling, it’s beneficial to have a clear plan for how much time you will spend covering each subject for a day, as well as over the course of the week. This will ensure that the curriculum is being effectively delivered and all areas are being given ample attention. Generally, it’s best to rotate subjects each day and break them down into manageable chunks with current goals in mind.
7. How Will You Track Your Child’s Progress?
It’s critical to remain up-to-date with your child’s progress while homeschooling. Keep track of the work they have been completing, tests they have taken, and any observations made.
This will not only help you stay organized and on time but will also give you a better understanding of how they’re progressing, so that you may adjust the curriculum if needed.
8. How Will You Incorporate Social Interaction?
An area people often don’t consider when homeschooling is the need for social interaction. Children are naturally social creatures, so set aside some time for them to play with other kids their age or engage in group activities. This will not only give them the chance to enjoy companionship and make friends, but will also help develop their social and communication skills.
9. Should You Include Extracurricular Activities?
In addition to social interaction, extracurricular activities can also be extremely beneficial for learning and development. Sports, music, and even coding are just some examples of hobbies your child may participate in — those that strike their interest and passion.
Extracurricular activities may also be an excellent way for your child to learn core academic subject matters in a more creative setting.
10. How Much Technology Should You Incorporate?
Many parents worry that technology usage by their kids is encroaching too much on their education. We believe, however, that if used in the right way, technology can be invaluable for homeschooling.
There are countless apps, websites, and e-learning courses which can all improve the learning experience and make teaching much easier.
11. What Is Your System for Testing?
Testing is a fundamental part of homeschooling. It is not just helpful in evaluating your child’s progress, but also a great way to give their learning a real-world application.
You may choose to have your child take a test at the end of each course, or have them take tests on certain designated days, volumes, or chapters. It all depends on what works best for your child’s individual learning style.
12. Is Homeschooling Legal in Your State/Country?
It is important to first make sure that homeschooling is actually allowed in your state or country. Different countries have various regulations and laws regarding homeschooling, so it is essential to look into this before embarking on your homeschooling journey. Often times, countries that allow homeschooling require parents to become registered or obtain particular certifications in order to do so.
13. When Do You Take a Break From Homeschooling?
At some point or another, you and your child will most likely feel overwhelmed or exhausted from homeschooling. It is absolutely important to make sure you are both taking regular breaks and vacations in order not to burnout. Try to schedule in regular days off throughout the year, as well as a couple of weeks during the summer — that way you can really recharge and come back to the learning feeling refreshed and motivated.
14. What Are the Possible Challenges and How Can They Be Avoided?
One of the disadvantages of homeschooling is that it can sometimes be difficult to keep your child on track if you are not able to provide adequate and consistent monitoring of their progress. This can ultimately result in your child falling behind on scheduled tasks and lessons.
One way to tackle this is to ensure you are scheduling short, achievable goals and that the curriculum is engaging and motivating for your child.
15. How Will You Measure Success?
Finally, to ensure you are giving your child the best education possible through homeschooling, it is essential to set tangible goals and milestones for them. This could include tests or exams, as well as other achievements, such as achieving a particular grade, or becoming proficient in a particular skill. This will help you monitor your child’s progress and measure their growth and success over time.
Conclusion
Homeschooling has become a popular choice for many parents who want their children to receive an educational experience tailored to their individual needs. By asking yourself the 15 questions outlined in this article, you can better determine what to teach your child in homeschool. Put a strong focus on subject matters, resources, daily structure, and progress monitoring, and make sure you’re equipping them with the best learning skills and experiences.