Home education can be a tempting, interesting, exciting, nourishing, even thrilling consideration for many parents. It’s also a little scary. After all, most parents question themselves and wonder what the consequences might be if they get this wrong. What if you don’t perform well as a teacher, or don’t apply the best lessons at the right times?
It’s not an easy question to answer. But thankfully, if you’re steadfast, well-meaning and properly organized, having that one-on-one time with your child can absolutely help speed up their education. Moreover, if you’re focused and attentive, you may help your child flourish more than they could have in a strained public schooling system. There are pros and cons to this process of course, the same as the traditional route. We’ll leave an exploration of that topic to another time.
However, with some of the following advice, you may find the best possible outcome works for you:
Find A Reliable, Recommended Curriculum
Finding a curriculum can feel like a big ask, but usuall you’re in look. Most education departments have recommendations, so look for programs that other home educators have used and liked. Many of these have sample lessons so you can see if they’re a good fit for you and your child. Also pick a curriculum you feel good about, one you can stick with for the long haul.
A quality option should give you a clear path, so you don’t have to guess what to teach next, which takes a lot of stress out of the process. You can also think about different types of curricula, like a more traditional textbook plan or a more hands-on, project-based one. Some families mix and match different resources to create a learning plan that’s just right for them. Make sure they’re accredited by official bodies so your child can also work to a qualification, as is required, should they be of the appropriate age.
Plan Your Daily, Weekly & Monthly Home Education Sessions
You simply can’t do this without a good schedule. You don’t need to copy a school day, but a general plan for each day is helpful. Many home educations assign mornings for subjects that need more focus, like math and reading. Afternoons could then be for more creative or hands-on activities, and a weekly plan helps you see the bigger picture and make sure you’re spending enough time on everything.
To stop boredom or overt repetition, you can set aside a certain day for science or art projects, which adds some nice variety. A monthly plan helps you get ready for bigger projects, like a unit on history or a science fair experiment. A long-term view helps you avoid rushing, but a predictable routine helps both you and your child feel secure. It also makes it easier to track progress and change things up if you need to, like spending more time on a tough topic. You’ll find your balance.
Go On Easy “Field Trips”
This is the major benefit to home education, so definitely make use of it. When you don’t have an entire class to administrate, a trip to a local park can be a science lesson about plants, a visit to a museum can bring history to life, and a local theatre show is good for cultural understand. The possibilities are near endless. These outings don’t have to be expensive or a lot of work, and you don’t have to put together a risk assessment form either, you just leave the house with your child.
The main goal is to connect what your child is learning to the real world. A change of scenery can also give everyone a boost. Make a tradition of a weekly or fortnightly “adventure day” to a new place. Here you actualize your learning, and we can promise your child will love it.
Use Core Activity Resources
There are a fair amount of helpful resources to support your main curriculum effort. You can find educational apps, websites, and games that support what you’re teaching in that vein. Many online tools offer interactive lessons that feel more like a game than a chore are best to start with.
Of course, workbooks can be helpful for practicing foundational skills, especially for things like math and phonics. Hands-on items like blocks or science kits are also great for kids who learn by doing. For a first grader, there are many core skill activities for first graders online that build reading and number skills through games. You can also find worksheets for handwriting practice. Think about what works best for your child.
Allow Inspections
In many places, home educators have to get their program reviewed. This can feel scary, but see it as a helpful check-in, as inspections are a chance to show the progress your child has made and get feedback on your plan. The person doing the inspection is usually there to support you, so don’t worry.
Moreover, they might even offer advice or resources you didn’t know about. You just have to be be ready for these inspections. Remember to leep a portfolio of your child’s work, a log of your daily activities, and a copy of your curriculum. Being a little organized beforehand will help you gain a great rating and continue unabated.
Join Local Groups
Home education can feel lonely sometimes, which is the one major downside, but you don’t have to go it alone. Connecting with other home education families in your area gives you a strong support system, because these groups often organize meetups, classes, field trips, and social events which tend to be a good time and fun to go through.
They also give your child a chance to hang out with other home educated kids, which is a great way to make friends. You can also share resources and advice with other parents who understand what you’re going through, so if you’re having trouble with anything, that in itself can be a nice comfort.
With this advice, we hope you can more easily make home education easier and more doable.
