There are anywhere between 4.5 to 5 million homeschooled children in the U.S. as of March 2021. While in-person learning has been the standard for centuries, there’s no denying that homeschooling still has its place.
If you want to homeschool your children, where do you start? How can you provide the best environment for your kids to learn at home?
That’s what we’re here to look at today. Read on to find out 5 crucial homeschooling tips to get you started on the right foot!
Table of Contents
1. Homeschooling Does NOT Equal Virtual Learning
We saw thousands of schools switch to a mandatory virtual learning model this past year due to the pandemic. As such, it’s important to draw a distinct line between these education options.
For starters, many parents were uneasy about the sudden shift from in-person to virtual learning. School administrators and teachers weren’t always ready to handle that transition.
This, unfortunately, resulted in some subpar learning environments, mainly due to the lack of control that teachers and students had. Homeschooling does away with many of those issues.
You are in control of the environment and how you’ll teach your children. Homeschooling offers a much more dynamic and flexible model.
Knowing that distinction is crucial for helping your children and your friends understand your intentions.
2. Find Community of Homeschool Parents
Something you might be worried about is your children not getting the socialization they need since they won’t be attending in-person schools. You might even worry about not getting to meet other parents.
Just know that there are plenty of parents in your position. Seek out these communities on Facebook and other social media sites.
You’d be surprised to as to how many parents in your area also homeschool their children. This allows you and your kids to socialize with like-minded people.
3. Know State and Local Laws
Some states require paperwork and other legal procedures for parents to homeschool their children. Other states are much laxer.
Finding the right information on this can take some digging. Make sure that you’re doing your due diligence here so as to not violate any laws.
Did you file the right documents? What can or can’t you do as a homeschool teacher for your kids?
4. Find Your Child’s Learning Style
Something that many parents don’t immediately think about is how their children learn. Teachers are trained to accommodate these different styles, meaning you need to know them as well.
Maybe your kids are visual learners and need a lot of pictures and images to comprehend your lessons. Maybe they’re more “doers” rather than listeners. Perhaps they learn better by reading and writing.
Test a few things out with your kids to see what style suits them best and don’t be afraid to talk to them about it. The more you know, the easier and faster your kids will learn.
5. Pick a Homeschool Teaching Style
How exactly you want to homeschool your children is something every parent should consider. Do you want to teach them in a more traditional way? Do you maybe want to do a hybrid of in-school and in-home learning?
Being at home means you can be more flexible with your style. Your home doesn’t have to be a classroom replacement. Teach and learn when you want, however you want.
If you’re looking for more guidance on your homeschooling journey, follow these steps to get started.
Homeschooling Tips For You
Homeschooling might feel daunting for beginners, but knowing the right homeschooling advice makes for an easy transition. Use this guide to know the right homeschooling tips for getting started.
For more informative articles on family and other topics, check out the rest of our site!
