4 Homeschool Tips and Tricks for Beginners

The COVID-19 pandemic forced many parents to take on the role of educator as well. With schools shutting down and going virtual, families had to adapt to a lesson plan to make sure children of all ages were having their educational needs met. For some, the decision to homeschool continued. For others, they braced themselves for virtual learning. Here are some tips to keep in mind for newcomers to homeschooling.

1. Set a designated time of day and space for learning.

Working out a schedule creates some consistency in a homeschooling environment. If you have an infant child, you may want to coordinate that child’s schedule around your older child’s lesson plan. Your infant’s routine and comfort can translate over to a better schooling situation. A SollyBaby wrap provides comfort for wearer and toddler alike, allowing for a baby’s face to have proper ventilation while giving that feeling of swaddling that goes beyond what the best baby carriers offer.

Comfort levels in everything from crib sheets to car seats allow for greater ease of mind for your infant and offer more time to focus on the task of educating your older child. While your baby is sleeping, you can take the time to lay out a lesson plan for the day or even use that as schooling time, taking a break when the baby or toddler wakes up.

2. What works for one child may not work for another.

If you are teaching more than one child, it’s important to remember that your homeschooling approaches may need to change. Beyond grade levels within a K12 homeschool program, students have different learning habits. While some children are comfortable delving right into a book and obtaining facts from reading, other students need a more creative approach to taking on the essentials for their grade.

Apply the four C’s: critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and creativity. Be sure that the tasks that your K12 program is tackling manage to hit those cornerstones. Afford yourself a regular review of what works for each kid, and apply consistency in your techniques. You don’t have to shy away from other tutorials or learning methods, but remember that you have a solid structure to build on.

3. Be forgiving of yourself and your children.

Your child’s education means a lot to you, and, of course, you want to get it right. Your children also don’t want you to feel as though they aren’t adapting to your homeschool program. However, you can’t be so hard on yourself or them. Starting a homeschool curriculum for elementary, middle, or high school students is no easy task for students and teachers alike. You will have growing pains. It’s important that the lines of communication are open to better accommodate your average day. This will ease the transition and get a better schedule in place.

4. Don’t hesitate to ask for help.

Whether it’s virtual school or your own homeschool program, you may have questions about the curriculum, technology, or certain subject areas. Don’t hesitate to ask those questions. Assignments and online courses may have you and your entire family raising their eyebrows. That’s why it’s important for you to raise your hand and make sure you have the right understanding of this information to successfully pass it on to your child.

There are a variety of ways you can approach this online, but it’s important to check what websites you are utilizing. You want to make sure you are cross-referencing your information so that your personalized program is accurate for what your child needs. Remember, you’re not alone in wanting the best for your child’s education.

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