The number of students who participate in homeschooling has grown over the years. Parents commonly cite reasons like social and environmental factors related to local schools, poor educational opportunities in the surrounding area, and so forth.
Although the numbers have ridden steadily, homeschooled students around the globe make up a small percentage of school-aged children. As a result, many parents who decide to homeschool don’t have a strong frame of reference as to what they should expect.
One way to prepare to homeschool your child is to read up on common homeschooling mistakes and learn how to avoid them. That’s why we’re here to lend a helping hand.
Read on for eight common mistakes to avoid when teaching kids at home.
1. Not Creating a School Environment
This is one of the toughest challenges to tackle when you decide to homeschool your child. Home is the same space where they play, watch TV, and indulge in life’s many fun distractions. How are you going to transform part of your home into an appropriate learning space?
Ideally, you’ll want to establish a designated space that is just for school. Whether that’s a separate room or a desk in the living room, ensure that it’s quiet and functional.
2. Moving Too Fast Through Lessons
Homeschooling presents an opportunity for students to learn from a more diverse curriculum than they might in school. However, that doesn’t mean that you should try to pack every subject into a single day, especially if that includes anything outside of “the norm.”
Make sure that your child is absorbing the lessons you cover. Give them time to work on assignments that allow them to work through and demonstrate their knowledge. If they’re struggling, slow it down–it’s one of the many perks of homeschooling.
3. Under-Scheduling Your Child
The flipside of overscheduling is under-scheduling. You may have a lot that you need to get done besides teaching. Your child may start to fidget after an hour or two of lessons.
That doesn’t mean that you should cut back on the assignments or hours devoted to learning. Yes, homeschooling is flexible and you can take time off when needed. However, it’s up to you to ensure that your child isn’t falling behind due to shortened lessons or a reduced course load.
4. Skipping Breaks
It’s tempting to skip breaks throughout the day. After all, doesn’t that mean you’ll finish early? The answer is yes, but it isn’t worth the cost.
Your child needs time to get up, stretch, play, and let their mind wander. They need to focus on their breakfast and lunch to develop a positive and healthy relationship with the food they eat. When you skip breaks, you take away some of that vital free time that keeps your child happy, calm, and focused.
5. Tackling Every Subject Alone
Let’s face it: trying to teach an entire curriculum by yourself is no easy task. Even in public schools, children have more than one teacher to learn from. Whether you’ve reached the limit of your understanding of a subject or you simply need a break, it’s important to call in for backup.
Tutors, homeschooling organizations, and other homeschooling parents are all great resources to turn to. If you don’t know other homeschooling parents, sign up for the nearest homeschooling organization. Click for more great resources that will help both you and your child as you navigate the homeschooling process.
6. Ignoring Your Child’s Input
Maybe it’s your dream for your child to go into STEM and so you’ve compiled a science and math-heavy curriculum. Is it their dream? Do they show an aptitude for the curriculum you’ve created?
Even in a public school setting, children of a certain age would get to start choosing electives based on their own talents and needs. Make sure that you’re talking to your child about what it is that they’d like to explore. If that happens to align with your dreams, that’s great–but remain open to the possibility that they may have other things in mind.
7. Avoiding the Internet
Yes, the internet can be a scary place for kids to explore. However, it’s also a critical resource in the modern age and one that your child will need to learn how to use. Rather than avoiding the internet altogether, prioritize digital literacy.
Digital literacy is an awareness of how to discern a good source from a bad source. It helps internet users to differentiate between things like misinformation and fact-based information. When taught correctly, it also helps kids to recognize which websites they should stay away from.
(This is a tall order for younger kids. When you’re teaching your elementary schooler, supervise the way that they’re using the internet. If you don’t incorporate it into their lessons, they’re going to miss out on some great learning opportunities.)
8. Forgetting the Importance of Socialization
The truth is that family time isn’t the same thing as time spent with peers. Don’t make the mistake of assuming that quality time with parents (while important) can supplement your child’s need to socialize with other children.
Sign your child up for playgroups and organizations that aren’t school-based. Encourage them to make time for friends after school hours and on the weekends. Being homeschooled doesn’t have to hinder emotional and social development, as long as you make time for time with peers.
Avoid These Common Homeschooling Mistakes
Homeschooling has been and will continue to be a great choice for many families around the world. However, homeschooled children make up a statistically small population. Before you start homeschooling, do some research and avoid common homeschooling mistakes like these ones.
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