Homeschool Newbie

admin · 23rd June 2008, 11:00 AM

Start Today!

Perhaps you don't have a lot of time to develop lesson plans right now.

You just need something quick, but solid and dependable, to get your homeschool off to a fun, fabulous, flying start.

Something to keep your children learning, thinking, and progressing in every subject area. Something that's truly affordable.

Later, when things are more settled, you'll have time to consider the different types of curriculum programs available or research distance-learning schools, if you choose to do so.

Relax and enjoy!

Don't try to do too much your first year, and avoid turning your homeschool into "school at home."

Let your children enjoy this learning experience.

You'll be surprised at how much fun they'll have as they're learning and how much learning they'll accomplish because it's fun!

Keeping Homeschool Records or a Homeschool Portfolio.

The Curriculum and Lesson Plans

The fun begins!

Your curriculum can be as easy and inexpensive, or as complex and costly, as you'd like!

We use Weekly Lesson Plans to keep costs to a minimum. A few things to keep in mind as you proceed:

Always observe and consider how your child learns best

Allow your child to provide ideas and input on what he or she would like to learn

Remain flexible day-by-day and week-by-week

Remember that homeschooling is not "school at home"

Keep it fun and interesting!

Homeschool Scheduling and Organization Tips

Lesson Plan Tips:

We use the weekly lesson plans to make each week much easier! With lessons on every subject, there's enough to fill out the whole week, and more!

Print out the weekly planner or make one by yourself. Then fill them in (or have the kids fill them in, give their ideas) with the weekly lessons, and we're set for the week.

The ideas from the weekly lessons always gives us more ideas and links on the subjects. So we always have lots of educational material and activities at our fingertips!

Scheduling Tip:

Avoid the temptation to structure homeschool days based on your memories of school schedules.

School schedules were developed to handle hundreds of students each day and move them through the system as quickly and efficiently as possible.

Since you won't have nearly as many children in your home, a school-based schedule is neither appropriate nor necessary.

Goal-Setting Tip:

Each weekend, decide the five most important things you want to accomplish in your homeschool during the upcoming week.

Write them down. You have five days ahead of you to accomplish those five goals.

Cross off each goal, as your child accomplishes it.

Do this each week, and you'll be surprised at how much you and your child are capable of accomplishing in a week!

Organization Tips:

- Keep all homeschool books, supplies, records, and logs in one closet or cabinet, so they are easy to locate.

- Designate a place for everything, and request that everything be returned to its place after use.

- Store projects and papers in clear, plastic containers. A quick glance will tell you what's in each.

- Make your own bookshelves for all the great books you'll accumulate. Or invest in affordable shelves that will support your collection as it grows.

Working Parents Tips:

Whether you work outside the home, or run a business at home, your days feel especially full when you're also homeschooling your children.

Yet, in many ways, your days are much simpler and smoother when "school" is in the home.

There's no more frantic mornings getting your kids off to school, driving them to and from school or after-school activities, attending school functions and parent-teacher meetings, making sure each child has everything he or she needs for school each day, and best of all no more homework hassles!

The time you used to spend trying to understand, and help with, homework assignments, is now spent in pleasant one-on-one, educational activities that you and your child can enjoy together each evening.

Just remember that the children are as much a part of your family as you or your spouse. And it takes a family to keep a household operating smoothly. Each week, re-evaluate everyone's responsibilities, from the oldest member to the youngest.

Have a family discussion about where improvements or changes could be made in your household and homeschool schedules, to make things run even smoother.

Try out your children's suggestions over the upcoming weeks.

You might be surprised at how well their suggestions or ideas work!

Quick Housekeeping Tips:

Prepare and cook several dishes, soups, or casseroles on Saturday or Sunday afternoon, then freeze them for the upcoming week.

Give each child a box or basket and send them through the house to pick up any items that are out of place, and to return the items to their proper places.

Assign each child certain responsibilities in the home, or let them select, switch, or share chores with each other.

Relaxation Tips:

Don't try to be "SuperMom" or "SuperDad."

Simplify your days with simpler meals, simpler housekeeping, and simpler schedules. Take part in more break times, more playtime, and more fun time.

Cut back on extracurricular activities. Your children don't need to attend every class that comes along.

Create a healthy balance of fun time and quiet time, for all the family. When you are enjoying quiet time, your family should be enjoying it, too.