As parents and students seek to settle into new and unexpected home learning routines, check out our tips and suggestions from a student who regularly does homeschooling.
1. Set a daily schedule for each subject, similar to how you would change classes at school.
2. Check for understanding. The beauty of homeschooling is that you can teach to "mastery" and make sure your children fully understand the material before moving on or adding more. However, it's important to assess their learning, just like they would have at school and help them be accountable for their own success.
3. Incorporate movement into lessons, have outside or activity time, etc. Since children are at home rather than at school moving to different classrooms and settings, it's important that they stay active.
4. Have a designated space for children to work. Working other "more comfortable" places is fine (as long as they're still productive!), but having a home base where children know they can go to work and find books and materials is helpful as well.
5. Take this opportunity to teach your child skills outside the “classroom”. This could be cooking in the kitchen (which ties in fractions and measurement!), going outside to explore local wildlife and their environment, or “playing store” for younger children to practice using and counting money.
6. Designate times for breaks. Whether that may look like recess outside for 30 minutes, arts and craft time, or listening to music, these brain breaks are necessary for your child to maintain productivity.
7. Make sure to have a consistent sleeping schedule for your child. This will help promote lasting energy throughout the day and create structure. Keep them accountable for being on time.
8. Set a designated audiobook time. Whether it's after lunch for "rest period" or at the end of the school day to wind down, having 30 minutes to 1 hour of audiobook time is hugely beneficial. This provides students with oral comprehension practice and exposes them to so much language and vocabulary!
9. Have consequences for not turning assignments in on time. Whether it’s writing an essay about why turning assignments in is important and how it affects yourself and others or getting points off, it’s important for children to have the structure and accountability just like they would at school.
10. Encourage free play! Children learn important skills through imaginative and cooperative play. Just be sure they are still doing their school work, as academic foundations are important!
11. Create measurable education goals. This helps parents have a plan for where they’re going and helps students have a clear picture of what they should accomplish.