New Homeschooler?
We know how overwhelming it is to begin homeschooling. A myriad of decisions must be made, and the choices in teaching materials can be mind-boggling. We suggest that you read everything available looking for an emphasis or teaching approach that "grabs you". If you feel a special kinship with a teaching philosophy, read books in that area. Try and find local homeschoolers who are using the approach you like and ask them to share how they teach and what they use. Here are some other suggestions:
- The most important thing you can do is find out where your children are physically, emotionally and academically. Start with where they are and build on that. Often children taken from a public school setting have problems with self-esteem, peer dependency, academic "burn-out", and the adjustment from the classroom to home. The worse thing you can do with a damaged child is jump into academics. Take time to become reacquainted with your children, to "wash away" the institutional effects, to determine their learning strengths and weaknesses. You may just want to cover the academic necessities for the first few months to a year, or start out with only one or two subjects and gradually add more.
- Remember that teaching your children at home is going to be an adjustment for both of you. Take care of yourself. Don't over commit. Stay at home.
- Beware of adult peer pressure. Many of your relatives and friends will criticize your decision to homeschool. Don't feel like you need to live up to their expectations. Other homeschooling parents may pressure you to try their favorite curriculum or intimidate you with their child's achievements. Remember, you know your child's needs better than anyone else and you are best qualified to help them reach their full potential.
- Determine your philosophy of education. If you do not have a firm befief that what you are doing is the right thing for your children, your commitment will waver when you are under stress (and you WILL experience stress!).
- Cultivate the attitude of a learner. Look at failures as learning experiences. Try to laugh at the stupid mistakes you will make.
- Use what you have. Your finances and resources may be limited, your circumstances may be less than ideal. Instead of wishing things were different, look for ways to best use what you have.
- Become familiar with the typical sequences of academic education. Most textbook publishers will provide these free of charge. As you compare them, you will see that there is a general pattern to when certain subject matter is traditionally taught. Besides making traditional education seem less imposing, this helps you figure out how to place your child academically in a text, or if you use the unit study or another non-traditional approach it will help guide you in presenting math and English concepts in an orderly manner. Other helpful books are the Core Curriculum series (one book or each grade level): What Every ----- Grader Needs to Know, Kathy Duffy's Christian Curriculum Manual Vol I, II. It is important to note the diversity between publishers as well as their similarities. It may be simpler for you to approach some studies in different sequences, depending on seasonal opportunities, your child's current interest, or for the convenience of teaching the same material to more than one child. Make curriculum YOUR servant, not your master!
Adapted form an article written by Ellyn Davis of the Elijah Co.
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