Traditional education is the only option people have a few decades back but thanks to educators who realize that there is no one size fits all regarding learning and teaching. Homeschooling came about because it was an alternative for children as well as the families with needs and lifestyles incompatible with the demands and schedule of the typical school. If the child started out with a public or private school with a standardized curriculum, then preparation and commitment are needed to ensure a smooth transition.

Preparation of the Withdrawal

Before anything else, check the legal necessities before beginning with the homeschooling. Every state has its regulations and requirements. Twenty-four states require the child to follow some periodic assessment of their knowledge either through standardized testing or portfolio review. In standardized testing, logistics can be arranged through local public schools or independently. While in a portfolio review, a certified teacher evaluates and approves the collection of a child’s output which may include writing samples, math tests, reading lists, and science experiments. You will need to save an example of your child’s work if the state you are in requires a portfolio review.

Include the expenses of homeschooling.

 

Homeschooling is not free like public education. It will entail the use of resources such as time, effort and money. The parents will be solely responsible for providing school supplies, books, online curricular purchases, materials, so much more. Also, factor in these costs in the monthly family budget as well as the family’s financial capacity.

Inform local school officials and teachers.

While all states do not require it for parents to inform about their plan to homeschool their child, it is best to exit the educational system with courtesy and with good relations with the administration and staff of the school. Be honest about your reasons for switching and ask for some advice they might be willing to share because after all, you will now be the primary educator of your child. Maintaining a good relationship with your school is vital especially if you want to include your child in the school’s extracurricular activities.

Gather the child’s record.

If the child is in public school for a few years, the district will have a file containing his medical and academic record. You will want to retrieve this pertinent information to make sure that it will not get lost when you withdraw your child. Also, it will give you an overview of your child’s education experience. Gaining insight from this will also aid you in the actual homeschooling settings.

 

Thoroughly discuss homeschooling with your child.

This is one of the most critical steps. Make sure you are not bribing, threatening or brainwashing your child in choosing to homeschool over the typical classroom setting. If the decision of homeschooling is not a matter of option, but as a necessity for whatever reason it may be, provide an open environment for the child to ask for clarifications, explanation, and aspects to ponder on regarding the change to homeschooling.

 

Research and explore different homeschooling options.

There are numerous teaching methods and curriculum available for homeschooling. Reflect and analyze your child’s preferences and learning styles in picking the processes of education for the child.

When regular schools become triggers for an anxiety attack, homeschooling can be an excellent alternative.

 

Let’s face it: High school is very stressful and can be somebody’s worst nightmare. Looking back, don’t you sometimes wish that there was a more convenient, less nerve-racking way to learn and not deal with all the negative sides of regularly going to school like bullies, terror teachers, and endless homework?

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Nowadays, many parents are starting to go for homeschooling when it comes to their children’s education. There are many advantages when people choose this kind of setup for their kids. However, before you join the bandwagon, it is essential that you study your decision first. According to a recent study, homeschooling can affect marriage in two ways – negatively and positively. Here are the top things that you need to learn today:

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School can be nerve-wracking for teens. Getting good grades, meeting deadlines for homework and school projects, and social interaction with other students would all add up to increase a student’s anxiety level. Homeschooling is a good alternative that can avoid these sources of stress. But there are points to consider in determining whether homeschooling is the right fit for your child. Let us cover the various forms of anxiety and how to decide whether homeschooling is an excellent choice for teens with anxiety.

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Conventional schooling, at first glance, seems to be a bad idea for a child struggling with ADHD – long periods in class; no time allotted to “let loose;” homework that doesn’t accommodate to the child’s learning style; a few break times; long hours of just sitting down; and without much reprieves. Most of the time, that first glance would be correct. “Some parents augment their teaching with online learning; others work collaboratively with other parents and community groups to create educational, social, and extracurricular activities for their kids,” said Dona Matthews Ph.D. The question that beleaguers the parents the most, in regards to homeschooling, is “How do I cater to my ADHD child or children while providing the quality of an actual school?”

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There are numerous perks and benefits of homeschooling. One would be not having to wake up early to prepare for the school bus to experiencing no worries as to the whereabouts of your child. As parents, it is your responsibility to raise your child to be good citizens. But for some parents, it may be difficult to enroll your child into a regular school as there may be limitations such as frequent travel that disables them from committing their children to regular schools. But with homeschooling, your child can now learn basic maths to mastering high school psychology in your home.

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Fortunately, homeschooling is a valid and accepted means of giving your child education. According to J. Richard Gentry Ph.D., “Rather than believing that children who read early are exceptional outliers, experts are now recognizing that early reading may really be the norm if parents know what to do and have a few easy tools.” Through homeschooling, your child can still get his or her diploma from the same curriculum with the benefit of conducting classes in the comforts of your home. If you currently homeschool your child, or if you are considering homeschooling your kid, you should be aware of the pros and cons in this kind of set-up. You should know that homeschooling comes with its challenges.

Homeschooling doesn’t have to be a dull and ordinary experience for your beloved children. There are a lot of things you can incorporate in your ‘child’s homeschooling to make the experience a novel one. According to Dona Matthews Ph.D., “You can take advantage of learning opportunities as they become available, and you can choose the teaching approach that works best for you and your child.” Here are seven ways on how you can make homeschooling a fun experience for your child.

Figure Out Your Kid’s Learning Style

Since you are going to conduct your ‘child’s lessons at home, it is essential to observe and be aware of your ‘child’s learning style. Each person has his or her learning style. Your child’s preferred learning style allows him or her to understand the lessons better. Try to utilize your child’s learning style as much as you can, but also incorporate different learning styles to challenge your kid.

Don’t Hinder Your Child From Meeting New People

One major disadvantage of homeschooling is the hindrances to your child’s social skill development. Since your child doesn’t have much exposure to people, he or she has reduced social interaction, which may affect your ‘kid’s social skills. ‘Don’t stop your child from meeting and interacting with other people. There are many alternative ways of how you can aid in developing your ‘child’s social skills.

Take Your Kid Out On Field Trips

Field trips pose many educational benefits. Aside from aiding your child to learn lessons first-hand, this is also an alternative way of developing your child’s social skills. If you feel like your child is getting bored from your home set-up, it may be time to schedule a field trip for a change of scenery and to excite your child to the prospect of learning.

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Invite A Teacher Over

You can also increase your ‘child’s interactions by inviting a teacher over. You can request a music teacher so that your child can expand his or her skill set. Another thing you can do is to ask an art teacher once a week to create fun activities for your kid. Inviting a teacher to teach your child can also assure you that an expert in handling your ‘child’s education.

Create A Reward System

Give your child something to be excited for and look forward to by creating a reward system. It can significantly motivate your kid to finish his or her lessons. Reward or give your child a prize for a job well done. For younger children, you can let them pick from candies, stickers, and toys. For older children,  you can extend their bedtime, buy them new clothes, or take them to see a new movie.

Incorporate Games Into Your Daily Lessons

Make your lessons more fun and unique by incorporating little games into your lessons. Sitting all day can be annoying for your kid. Try to make your lessons entertaining by using toys when counting in math lessons. You can also use online videos as part of the experience, or allowing your child to act out a scene from your history lessons.

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Occasionally Give Your Child The Choice

One great way of making homeschooling fun is sometimes to let your child pick a subject of his or her interest. You can do this by having your child pick out which book to read or figure out which topic to write about. It can encourage your ‘child’s learning because they have the freedom to choose. But ‘don’t forget only to do this occasionally, so your child learns the importance of discipline.

These are just seven out of countless ways to make homeschooling fun. You can always experiment with which techniques will be useful for your kid. “Based on decades of scientific studies, we know there are only a handful of techniques that you need to understand to enhance learning in multiple subject areas,” according to Jessica Koehler Ph.D. As your child ages, his or her interests also change. Remember to pick up and be aware of your ‘child’s preferences. You can incorporate those likes into your daily lessons to make homeschooling a fun experience.