Tips for the First-Time Homeschooling Parent

By Joy Adams

Homeschooling is not for the faint of heart. It is hard work and yet, so rewarding. As a third generation teacher, and a second generation homeschooling mom, here are some tips to help you succeed.

Tips For Successful Home Learning:

Don’t attempt to create structure and rigor simultaneously.
- Instead, create the structure first and slowly increase the rigor by increasing the length and difficulty of the tasks.

Do create independent learners through activity stations.
- For the elementary level learners, set up stations throughout the house that provide opportunities for independent activities. Have stations that are both enjoyable and allow for creative thinking. Start doing this with fun activities and then you can slowly add more academic stations once your learners are ready.
- When I first started doing this, I would set-up individual stations for play dough, Legos, puzzles, drawing/painting, and a place for silent reading/looking at picture books. Each kid would spend 10-15 minutes at each station. With 3-5 minutes for transition time between stations. Once your students are able to stick to the rotation without leaving their station prematurely or requiring a lot of assistance, you can add a station in which you provide direct instruction, catering to the individual needs of your individual learners.
- By having your students rotate through independent activity stations, they develop the skills and character needed to be an independent learner/worker.

Don’t expect that your kids will know how to be independent learners.
- The reality is, very few individuals feel equipped as independent learners. Most of the traditional school system does not teach students to find the answers, rather it tells them what the answer is and then teaches them to memorize it. Most students, regardless of their grade level, will struggle to be able to identity the main point or the significance of a text on their own. Students are accustomed to teacher lectures, multi-media (YouTube videos), and group/“pair share” type learning to guide them through the learning process. While, our modern educational system has adapted to make the given curriculum more accessible, it has also produced lethargic learners. The reality is students who have been educated in the traditional settings prior to homeschooling have been taught what to think, not how to think. Making the transition to a more Socratic method where students learn through critical thinking and inquiry takes time, patience, and endurance.

Do recognize that EVERY subject, including math, is READING.
- If you have a student who struggles with reading or is an emerging reader they will need a lot of assistance AND they will need more frequent breaks.

Do include physical activity.
- If your student gets stuck on an activity that you know is within their ability have them take a break. Send him or her outside. Sometimes a little fresh air and some pressure on their joints (jumping jacks, jogging, carrying something heavy) can really help reset the mind and help your student get a fresh perspective for learning.

Do recognize that home education takes a lot LESS time than the traditional school day.
- The traditional school day is filled with non academic procedures. Taking attendance, collecting lunch orders, explaining directions multiple times for the benefit of struggling and/or distracted students, fire drills, and the list goes on. Most students with average to above average intelligence should be able to complete just as much learning, if not more, in about half of the time.

Do link subject areas whenever possible.
- A nature hike can be both science and physical education. Have your student make predictions of what they will see based on the current season, recent weather, and terrain. After the hike, make nature journals to document findings.
- Kite flying can be science, P.E., and English. Before you go, watch YouTube videos about the science behind kite flying. After your kite flying adventure have your student write about their experience using grade level spelling, grammar, etc. and the academic science terms they learned from the YouTube videos.

Don’t attempt to do every subject every day.
- Focus on reading, writing, and math. Recognize that at the elementary school level, science and history are only taught once or twice per week. Also remember that science and history can both involve a lot of reading. If you have an emerging or struggling reader be willing to decrease your student’s other daily reading assignments.

Do realize that your homeschooled student may be exhausted at the end of the first few school days. And so will you.
- Homeschooling requires active on task learning. Whereas many traditional school students can get by and even do fairly well in school just by using a passive approach to learning. Even students who may receive smaller group intervention during their regular school day have frequent breaks and times of rest and/or passive learning as they wait for their turn.

Don’t throw in the towel because you have a bad moment or a bad day.
- Homeschooling is hard. Homeschooling my five children is just as much work if not more than when I was a full time public school teacher with over 120 students. Take it slow. Give yourself grace (undeserved kindness/favor) and give your kids grace too.