Homeschooling? Ways Make Sure Your Kids Don’t Fall Behind

With so many schools still closed to in-person learning, many families are deciding to go the homeschool route to educate their children.

This method of schooling gives children the opportunity to work at their own pace in the comfort and safety of their own homes.

However, with all of the advantages also comes the risk that your child may not meet the designated metrics because of a lack of traditional schooling.

Here are five ways that you can make sure that your child does not fall behind in homeschooling.

Table of Contents

Make a Schedule

This is not the time to be a pushover parent. Making a schedule and being consistent about sticking to the routine will help your child to develop the skills that they need to not fall behind in their studies.

How your schedule looks is dependent on your family’s needs and preferences. One of the most advantageous things about homeschooling is that you can be flexible with your schedule.

Use this to your benefit to implement a routine that works for your child. For example, if your child is not an early bird, consider starting the school day later so that they are more alert and prepared to work harder and smarter.

Join a Homeschool Parent Group

It is important to recognize that you are not alone in this journey. Because of the current situation, there are going to be more homeschooled students than ever before.

You would be wise to lean on these peers for help and support as you navigate these roads together.

You can either find an in-person parent group in your area to meet up with occasionally or you can go online to find like-minded parents in the same situation as you.

Use these parents to bounce ideas off of each other, ask questions, and receive encouragement.

While COVID-19 may limit the activities that your child can do, there is also value in getting together with peers for extracurriculars and socialization.

Get Creative

One of the best things about choosing to homeschool is the time and the opportunity that it affords you to be creative.

Without the constraints of the four walls of a classroom, you can approach this educational endeavor with more flexibility.

This is particularly true when it comes to the use of manipulatives to teach STEM concepts. You will find a myriad of tools to help you to assist your student in grasping these academic pursuits.

For example, river models will create an immersive learning experience in which your child will be able to connect science to their everyday life through the use of flowing water and other manipulatives.

Choose a Structured Curriculum

Even if the parent is a trained educator, you cannot simply wing it when it comes to homeschooling. Before you start down the homeschool path, you need to choose a structured curriculum.

This is one of the biggest choices that you will need to make before you begin each school year.

This curriculum serves multiple purposes. Not only will it serve as the guiding framework for the academic year, but it will also deliver the materials that you need for a successful experience.

A detailed curriculum is a good fit for a family that may have challenges staying on schedule while a looser curriculum is a good choice for students who prefer a more individualized learning experience.

Test Frequently

Testing frequently will help you to catch if your student is falling behind. The faster that you notice that they may be struggling, the easier that it will be to catch up.

There are many ways that you can test to assess your student’s progress. Any solid curriculum will have a series of checkpoints and formal testing that you can use to measure your child’s learning.

Do not skip over these assessments thinking that they are a waste of time. If the testing demonstrates that the child has not completely mastered a concept, it is important that you slow down.

There is no doubt that deciding to homeschool is a significant parenting decision.

Equipping yourself with the knowledge to help your child to stay on track will ensure that they make the most out of this innovative learning experience.

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Emma

A mother and lover of all things practical. My blog covers about motherhood by exploring all areas of life. Our tips and tricks help the large community to do more in less time so they can spend time enjoying happy, healthy families.