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 10 Secrets of a Successful Homeschool (currently 937 views) |
| Twinville2 |
| Posted on: May 2nd, 2006, 6:39am |
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(Just a few words of inspiration and motivation) 
10 Secrets of a Successful Homeschool
http://www.thehomeschoolmom.com/teacherslounge/articles/10_secrets_successful_homeschool.php
By Sherri Chekal
1. Have fun. Attitude is everything with home learning. Enjoy learning
and
your kids will enjoy it. Make it drudgery and they will respond as
well. Try
to make even boring tasks pleasant at least. This is not to say that
everything must be a 3-ring circus, but if you have a fresh, upbeat
attitude
even with times tables and spelling tests, this will reflect well on
your
children's enjoyment and learning potential
2. Limit interruptions. My biggest interruption is the phone. Get a
good
answering machine and use it during regularly scheduled learning time.
Or
use voice mail. Record a message that states from this time to that
time we
are home educating and will get back to you after we are finished. Tell
friends and relatives that this is the case, and eventually they will
learn
to respect this. This also means well meaning drop in visits and
babysitting
for friends, etc. Keep your children's learning time sacred and your
family
will benefit from this.
3. Dedicate your time to their learning. If you are doing 101 things
while
your children are trying to do bookwork, how can you expect them to
concentrate and finish tasks at hand? Keep your focus on them, it is a
priority that rewards!
4. Keep it simple. Be careful not to fall into the "Curriculum of the
Month"
club. Trying and swapping and changing your education plans with every
new
program that breezes by will kill your children's spirit. This is not
to say
that you should stay with something that is not working, just be
careful not
to flit about like a butterfly in a field of flowers. Your children
will
quickly learn that all it takes in a bit of whining and they'll have a
new
book, workbook or system in no time. Also, simplify your life. Too many
commitments and outside activities and responsibilities can really
wreck
havoc with your schedule. Try to keep your life simple and you will be
rewarded.
5. Have FAITH! In yourself, your kids and in God. If you are doing the
best
you can, you will be rewarded. How can you do any worse than an
overworked,
underpaid public school teacher with only 6 hours and 24 - 30 children
to
teach? Overcome your own shortcomings with help, tutoring assistance
and
your own re-education. Don't count yourself short. Children learn in
any
environment even the slums of Calcutta! Provide them with your time and
enthusiasm, good basic materials and faith and you will do as well if
not
better than that poor teacher can. You have the best interest of your
children in your heart. Let it work for them.
6. When in doubt READ! If the washing machine is flooding, the baby is
sick,
your toddler is fussy and lunch is burning don't just give up, get
reading.
Reading is the best way for your kids to learn and retain. Gather up
the
brood and snuggle on the couch with a good classic. Reading aloud is a
wonderful activity for your family. Even experienced readers will love
to
hear a story aloud, especially when they don't have to sound out each
word
and get through those they may not know. There is a rhyme and rhythm to
books read aloud that delights even little ones. Make it a drama
performance, use voices change the sound levels of your voice, and
discuss
the plot. You can even tape record your story time so that pre-readers
can
listen again and again and enjoy the story while you worry about that
washing machine!
7. Surround yourself with home school mentors. Whether it's an online
group,
or a support group, or just a great mom you met at church or at the
library,
keep in touch with these people! Ask questions; ask for helpful advice,
most
likely, they will be happy to help, because someone in their life
helped
them. Don't do this alone. Even a good home education magazine will
help you
in your quest. Read home education books when you are in need of a
little
boost.
8. Use the Library! What a wonderful resource most public libraries
are. Not
only books of any and every subject but reference books, video tapes,
audio
tapes, learning materials, computer accesses, computer software and so
much
more. With just a notebook and some pencils, I truly believe you could
educate your children with just a library at hand! Don't spend a
fortune on
all these reference books for home. Use the libraries! And the
librarians
love homeschoolers
9. Take frequent break days. If you are sick, or some family
obligations
make a day difficult, take a day off. Instead of great big weeks off or
even
the whole summer, take frequent days off through the year to refresh
and
empower you. The children will be pleased and you will get a chance to
regroup. Just make sure they aren't every other day!
10. Watch for outside time stealers! Field trips and social outings and
classes for this and that are important, just make sure you are not
overdoing it. Too many errands and outings can kill a day's learning
and
overwhelm your schedule. Remember that you are home schooling not car
schooling! Try and schedule a day that is busy and three or four days
that
are not. Your family will appreciate this!
© 2006 by Sherri L. Chekal
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| debgwest |
| Posted on: May 2nd, 2006, 2:11pm |
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Thank you so much for those words of wisdom! I think those would help anyone starting out as well as to refresh and remind those who have done this for years. Maybe a link to these tips should be at the top of everyone's daily list.  |
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