How about a "tips for homeschooling" thread?

[mykdsmomy]

We have some brilliant minds here in the homeschooling forum. I thought it would be fun to have a "never do this" or "once we tried this" thread. It could be something funny like a homeschool science experiment gone terribly wrong or something encouraging like "Don't judge your child's progress by another homeschooled child".
What do you all think?
Any tips on homeschooling?

[mom2ponygirl]

I think anyone who is starting to homeschool should be banned from buying any curriculum for the first 6 months. You'll just end up wanting something totally different anyway! LOL

[craft_media_hero]

Great tip, mom2ponygirl!

Don't interrupt them. That's the big lesson I'm learning right now. Anything that's holding her attention so securely is probably exactly what she needs at the time. So right now she's playing littlest pet and has been for oh hours but I'm not going to interrupt even tho there's "stuff" we "need" to do.

Um, best thing I could pass on? I have only been doing this a year now with my only (not for long tho!) child 7yo, so I'm not like an old pro or anything, but I would just say take it easy, try not to get locked into a certain way of doing things, and have fun! Loose plans, lots of room for change

[briansmama]

1. Keep a list of your original reasons for hsing and review them often. I find that what I envisioned and what actually happens are 2 different things, unless I make an effort to spend more time cooking together, visiting the library, planning fun outings.

2. Do something for yourself every week so you don't burn out. We joined a nice family gym that we wouldn't have needed unless we were hsing. It gives me 6 hours a week to workout without having to take care of anyone else and my kids get to have fun playing sports at the same time.

3. If you are hsing a child with a toddler underfoot, remember that it doesn't last forever and hsing will get easier.

4. Don't buy a ton of (or any!) curriculum. We can afford # 2 simply because we follow a literature-based "curriculum" free on the internet and borrow the suggested books from the library.

5. Short lessons are my best tool for keeping learning from turning into a chore. 10 min for the early grades is plenty of time to learn or review a concept without stressing your dc or yourself out.

[mykdsmomy]

Great ideas

I think it's also important to remember the bigger picture. When we homeschool, we are not only working on academics, but on the whole child. What do we hope to accomplish by the time they graduate high school? I have to keep my eye on the bigger picture sometimes when I start stressing over the little things.

[Savoir Faire]

When people start to get The Look in Their Eye (IE, you're crazy) when you discuss homeschooling....CHANGE THE SUBJECT. Don't let someone else bully you into feeling bad about your choices.

Don't be afraid to say something isn't working, especially if 1. the child is young or 2. you're new to homeschooling. Take a step back and wait. A few months can make a huge difference!!

Don't try to do everything in one day. You can't.

[mykdsmomy]

How about: There will be days when you wish you never heard of homeschooling because PS seems like the "easier" choice.

You know it's not that simplistic but you wish it were

(maybe this is just me though )

[catholic74]

I think a thread like this would be wonderful! I am new to homeschooling and being able to refer to a thread like the one suggested would be very helpful.

I also feel that I could contribute even though I've only been homeschooling half a school year. I have already learned things by going through the emotional process of just deciding to homeschool, then jumping right in. I've already learned things that work or don't work or things that I love that I never would have expected. Still, I have many years ahead of me and have tons of questions that pop up every so often.

I've already been encouraged by one person's suggestion to those of us who have toddlers...I needed to be reminded that homeschooling will get easier as they grow up! I was just telling my husband that I actually feel that it would be easier to homeschool once all the children are school age and I can assign them work and responsibilities, etc.....and not have to fill sippy cups and change their diapers between lessons!!!! I much prefer the homeschooling stuff! I've read many books on homeschooling and one of them by Kimberly Hahn called "Catholic Education: Homeward Bound" really helped me put this issue in perspective. She encourages mother's to allow the toddler to be part of the school, even teaching your older children while a 2 year old is sitting on your lap. I found that it's usually best, when possible, not to resist inclusion and be resentful of the toddler and just accept that they want to be around the rest of the family and want to be a part of what we're doing! In the early days, I'd try to make my toddler "go away" by luring him away with tv or toys and there are still days I try it, but if he's not interested, I try not to let it get to me and just find him something to do at the homeschooling table!

[floiejo2]

I'm loving this thread! Great advice for a super new homeschooler who's getting overwhelmed on a daily basis. Keep it coming!

[MammaG]

I'm new to homeschooling too, and already love the tips! Thanks! I've also had to learn to manage to work in age-appropriate lessons for my 5.5yo and my 4yo and we had a baby on the middle of our first year. I'm guessing the baby will read younger than the other two?! I love how age-inclusive our learning is turning out to be.

I have a very practical tip that I got from someone online, I forget who, but it's one of the best HS tips I've had yet. We use our dining room for HS, and I didn't want to wreck my mother's gorgrous mahogany dining table, pluswe do like, from time to time, to throw an all out polish-the-silver dinner party, so I wanted to somehow cover the table for lessons. I had a white wall-board ($12 at a home-improvement store) cut to the same size as the table-top. On the table goes a sized cloth-and-rubber pad and then the white-board. It's spill-proof and paint-proof and I can use it as a dry-erase board, saving paper (I've even drawn a whole scene around a wooden train set-up on it!). For a party or a nice family dinner, it either can slide behind a bookshelf or I can cover it with a cloth, which makes the table kid-proof. I LOVE it!

[floiejo2]

Oohh, mammag, I like that idea a lot! Our table isn't that great, it's a hand me down from my mom, but I love the idea of being able to write and draw right on the table. Thanks!

[MamaMonica]

My tip is to make time for your own social needs and activities to avoid burnout. That could be taking a walk, going out, getting together with friends, etc.

[meetoo]

Everything your child/ren does/does not do, is not because they are home schooled!
Everything the kid/s down the street does/doesn't do, is not because they are public schooled!

[DaughterOfKali]

Loving this thread! I'm new to homeschooling (since October) and the novelty has worn off. I need ideas to liven it up again!

[ankh]

I might be alone in this one, hopefully not...

If you have a few weeks off, for example most of Jan and Feb with the odd bits and bobs here and there, don't stress it. With Home schooling you can get so much done in such a small amount of time...

I feel like we have been hibernating, lots of pajama days, bit too much TV and reading by the fire...Lessons have been happening but not that much. (once or twice a week ) Whenever we do them, though, I am pleased with how the kids are developing.

[Momma Aimee]

subbing

[mom2ponygirl]

Forget about grade levels, forget about running through every grade of a certain curriculum, forget about 'gaps'. There are no gaps - just opportunities to learn!

Develop a bigger picture of what homeschooling looks like for you and what your (plural, kids and parents) goals are for this time. Then look at what you need to do to take another step toward those goals. It may involve curriculum(at their age/grade level or way above or way below) or games or field trips or mentors or just time to think and dream. Remember it is a long journey and you don't have to get there in one day or one year. Don't be concerned with periods of time where you feel your kids are experiencing a little benign neglect. Life sometimes interferes with your plans but the kids get lots of that thinking and dreaming time and it all works out.

We are in our 6th year of hs'ing. It gets easier and more fun! You will find that your passion for learning is rekindled as well, and that is the best model for your kids.

[St. Margaret]

Subbing!

[LuxPerpetua]

Loving this thread, ladies!

[Nitenites]

1. Learning doesn't happen at a regular, measured pace. It happens in fits & starts, sometimes all-of-a-sudden with big gaps when you think your child isn't picking up anything, and that's okay. Sometimes kids need a bit to assimilate all the info coming at them, or need time to master a new skill. Don't spaz out. Kids don't fit in boxes.

2. Don't compare your homeschool to those of others. (SO much easier said than done!) It's great to get ideas from others, but try not to succumb to the pressure of, "OMG! They're building a diorama of the Parthenon, and writing a Greek tragedy, and her daughter is only in first grade. My kid can't even find Greece on a map! What am I doing wrong?!" YOU are doing what works for YOUR FAMILY! That's the great thing about homeschooling - we all get to do what works for us!