When I was in the midst of homeschooling my four children, people would tell me they could never school at home. Excuses included such things as not being patient enough, or organized enough. Truthfully there were definitely days when I did not feel patient or organized enough.
Now our family practices "eclectic learning." I have one in college, one in the military, one in public school, one is home schooled and I teach in a private school. With all the bases covered, I have found schooling does not really change all that much. Public school involves homework, and I find that I am still very much involved in his education. The main difference is that he comes home with school work while my daughter has been done for hours.
Regardless of where your child goes to school, get ready to homeschool this year!
Stand your post It hardly matters if you are your child's primary teacher, you are in charge. Advocate when necessary. Take a look at what your child is learning. Check over homework. Find out if they understand the material.
Home is the learning hub Acknowledge the fact that you are a part of your child's education. Putting a strong value on learning can go a long way in how they perceive education. Where ever your children are attending school, your attitude about learning matters.
Model lifelong learning Reading, taking classes, discovering new passions and learning new skills should be a part of your day to day life. Let your children see you growing through education and self-directed learning.
Engage minds Make it a family habit to discuss new ideas and share thoughts with each other. My son is constantly pondering how things work and why they are the way they are. Encouraging these sometimes random ramblings is important and so we take try to take the time to think together and research if necessary.
Prioritize books Two of my four children naturally love books, but that does not let the other two off the hook. I still look for interesting books to give as gifts and spent many hours reading to them and with them. Discover interests and then find an appropriate book, or magazine, that addresses that interest is one way to weave books into the lives of even the most reluctant reader.
Supplement education Schools, even expensive schools, will not reach each child's passions. Extra classes may be in order, or simple supplementation at home. Learning does not have to stop when a child leaves the school property. We have enrolled in nature programs at the local park system, and art classes from the art museum. My son was interested in learning a new language, but the school did not offer it. Instead of shrugging, we found a beginner class and installed Rosetta Stone programs on the home computer.
More by Sylvie Branch:
Make Summer Reading Fun for Kids
Kool-Aid Tie Dye and Other Uses for This Colorful Powdered Drink Mix
