You may have just be starting homeschooling with a kindergartner or and don’t know how to go about the whole process. Even so, you don’t need to stress yourself. Here are some frequent mistakes made by many homeschoolers who are starting out and how you can steer clear of them.
1. Trying to liken home to school
There is usually a temptation to try to bring school into your home complete with desks, a rigid schedule, and chalkboards. But, things will definitely be different with you, the parent, as the teacher.
2. Homeschooling day and night
It is unnecessary to teach your child who is at elementary school for an extended period of time. Take a day off and do some outdoor activities that may also be educational such as visits to the zoo or library visits. Volunteering and part-time jobs definitely count as practical education for older kids.
3. Siting your kids at desks throughout the day
There is no need for you and your kids to be sitting on a chair all day. Learning and teaching is different for everyone. You may be doing something like doing squats while you read to one of your kids while another is doing art.
4. Striving to keep up with others
You don’t have to keep up with kids at school or other homeschoolers. There is no rush for kids to grow up. Go with your own pace and that of your kids and let them be kids and explore for themselves, personal experience is also form of education.
5. Purchasing expensive curriculum
Homeschoolers spend part of the funds used on public school kids or funds they would likely use at a private school. There are many free options, elementary school shouldn’t cost anything at all. With virtual school, you could get curriculum already purchased by your state for free or at a cheaper price per child, with your lesson plans already done.
6. Not keeping your child’s lead
We all learn differently and have different interests. Don’t be rigid in what you keep your child but have a broad mind. Accept or even consider what they might be interested in learning and how fast they are actually grasping what you are teaching.
7. Sticking with what isn’t working
The beauty of homeschooling is its freedom. If you and your child have difficulty in a certain workbook, there is no need to power through it. You can simply switch curriculum, this isn’t uncommon.
8. Completely assisting your child in everything.
Independent learning is important. Let your child do it himself or herself and see what progress is being made.
9. Making comparisons between you and everyone else
Comparisons and competitions between homeschoolers are unproductive to anyone, especially your child. But, you can exchange ideas to better educate your children.
10. Seeking perfection
In the search for what works best for your family, you are bound to make mistakes along the way. This is perfectly normal and a relief that you don’t have to be perfect. You will enjoy homeschooling when you start to go easier on yourself, having more fun with your kids on a journey that is shorter than you think.
