Homeschooling is happening more than ever these days as the world has changed considerably. With the technology available these days it is easier than ever to try homeschooling and still make sure that the kids get a quality education. There is also a big community that loves to help others make the leap and try to homeschool their kids.
There are a lot of mistakes that are common to new homeschoolers, however. Some of the mistakes can hold you and your child back and make the process as uncomfortable as it is difficult. The best thing to do is to avoid these common mistakes so you can get started on the right foot. In this article, we will go over several of the ones most new homeschoolers experience.
4 Common Mistakes When Homeschooling – Disorganized study area
The people that have the most success are the ones that are able to replicate what a traditional classroom has to offer. From classroom activity tables to a whiteboard, the features that many classrooms have is to aid in the education process.
The key is to make sure that you have a dedicated area where you can teach and that has everything you need in one spot. When your area is disorganized, for example when you use the kitchen as a classroom, then you are going to waste time. Time will be wasted setting up an area and breaking it down before and after every school day.
Instead, set aside an area where you can store all of the teaching materials and equipment as well as a desk. All you need is a corner of a room where you always have the things you need and where your student is going to be able to study calmly.
4 Common Mistakes When Homeschooling – Over scheduling
Burnout when it comes to homeschooling is very common. Think about how you’re adding a full day of classes, plus planning the classes, and add in all the rest of what goes into running a household and you can see how it can easily happen.
You can reduce the risk of burning out by making sure that you don’t overschedule the classes for the day or week. When you are planning out the classes, make sure to understand exactly how long certain activities are going to take. Then you can simply plug and play the activities that will fit the time for a slot during the schedule. For example, if you know that it takes two hours to set up an art project, complete the project, and then clean up after, you will only schedule that activity for that day and not try to also add a field trip.
Unrealistic expectations
One of the best things about homeschooling is how you can teach according to the pace of your own child. They don’t have to be rushed if they are slow on certain subjects, or slowed down to match the pace of others when they are advanced in others.
The problem is that the homeschool mom might be tempted to try to do too much by thinking that their child can handle a big workload. Or, they may be disappointed that they are behind what they imagine their reading level should be at the age the child is.
It is better to not have any preconceived notions of what level the child should be and simply go at the pace they dictate. Otherwise, your expectations will leave you disappointed, and the child frustrated.
Instead, set up a curriculum based on where the child is in their development and not where you want them to be.
4 Common Mistakes When Homeschooling – Not being flexible
Being flexible is going to help you adjust your expectations. You don’t have to be a slave to the curriculum. As long as the child is getting the work done that needs to be done, then there are times when you will want to shift the schedule or take an unexpected break to catch up.
This flexibility is a benefit and shouldn’t be resisted. In fact, it may have been the thought of how flexibility is an option that drew you to homeschool in the first place.
It will help both you and your child go at the proper pace by teaching according to the realities of the situation. For example, if your child is simply not understanding a concept or problem then it is time to move on to something else instead of rigidly following a class schedule. This break may help their brain loosen up and then find the answer on their own in their own time.
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