If you’re homeschooling your elementary student, you know that there are going to be some hiccups and hard times on your pathway. This was never going to be something that was extremely easy, you just knew that it would be worth it because the public school system is outdated and isn’t teaching children to think or instilling a love of learning in our kids.
We have some tips that will help you make the most of this experience with your child. These may seem basic, but they are going to make the biggest impact on your child’s education.
Start With MindFinity
Starting with MindFinity will help to get your child thinking and moving early in the morning. This will help to make the rest of the day a success as well. MindFinity takes only a few minutes, but it will teach your child how the foundations of polymath thinking, pattern recognition, pattern design, analogy and real time composition.
MindFinity delivers daily activities to your inbox. You will be able to get the rest of the day ready or enjoy another sip of coffee while your child has fun and learns at the same time. For more information about MindFinity, click here.
Create A Daily Schedule
One thing that public schools get right is that they put our kids on schedules. You need to do the same – find what works and stick with it. It doesn’t have to look like a traditional school schedule, but it should start and end at the same time every day. Don’t start at 9 AM one day and 1 PM the next unless you have no other options.
Write Up A Curriculum
Write down what you want to do on a given day, in a week, or for a particular month. This will help to keep you organized and ensure that you cover everything you need to cover. You will likely get some sort of curriculum from your partner school, but you will want to expand on that.
Don’t Be Afraid To Slow Down
If you think that your child is struggling with a certain lesson, slow down. Try to use analogy, and the “coach your child” approach in MindFinity. Then go over the basics again or work in more practice. Don’t be afraid to go off track to ensure that they know the material.
Don’t Be Afraid To Speed Up
The opposite is also true: if your child understands addition and doesn’t need to keep doing drills, skip over them, and move onto the harder stuff. There will come a time when you are glad you didn’t waste time.
Make Sure Your Child Is Hydrated
A lot of kids are chronically dehydrated because they get so focused that they don’t drink. Teachers will work water breaks into their daily schedules just to ensure that kids drink water.
If you notice your child yawning or falling asleep, be sure they take a few sips of water. Model that behavior as well – make sure you drink plenty of water.
Establish A Learning Space
If you can, make a learning space. This can be in their room or in the kitchen, but ideally is a space they use solely for learning. Decorate it with themed decor, make sure they have access to all of their supplies, and allow them to personalize it a bit like traditional students would their desks or lockers.
Connect With Other Homeschoolers
Your partner school should give you a list of other homeschoolers in the area. If they don’t, you can connect on social media. Work together to develop lessons that work, go on field trips, and just socialize your children more.
Get Your Child Involved In Other Activities
If you homeschool, your child is allowed to join sports teams and activities at the partner school. It is a good idea to get them involved so that they can meet different people, get exercise, and explore their interests.
Utilize Different Forms Of Media
As a homeschool parent, you have so many different forms of media at your fingertips! Use books, magazines, YouTube, movies, television, real-time experiences, podcasts, and more to make each day feel different and exciting.
Go Outside
Recess works wonders for many kids – they have a lot of energy they need to expend!
MindFinity Helps Supplement Homeschooling
If you are trying to homeschool your child, then you know that there can sometimes be a bit of a wall when it comes to planning out new, exciting lessons. You aren’t a teacher who has 30 years of experience in making lesson plans.
MindFinity can help you by introducing different activities that will have your child learning and get your own creative gears moving. For a few minutes every day, you won’t have to plan out the lessons. Instead, they are delivered to your inbox and you can build from there.
For more information about MindFinity, please click here.