Friday, November 29, 2013

Laying the Foundation for Learning to Read Early


Helping your child learn to read can start pretty early in life. A good way to help your children on the path to reading is by reading with them when they are small, even infants. They may not be able to completely comprehend what they are “reading” with you, but getting into the habit will be foundational for later growth.

Be sure to be interactive as you read together. You can do this by pointing out what characters are doing or commenting on characteristics of the pictures (“That tree has big red apples!” or “Is the fox going to run away?”) Interactive reading like this can help your child see reading time as fun time which can make learning to read easier when they are older.

Another important thing to remember is the value of repetition. While you may get tired of reading “Hop on Pop” long before your child does, the repetition can help your child grasp words and phrases. Seeing familiar words over and over will help your child become well acquainted with the different letters.

It will also help them gain confidence to repeat the words themselves. Building a pattern of reading while they are small will help them feel familiar with it when they are able to start reading on their own.

Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Encourage Their Own Love for Reading


Some parents find themselves wondering “how can I encourage a love of reading in my child?” Reading can be a difficult thing to dive into for some children. You want your child to foster their own love of reading, not to see it as a task or chore.

A good way to encourage a love of reading is by having a library pile. Find a decent sized basket that you can take with you to the library. Have your children fill the basket with books they are interested in. Each week return the books you got from the week before and get new ones (Of course, if the book is a little longer or if they are really diving into it extend the due date).

Encourage them to get a variety of books. Pick out stories you can read together, books that teach skills you can learn, or books that teach about far off places. This will help them see that reading can be an exciting hobby that can tickle their interests. As they start to feed their budding appetites, you’ll find your hesitant readers turning into a starving book worms.

If you still struggle trying to get them excited about reading, you can try small incentives. Pennies for pages can be a good incentive for small children. Remember, the key is small incentives. If the incentive is too big, they won’t develop an independent love for reading. If the incentive is just barely enough to get them running, you’ll find it easier to “wean” them off when they are ready to read for their own enjoyment.

Monday, November 25, 2013

Deciding on Rules Together


Remember, the natural order of things are to stray towards being out of order. A good way to fight the natural chaos of life is to stay organized. Institute a schedule and maybe some ground rules for when school is in “session.”

Keep the list of rules short, too many rules can feel binding but not enough rules can leave kids feeling unsure of what their limits are. Try having a “council” with your children when deciding on rules. By having your children engaged in the process it helps them feel a sense of fairness and encourage them to follow the rules themselves. It will also give them an opportunity to explore their autonomy in a safe and controlled environment while maintaining some boundaries.

Some good ground rules to establish are rules like “The TV stays off when school is in session.” When deciding on rules with your children, discuss with them why they think certain rules are important. This can help you in other areas of parenting; since it clues them in to how/why certain rules exist at home.

Remember, you are not handing over the torch to your children by having a discussion like this with them. You have the veto in the end after all! This is a chance for your children to work their critical thinking muscles and learn a little more self-governance.

Friday, November 22, 2013

Five Time Management Tips for Homeschool


Time management tips for homeschooling are crucial to keep your time, teachings, and tolerance in check. Follow the tips below to keep you and your children happy during the school year.

  1. Teach your child/ren exactly what time management is. This does not have to be during just the school day, but even during mundane tasks, such as brushing their teeth before bed, the chores they do, or the time they have prior to going to soccer practice. This may be the most time consuming time management tip but, practice what you preach!
  2. While teaching what time management is, have the kids write down how long it takes to complete a task. (Make sure you mark it down as well!) Take a whole week to keep track of the same or similar tasks so you can average out the right amount of time you expect to do it the following week.
  3. I find the best time management tip to be use a planner. Use a store bought one, download your favorite template offline, use your smartphone, or write things on a chalkboard. Whichever sort of planner fits in your life style! Also, remember to use said planner!
  4. Children are sticklers for routine. Use visual time management tips and clues and use them on a daily basis at or around the same time. The younger a kid is, the more abstract time is to them. Use a magnet on a chalkboard and slowly move it across to a finish line as you teach a lesson. Color code a clock into sections with a washable marker and set each section for a subject or lesson for the day.
  5. If you take anything from these time management tips, I suggest this one: Set boundaries. Restrict and/or get rid of distractions during the school day. Turn off the house phone, unplug the TV, place temptations out of sight, and ask friends and family not to call or stop by during school hours. But don’t forget to leave wiggle room, things happen unexpectedly sometimes!

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Fall Teaching Themes for Students


Your fall teaching themes can revolve around the connection between apples and the fall season. You can develop many fall teaching themes around this topic and introduce your students to a meaningful and realistic perspective into this association. In addition, you can establish how these fall teaching themes have a disciplinary connection to a wide range of educational arenas including literature, environmental issues, arts, sciences, mathematics, and technology.

We almost certainly think of apples whenever we think of fall. Your fall teaching themes can be based on apples because the fruit is associated with the fall season. Therefore, these themes can be adapted to any educational level and across a variety of disciplines. For instance, you may engage students in the significance and history of the National Apple Month in history class. Beginning the fall curriculum with such an approach would be highly appropriate because you can connect it to apple harvesting season, as well as Halloween.

Additionally, you can use such fall teaching themes to introduce your students to the contribution of significant persons with regards to apples. In Particular, you may explore the contributions of John “Appleseed” Chapman. He was a philanthropist, environmentalist, conservationist, and horticulturalist who advocated for the planting of apples, and he gave pioneers who lived in the Ohio frontier hope, faith and courage. You could also explore big questions related to the history of apples, and how New York came to be referred to as the Big Apple.

You can also use these fall teaching themes to introduce to the students the interdisciplinary connections between apples and other disciplines. For instance, you may examine how these fall teaching themes are connected to literature by authors like Henry David Thoreau and Shakespeare, Biology, Chemistry, Botany, Health, Nutrition, History, Mythology, Mathematics, etc. Generally, your class will find the issues revolving around these fall teaching themes very interesting in any subject.

Monday, November 18, 2013

Reasons Why Most Parents Prefer Homeschooling Their Children


Statistics reveal that many parents have removed their children from public/regular school systems and opted for home schooling. There are parents who prefer homeschooling their children until they reach high school level. Note that, home schooled children can register for the final exams and get diplomas like regular schooled children in some states. So why do parents love home schooling their children?

  • Nomadic parents – There are parents who never sit still in one location. In most cases, their jobs demand too much travelling leaving them with no other option but to homeschool their children. It’s very difficult to leave their children in the care of someone else especially at a young tender age because it tends to cause estrangement between the parents and the children. Some parents hire tutors to travel with them and teach their children on the road.
  • Fear of the regular school systems – Children in regular school systems tend to waste a lot of time especially during breaks or class periods where time allocation is wanting. For instance, in a two-hour class period allocated for English, the teacher may tell stories in the first hour and half and the rest teach irrelevant issues. On the other hand, if the child is home-schooled the child will be guided through the learning process efficiently making sure no time period is wasted.
  • Illnesses – There are children who are not accepted into regular schools because of the illnesses they suffer from. For instance, mental illnesses, phobias, disability issues etc. In such cases, the parents may choose to homeschool their children and avoid any social criticism.

In conclusion, no matter your reason for homeschooling children, you can set up a study timetable, use the right syllabus, and make sure that your child is properly educated much like the regular schooled children.

Saturday, November 16, 2013

Learn the Best Way to Homeschool Your Children


If you prefer homeschooling your children to regular schooling, it is best to follow some basic info. Some of the ways you can homeschool your children efficiently are outlined below.

  • Homeschooling doesn’t deal with only reading books but also participating in co-curricular activities. If your children love sports advice them to participate in it as much as possible with other children in the neighborhood.
  • As a stay at home mother, you are truly qualified to homeschool your child. You can participate in other activities while at the same time homeschooling your children.
  • Before you start homeschooling your children, identify the reason why you prefer homeschooling to regular schooling. Some mothers think they are more qualified to teach their children than regular school teachers. If this is so, come up with a unique homeschooling style and let your children appreciate it.
  • Draft a curriculum to follow. Note that, there are so many things you can teach your children but without a well-defined order, you will not properly homeschool your children. Draft a curriculum to follow and teach one thing at once to avoid confusion on the child’s part.
  • Homeschooling your child doesn’t stop in the house. Look for friends who homeschool their children too and once in a while hold discussions. Discuss how each parent achieves homeschooling on their own. You could gain a lot of insight on how to homeschool your child better. The children on the other hand would diversify their minds with knowledge gained from socialization with other homeschooled children.

In conclusion, note that homeschooling also involves the parents/ tutors learning other ways to fully comprehend their children’s likes or dislikes. In that case, the parents and children alike are learning something new together.

Friday, November 15, 2013

Are you Adjusting Accordingly to Homeschooling your Children?


Homeschooling affects both the parents and the children. Sometimes, it may force both parties to completely alter their lifestyles to adjust to the new homeschooling lifestyle. In most cases, the parent is must change their lifestyle completely to suit the needs of their homeschooled child. So, are you adjusting accordingly to your child’s homeschooled lifestyle? If not, here are some helpful tips to help you adjust to the new lifestyle as the teacher to your children.

  • Note that, for homeschooled households, the roles between as the mother and the teacher tend to be blurry. On that note, the mother should try as much as possible to define the roles. For instance, she should set time for homeschooling aside and immediately assume the role as the teacher. This may your child will be able to differentiate the two responsibilities as well.
  • Understand that you are homeschooling your child for his/her benefit. Don’t let your personal issues affect your child’s homeschooling time. For instance, don’t let your prior commitments coincide with your child’s homeschooling sessions if possible. Plan a clear timeline of when to homeschool your child and when to attend to personal commitments or appointments.
  • It’s important for you to look on information on the best way to homeschool your child. Make sure whatever you do is done to the best of your ability. This is your child’s future.
  • Look for other parents who homeschool their children and share homeschooling techniques which you could apply in your teaching sessions with your children.

In conclusion, homeschooling can be tough for both the mother and the children but the best way to surpass any challenges is to adjust accordingly and help your child appreciate the learning environment.

Thursday, November 7, 2013

Welcome to the "How To Home School Tips" Blog

Welcome to my new blog! I am so glad you stopped by and I look forward to sharing some great information here on site with you. So, please take a few moments to bookmark this site so you can find it again quickly and easily!

I have homeschooled my three children for close to 18 years. I also have a special needs child who has a range of needs; I also have a child who has went through multiple heart surgeries/procedures over her life - the journey has been a grand one and I would not change it for anything in the world!

I have enjoyed helping others learn about the home school adventure over the years. This blog is born out of the desire to share ideas and how to homeschool tips with others.

I have been blogging about homeschooling for a number of years now. I have created a variety of content articles on WordPress blogs and also Go Daddy Quick Blogs. This blog will provide a central location for all of my previous content as well as new content to come.

I look forward to hearing from you in the days and months to come! Please let me know if you like what you see and other things you desire to learn more about! Sharing and caring is part of the home school life!

Thank you,
Barbara
AKA TheRealHomeSchoolMom
"You can be a real home school mom, too!"