It’s that time of year again to go back to school! The leaves are starting to change color and fall from the trees, which can only mean one thing- it’s time to start thinking about back to school! Read on to find out how to homeschool tips and strategies.
If you’re a homeschooler, this time of year might bring about a mix of emotions. On one hand, you might be excited to get back into a regular routine after a summer of lazy days and late nights. But on the other hand, you might be dreading all the planning and preparation that goes into getting ready for another school year.
No matter how you’re feeling about going back to school, we’ve got you covered with some great back-to-school ideas for homeschoolers! From creating a learning space in your home to coming up with a homeschooling schedule that works for your family, we’ll give you all the tips and tricks you need to make this school year a success.
So what are you waiting for? Let’s get started!
Creating A Successful Homeschooling Program
- Provide The Right Learning Space For Your Homeschooler
- Create A Homeschool Schedule That Works For Your Family
- Choose The Homeschooling Method You Will Use To Teach
- Make Games A Part Of Your Homeschool Program
- Add Field Trips and Outside Learning Opportunities
- Don’t Take On Too Many Activities
- Allow For Downtime In Your Homeschooling Program
Provide The Right Learning Space For Your Homeschooler
One of the most important things to consider when homeschooling is creating a learning space in your home that is conducive to learning.
This might mean setting up a dedicated homeschooling room in your house, or it might simply mean clearing off a space at the kitchen table that can be used for homeschooling.
We use an unused room in our home that we have dedicated as an office/classroom. This homeschool room has desks, books, charts, printables, manipulatives and just about everything you could think of that can be used to teach your littles.
You might not have an extra room that you can use to homeschool your children, that’s totally fine. Try setting up a rolling cart with homeschool supplies that can be brought to your kitchen table when it’s time to teach. This way when homeschooling is completed for the day, you can put the homeschool cart away and not have a cluttered kitchen table.
Wherever you decide to do your homeschooling, make sure that it is a comfortable and quiet space where your child can focus on their studies.
Create A Homeschool Schedule That Works For Your Family
Another important thing to think about when homeschooling is creating a schedule that works for your family. This will likely involve some trial and error, but it’s important to find a schedule that allows you to fit in all the subjects you want to cover while also giving you some flexibility to do things like go on field trips or take days off when needed.
Once you have a schedule worked out, be sure to stick to it as much as possible so that your child knows what to expect each day.
Choose The Homeschooling Method You Will Use To Teach
When it comes to actually teach the material, there are a number of different homeschooling methods you can use.
Some families prefer to use textbooks and work through the material in a traditional way.
In contrast, others prefer to use more hands-on methods such as Unit Studies or The Charlotte Mason-style homeschooling.
You might also consider trying to teach a blend of multiple styles of homeschooling in order to craft your own program.
The good news is there is no right or wrong way to homeschool, so experiment with different techniques and styles until you find one that works well for you and your child.
Make Games A Part Of Your Homeschool Program
Games can be a successful part of homeschooling for several reasons.
- First, they provide a break from the more academic side of learning and allow children to have fun while still practicing important skills. Children can develop their course and fine motor skills as well as develop their spacial awareness and color recognition.
- Games also help children to learn how to work together and follow rules, both of which are important in successful homeschooling.
- Finally, games can be used to teach specific academic concepts, making them a valuable tool for homeschooling parents.
Our homeschool child loves playing games and we consistently utilize games as a teaching resource.
9 Fun Games For Homeschooling Your Children
- Candyland – Candyland is great for teaching color and shape recognition. This is a great game for younger homeschoolers but can also be enjoyed by older kids also.
- Blokus – This is a great game to develop fine motor skills, color, and pattern recognition
- Monopoly – Monopoly has a lot of different boards and skill levels. The regular adult version of the game is great for teaching some of the basics of money counting, finance, real estate, mortgages, and real estate development. These are great topics to introduce to your homeschooler as they are things that are important to learn as they grow.
- Uno – Uno is a great card game that helps kids learn color and number recognition skills, as well as taking turns and procedures.
- Educational App Games – There are also a ton of app educational games available for iOS and Android devices that you can use to help teach your children. Some children respond well to this type of resource but some like our homeschoolers become overstimulated with electronic screen time. So we tend to limit screen time to a minimum to avoid becoming overstimulated.
- Tag – Tag is a great physical activity that can help relieve energy.
- Tic-Tac-Toe – A great game for shape, and pattern recognition. At Mom Money Kids, we have free printable resources to make your own tic-tac-toe games. Christmas Tic Tac Toe Game
- Pictionary – Pictionary is a great game that older children can use for developing their imagination and recognition skills.
- Sports Games – all sports games are great for exercising and working out kids’ energy.
By incorporating games into their homeschooling routine, parents can help their children to stay engaged and motivated while still gaining important academic skills.
Add Field Trips and Outside Learning Opportunities
Learning outside the classroom is always a great way to change the environment and make learning fresh. A successful homeschooling program will often integrate plenty of field trips and outside activities.
Some children thrive and do very well learning through experience. Here are some really good ideas for a field trip and outside activities that you can integrate into your homeschooling curriculum.
11 Field Trip And Outdoor Ideas For Homeschoolers
- Visit A Local Farm Or Petting Zoo
- A Nature Center With Hiking Trails And A Pond
- The Art Museum Or History Museum In Your Town
- Visit Your Local Library – take a tour of the children’s section
- Visit The Local Bookstore
- Go To An Outdoor Reading Garden
- Visit A Nearby City
- Take A Walking Tour Of Your City Or Neighborhood
- Visit Your Local Farmers Market
- Explore A Local Park
- Visit The Zoo Or Aquarium
There are way more field trips and outdoor activities that you can do with your homeschooler. This is just a small list of examples that could make really good educational supplements to what you’re teaching in your homeschool curriculum. We are going to be adding additional posts in the future that focus more on outdoor educational activities. So be on the lookout for that!
Field trips and outdoor activities are great for giving your child a break from the usual scenery and offer additional ways to learn.
Don’t Take On Too Many Activities
It can be tempting when making your homeschool program to add in lots of extracurricular activities. However, in my experience, you often become worn out more quickly.
Homeschooling your children is a full-time job that takes a lot of dedication and planning. Adding more activities to your schedule is sometimes not the right fit for your family in the long run.
We have found that we function better by not adding more than 1 or 2 extracurricular activities per week, and sometimes even that can be too much. This is where you will need to soul search for what works best for you and your family.
Allow For Downtime In Your Homeschooling Program
And finally, don’t forget to take some time for yourself! Homeschooling can be a lot of work, so make sure to schedule some time for you to relax and recharge. This might mean taking a break in the middle of the day to read a book or going for a walk after school.
Whatever you do, make sure that you’re taking care of yourself so that you can be the best homeschooling parent you can be.
We hope these back-to-school ideas for homeschoolers have been helpful! Just remember, there is no one right way to homeschool. So take some time to experiment and find what works best for you and your family.
And above all else, enjoy this special time with your children!
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