Just because you are teaching your children at home, doesn’t mean that you can’t be serious about their education. Here are a few tips that can help keep your homeschool classroom on track.
# Have a Fixed Schedule
It is important for children to know that they are expected to do certain tasks at a certain time. Having a schedule helps. If you have older children, get them to make their own weekly schedule for academics and as well as chores around the home for your approval.
# Don’t Answer the Phone
Nothing wastes time more than having to answer a phone call during homeschool class hours. Have your voicemail deal with any calls that come during a study period. You can always check and get back to them after the class ends and before you start on the next one.
# Set a Measured Pace
One newbie mistake that is often made is setting an unrealistic pace to cover the syllabus. Just because you finished lesson 1 in three days does not indicate that lesson 2 may need five days. Have a realistic and measured pace for covering each topic and add a few extra hours for each subject for the unforeseen.
# Be Completely Present
While multitasking can be an invaluable tool for any homeschool teacher, it is important to understand that your homeschool students need your full attention when you are teaching them in the class. Put away any other tasks for later, be completely present when you are teaching them.
# Plan the Breaks During the Day
Instead of having a single long break, it often works better to have several ten minute breaks interspersed throughout the day. This way the homeschool students can get all those water breaks and bathroom breaks out of the way without intruding on the actual study time.
# Add Physical Activity to Each Day
Homeschool students need to move their bodies and get some exercise every day. Toss up the physical activity with a combination of chores to be done around the home and actual sports activities. Just make sure that they are not couch potatoes waiting to become obese.
