5 Essential Ingredients to Homeschooling Success
By Heather Idoni
Added Thursday, May 07, 2009
==========================================================
The Homeschooler's Notebook
Encouragement and Advice for Homeschool Families
==========================================================
Vol. 10 No 36 May 7, 2009
ISSN: 1536-2035
==========================================================
Copyright (c) 2009 - Heather Idoni, FamilyClassroom.net
==========================================================
Welcome to the Homeschooler's Notebook!
If you like this newsletter, please recommend it to a friend!
And please visit our sponsors! They make it possible.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
=================
IN THIS ISSUE:
=================
Guest Article
-- Five Essential Ingredients
Helpful Tip
-- Study Spanish Site
Winning Website
-- Kids Gardening
Reader Question
-- How to Get Organized?
Additional Notes
-- Newsletter Archives
-- Sponsorship Information
-- Reprint Information
-- Subscriber Information
=======================
Guest Article
=======================
Five Essential Ingredients to Homeschooling Success
by Terri Johnson
---
We've all seen it -- or, at least, heard about it -- the homeschooled
child who wins the geography bee, or the one who graduates at the age
of 15, or the one who excels in musical accomplishments.
Now, obviously, a student does not have to be homeschooled in order
to accomplish one of the feats above, nor does every homeschooled
child excel in such notable ways. However, every homeschooling parent
desires for success in teaching their children at home and launching
them into the world to become all that God has intended for them to be.
The flipside to this statement is that no one wants to fail when it
comes to teaching their children at home. So, what are the five
necessary ingredients to homeschooling success?
The first one is the desire to foster a closer relationship with each
of your children and your kids with one another. If you don't want
to spend more time together and deepen these relationships (or, at
least, want to want to spend more time together), then homeschooling
may not be the best choice for you. However, I am sure that you have
heard it said before that at the end of the day no one is going to say,
"I wish that I had spent more time at work... or by myself... or with
my canary..." No, the universal regret that aging and dying people
declare is their sadness over not spending enough time with their
loved ones. Teaching your children at home is an amazing opportunity
to spend more time with your dearest loved ones and have no regrets.
The second ingredient to homeschooling success is a teachable
spirit on the part of the parent. This is essential because,
like it or not, you will learn so much more teaching your own
children than you ever did in school the first time around. So,
you might as well like to learn.
On that same note, the third essential ingredient to successful
homeschooling is creating a home environment that is conducive to
learning. This may show itself differently in each of our homes,
but the result is the same –- a place where kids can learn and
enjoy it.
A home that is conducive to learning may have quiet and cozy
reading nooks, bookshelves crammed with great books, a listening
corner complete with headphones and a beanbag chair, uncluttered
smooth surfaces for writing, stacks of coloring/activity books
and colored pencils, a place to gather together and talk about
the day's events. You get the idea... Create centers in your
home that make learning fun and accessible.
The fourth ingredient for a successful homeschool is 2 hours of
your time to devote to your children's studies. Truly, when the
one-on-one teaching method is employed in your home, you do not
need all day in order to get things done. In fact, a child in
grades K to 2 might be finished with her schoolwork in as few as 45
minutes (of course, that probably does not include the time that
you spend reading together because who can get enough of that!).
At the other end of the spectrum, you might not need that much
time with your middle schooler or high schooler either, because
they become such independent learners by this age. The kids that
will need the majority of that time that you have designated for
school –- those full 2 hours –- would be your students in grades
3 to 6, as math and grammar assignments might get a little more
involved.
The final ingredient for homeschooling success is a library card.
That's right! With access to a huge roomful of books, a world of
learning opportunities is at your doorstep. Let's say that your
child is interested in insects or flowers, electricity or magnetism,
transportation or inventions... check out as many books as he can
devour on the subject and then some more. Watch your child light
up with the delight of learning.
With these 5 essential ingredients incorporated into your homeschool,
you will experience successful learning in the lives of your children
-- because the measure of success is children that love to learn!
Enjoy those learning moments!
---
Terri Johnson is co-author of Homeschooling ABCs –- an online
class starting this month for brand new homeschoolers. Don't
let self-doubt or lack of experience rob you of the best first
year possible! Sign up for class at:
http://familyclassroom.net/HomeschoolingABCs.htm
Are you a veteran homeschooler in need of high school help instead?
Terri has answers for you, too!
http://familyclassroom.net/UpperLevelHomeschool.htm
---
Do you have comments to share? Please do!
Send your emails to: mailto:heather@familyclassroom.net
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
================
Helpful Tip
================
"I just got this from a friend and, as with many websites, you
can access more for a fee -- but there is a lot you can do/learn
for free!" -- Joy
---
Do you have an idea, experience, or tip to share? Please write!
Send to: mailto:HN-ideas@familyclassroom.net
==================
Winning Website
==================
Kids Gardening - http://www.kidsgardening.com
This is a great time of year to get outside and play in the dirt!
Kids and families can get growing and learn important lessons about
the plants we eat at this informative site. There are tons of
interactive lessons, activities, teacher plans, and more covering
all sorts of botanical topics. While this site also offers commercial
products, there are plenty of free thematic lessons to last a long
time.
-- Cindy, www.HomeschoolingFromTheHeart.com
===============================
Last Issue's Reader Question
===============================
"We've been homeschooling from the beginning – 8 year old girl,
7 year old boy, and girls 5 and 3. Like most homeschoolers, it
took us a couple of years to find our groove. We finally did
two years ago, but everything was interrupted when I broke my
ankle. I needed two surgeries and was laid up for two months.
While that was going on, we also moved to a new state and a bigger
house. While my leg is no longer really a problem, we seem to have
lost our groove. I am struggling with a constant state of chaos --
and it has gotten totally overwhelming. I've tried FlyLady, SHE
sisters card file, schedules -- you name it, I've tried it. I've
even tried the methods that worked before and I don’t seem to be
making any progress. Does anyone have any suggestions on how I
can get back to some semblance of order? Thanks." -- Mandi in SC
=========================
Our Readers' Responses
=========================
"Not knowing all the areas where you have disorganization, I would
recommend 'Full Year Notebooks' for helping to keep each child's
schoolwork organized. I don't use the whole system, but I do have
each child's daily work in their own notebook and keep a separate
notebook for myself with a section for each child with lesson plans
for what they are to do with me each day. I do write out their
lessons for the whole year, but many homeschooling moms just do a
half a year at a time. Before I used this system I had too many
piles of schoolwork/texts, etc. Now each child knows what they are
to do each day and has their work on hand in their notebook. I have
a set of stackable plastic drawers with a drawer for each child's
teacher's editions (for me), and each child has a plastic basket
with their own student workbooks/texts." -- Kathy in CA
Full Year Notebook System:
http://full-year-notebooks.com/belovedbks/
---
"Mandi -- I had a similar experience several years ago when I broke
my arm. When I needed to regroup after my recovery, I scaled back
to bare necessities in our activities. We did only Bible, math and
language for our lessons -- and meals, laundry and paying bills for
the household. I gradually added one thing at a time as I felt
ready, and in time was able to add more.
Check your nutrition, water intake and exercise. In my case, part
of my problem was low energy level, which was remedied to some degree
by healthier diet and more exercise. Even gentle stretching can
make you feel so much better and give you a boost of energy.
Don't underestimate what your children are capable of doing. Include
them in opportunities to serve the household by doing some cleaning,
cooking and laundry. Keep in mind that they are two years older
than they were back then, so their needs and capabilities are
different." -- Mary Beth
---
"Mandi -- I feel your pain. I think I know what you're going
through, although I am new to homeschooling. (This is our first
year -- 5 year old boy, 4 year old boy, and girls 2 and 5 months.)
Just before the school year we moved to a new state, so we had a
late start to schooling -- then a few months later we had a baby
and then moved again to a larger house -- and add in the holidays.
So we got behind and I lost my routine.
I looked through the lessons and took out what didn't have to be
done, then I slowly got back into things after unpacking a bit. I
kinda went through the motions of what needed to get done, focusing
on one thing at a time. I started with the dishes, making sure they
were done every day, and then adding to it. If I had to school
through summer, that was okay. Also, what I found that helped is
printing out some chore charts and getting the kids involved.
Here's a rough sketch of our day: In the morning I get my husband
off to work, then the kids wake up and we have breakfast. While
I'm cooking the boys are getting dressed. After breakfast the boys
do their chores -- washing dishes, clearing the table, sweeping up
crumbs from under the table, etc. While they are doing their chores
I'm getting the girls dressed and set up for school. When the boys
are done, then we'll start school. We go until about lunchtime or
until the lesson is done. After lunch we finish up if needed, and
then the kids take a nap. Although my oldest doesn't sleep or need
a nap, he has a quiet time or does some work on his own. That gives
me a chance to get other things done, prepare for dinner, lessons,
and other house work. I have the kids help out as much as possible;
it not only helps me out, but also helps teach them responsibility.
My 2 year old even helps with the dishes -- she takes out the
silverware and hands it to me and I put it away. When my husband
has to work weekends, we use those days to get caught up." -- Elizabeth
---
"Wow! It sounds like you and your family have been through a lot
of changes that would be enough to throw any schedule off track for
a while. I would give myself permission to relax, take a deep breath,
and pray that God would give you the wisdom to get your family back
to where you need to be -- even if it means taking a week or so off
from school to recollect your thoughts and get things in order.
Hang in there and don't give up. If God called you to homeschool
(and I'm sure He did or you wouldn't have been doing it this long),
then He will give you the answers you seek if you will only call on
Him. Have a family 'campfire' meeting to discuss some of the things
that everyone needs to be doing to help get you all back to that groove
you are seeking. Don't forget to end your little family meeting with
prayer. You will be amazed at how quickly God will answer. We all
go through rough spots. Seek out the friendship of other homeschool
families who have been homeschooling long enough to have 'been there
done that'. Keep your chin up -- it will get better."
=========================
Answer our NEW Question
=========================
"I am new to homeschooling. I have three children, but I'm starting
with my oldest child who is 12 years old. The problem I am having is
that the public school had him in 4th grade due to be slow doing his
work, but now that he is at home with one-on-one, he can do a lot
harder work then he was being given. I found that he stays more
interested with the advanced work. How do I advance him even though
it is not where the public school says he is (if I can at all)?
An example is that he went from multiplication in public school to
Algebra for home schooling and is doing well in it. If anyone has
advice on moving him up into the work (and if I can) I would love to
know about it." -- Belinda in Florida
---
Do you have some words of wisdom and/or *freedom* for Belinda?
Please send your answer to: mailto:HN-answers@familyclassroom.net
=====================
Ask YOUR Question
=====================
Do you have a question you would like our readers to answer?
Send it to mailto:HN-questions@familyclassroom.net and we'll see
if we can help you out in a future issue!
=======================
Need Immediate Help?
=======================
Visit our Homeschool Encouragement Center! This is a live 24/7
'chat' area where you can talk live to our homeschool counselors
by typing in a box. When you get there, just introduce yourself
and let them know that Heather sent you!
This ultra-safe chat is supervised by experienced moms who are
there to serve and share their wisdom... or just offer a listening
ear and encouragement.
==============================
Our Newsletter Archive
==============================
Access the Homeschool Notebook issues you have missed...
at our archives! http://www.FamilyClassroom.net
===========================
SPONSORSHIP INFORMATION
===========================
There are opportunities for you to be a sponsor of this
newsletter. If you are interested, drop an e-mail to
heather@familyclassroom.net with "Notebook Sponsorship"
as the subject. We'll send you some information on how to
reach our audience of over 15,000 homeschooling parents!
=====================
ADDITIONAL NOTES
=====================
All contributed articles are printed with the author's prior
consent. It is assumed that any questions, tips or replies to
questions may be reprinted. All letters become the property of
the "Homeschooler's Notebook". [Occasionally your contribution
may have to be edited for space.]
Again, I welcome you to the group! Feel free to send any
contributions to mailto:HN-articles@familyclassroom.net or
mailto:HN-ideas@familyclassroom.net.
Our main website is:
http://www.familyclassroom.net
We also sponsor an incredible site with over 1,500 pages of helps!
http://www.easyfunschool.com
===========================
REPRINT INFORMATION
===========================
No part of this newsletter (except subscription information
below) may be copied and/or displayed in digital format online
(for instance, on a website or blog) without EXPRESS permission
from the editor. Individuals may, however, forward the newsletter
IN ITS ENTIRETY to *individual* friends (not email groups). For
reprints in paper publications (homeschool support group newsletters,
etc.) please direct your request to: mailto:Heather@FamilyClassroom.net
