First make a list of priority subjects and activities - List all subjects to be covered in a week. This will normally include core subjects like English, Maths, History and Science. Other subjects will depend upon your child’s needs and abilities such as music, sports, IT languages and art to name a few.
1. Decide how much time to spend on a subject during the day. This will depend on the different aspects of a particular subject. For example learning a specific subject can include working from a textbook, to reading up on it, to going on line for further reading or research which may then lead to a practical activity. It will be important to include enough time to cover all elements of the subject taught.
2. Once you have decided on what subjects to study and the time allowance for each one. Play around with the order of the subjects and line them up. You will then begin to see a visual picture of how your day will be spent. Don’t forget to allow time for breaks, play and ‘free periods’.
3. Once subjects are arranged, type up a home school schedule and write it on a board or planner. Print copies and give to each child and stick a copy where you and your child can refer to it. The most important thing here is to find a schedule that works for your family. If you need to amend or add to the schedule according to the needs of your family, feel free to do so.
4. Every child is good at something and will show enthusiasm and interest in a subject, be it cooking, drawing, reading, sports etc. It is always best to follow your child’s interest in a subject for as long as the enthusiasm lasts. Many times you will find that one interests leads to another. For example take cooking; cooking involves reading cookery books which can lead to shopping for ingredients where some level of maths is required ie arithmetic, weights and measures. This can then progress onto writing and producing your own recipes where an element of grammar, creativity and planning is needed. Sourcing natural ingredients can well incorporate sessions in geography and nature.
Children learn best when they enjoy what they do so follow your child’s interest you never know where it may lead.
5. Learn to be yourself - Many parents juggle many ‘hats’ in their lives and those that choose to home educate will have an additional hat to wear. This doesn’t have to be a burden or stressful providing you approach it in a positive and methodical way. Be your natural self, you are there to home educate and there will be times when a firm hand and discipline will be needed however being ‘you’ can go a long way to enhancing the teaching experience between you and your child making it more fun and enjoyable.
6. Have fun - It is important to have fun during lesson times. It is ok to laugh or share a joke. If your child is finding a subject hard going or boring, leave it for a while and come back to it again and tackle it from a different angle. Learning should be fun and interesting, once your child has developed an appetite for a subject the study will follow naturally.
7. Play - Playing is important in a child’s development and time must be given to play once ‘formal’ lessons are over with. Too oftentimes we think that children running around and playing are not learning anything, whereas playing is helping the child interact with the world around them enabling them to pick up skills which will be used later on in life. Skills such as socialisation, working in groups, learning to share, interact, negotiate, resolve conflicts and be creative.
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