When you’re teaching your kids at home, you know that the same things that challenged you the first year of homeschooling are the same ones that challenge you every year after that. But you can sort through the big picture by asking the same four questions every time you plan your child’s curriculum:
4 Questions to Determine Your Home School Essentials:
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1. What are the legal/state required studies & activities?
Contact the Home School Legal Defense Association to find your state’s homeschool regulations. They also have information about the home school regulations for many countries.
2. What are the non-negotiable subjects & activities?
- Reading/writing/math: These skills build gradually and are a given to any curriculum plan.
- Life skills-skill trek: These include time management, management of personal property, ability to be trusted with responsibilities, social interaction, basic etiquette, etc.
- Exercise/health: learns to take ownership of how she eats and exercises, and how she feels as a result of those two things
- Business/personal: learning on-line business skills such as internet banking or how to use a social media scheduler
3. How much extra can we fit into the school plan without overwhelming the child? Consider these things:
- Learning styles
- Learning challenges
- Attention spans
- Maturity level
- Reading level
- Language level
- The child’s ability to handle several activities at once
- Academic level
- Health challenges
- How much supervision they’ll need
4. How can we encourage the development of the child’s natural talents/abilities?
In the home school, we have tremendous opportunities to help our kids explore activities that are a little “out of the box” for them. Oftentimes when kids are exposed to new things, they get instantly hooked on it – or not. Both possibilities help a child know his “bent,” and help him develop the talents he has. Here are some ways your child can expand his horizons and learn new skills, or, try his hand at some things he’s thought about, but might not be a good match for him:
- Sign language/ second language interpreting
- Intramural sports
- Art
- Sewing
- Crafting
- Mechanics
- Gardening
- Music/instruments
- Finance/accounting/investing
- Design/engineering
- Culinary arts
- Science
- Photography
- Blogging
- Design, architectural or clothes
- Gymnastics
- Cheer
- Apprenticing
Keeping these four things in mind as you create your child’s school plan, state regulations, the non-negotiables, how much can he handle, and ways he can expand his boundaries, will help your child succeed. He’ll flourish within the parameters that are exactly right for him and have lots of room for exploration.
If you’d like to work out a program that’s uncomplicated and just right for your child, contact me below. We’re stronger together,