| 1. Have fun. Attitude is everything with home | | | | flooding, the baby is sick, your toddler is fussy |
| learning. Enjoy learning and your kids will enjoy it. | | | | and lunch is burning don't just give up, get reading. |
| Make it drudgery and they will respond as well. | | | | Reading is the best way for your kids to learn |
| Try to make even boring tasks, pleasant at least. | | | | and retain. Gather up the brood and snuggle on |
| This is not to say that everything must be a | | | | the couch with a good classic. Reading aloud is a |
| 3-ring circus, but if you have a fresh, upbeat | | | | wonderful activity for your family. Even |
| attitude even with times tables and spelling tests, | | | | experienced readers will love to hear a story |
| this will reflect well on your children's enjoyment | | | | aloud, especially when they don't have to sound |
| and learning potential. | | | | out each word and get through those they may |
| 2. Limit interruptions. My biggest interruption is the | | | | not know. There is a rhyme and rhythm to books |
| phone. Get a good answering machine and use it | | | | read aloud that delights even little ones. Make it a |
| during regularly scheduled learning time. Or use | | | | drama performance, use voices change the sound |
| voice mail. Record a message that states from | | | | levels of your voice, and discuss the plot. You can |
| this time to that time we are home educating and | | | | even tape record your story time so that |
| will get back to you after we are finished. Tell | | | | pre-readers can listen again and again and enjoy |
| friends and relatives that this is the case, and | | | | the story while you worry about that washing |
| eventually they will learn to respect this. This also | | | | machine! |
| means well meaning drop in visits and babysitting | | | | 7. Surround yourself with home school mentors. |
| for friends, etc. Keep your children's learning time | | | | Whether it's an online group, or a support group, |
| sacred and your family will benefit from this. | | | | or just a great mom you met at church or at the |
| 3. Dedicate your time to their learning. If you are | | | | library, keep in touch with these people! Ask |
| doing 101 things while your children are trying to | | | | questions; ask for helpful advice, most likely, they |
| do bookwork, how can you expect them to | | | | will be happy to help, because someone in their |
| concentrate and finish tasks at hand? Keep your | | | | life helped them. Don't do this alone. Even a good |
| focus on them, it is a priority that rewards! | | | | home education magazine will help you in your |
| 4. Keep it simple. Be careful not to fall into the | | | | quest. Read home education books when you are |
| "Curriculum of the Month" club. Trying and | | | | in need of a little boost. |
| swapping and changing your education plans with | | | | 8. Use the Library! What a wonderful resource |
| every new program that breezes by will kill your | | | | most public libraries are. Not only books of any |
| children's spirit. This is not to say that you should | | | | and every subject but reference books, video |
| stay with something that is not working, just be | | | | tapes, audio tapes, learning materials, computer |
| careful not to flit about like a butterfly in a field of | | | | accesses, computer software and so much more. |
| flowers. Your children will quickly learn that all it | | | | With just a notebook and some pencils, I truly |
| takes in a bit of whining and they'll have a new | | | | believe you could educate your children with just |
| book, workbook or system in no time. Also, | | | | a library at hand! Don't spend a fortune on all |
| simplify your life. Too many commitments and | | | | these reference books for home. Use the libraries! |
| outside activities and responsibilities can really | | | | And the librarians love homeschoolers |
| wreck havoc with your schedule. Try to keep | | | | 9. Take frequent break days. If you are sick, or |
| your life simple and you will be rewarded. | | | | some family obligations make a day difficult, take |
| 5. Have FAITH! In yourself, your kids and in God. | | | | a day off. Instead of great big weeks off or |
| If you are doing the best you can, you will be | | | | even the whole summer, take frequent days off |
| rewarded. How can you do any worse than an | | | | through the year to refresh and empower you. |
| overworked, underpaid public school teacher with | | | | The children will be pleased and you will get a |
| only 6 hours and 24 - 30 children to teach? | | | | chance to regroup. Just make sure they aren't |
| Overcome your own shortcomings with help, | | | | every other day! |
| tutoring assistance and your own re-education. | | | | 10. Watch for outside time stealers! Field trips and |
| Don't count yourself short. Children learn in any | | | | social outings and classes for this and that are |
| environment even the slums of Calcutta! Provide | | | | important, just make sure you are not overdoing |
| them with your time and enthusiasm, good basic | | | | it. Too many errands and outings can kill a day's |
| materials and faith and you will do as well if not | | | | learning and overwhelm your schedule. Remember |
| better than that poor teacher can. You have the | | | | that you are home schooling not car schooling! |
| best interest of your children in your heart. Let it | | | | Try and schedule a day that is busy and three or |
| work for them. | | | | four days that are not. Your family will appreciate |
| 6. When in doubt READ! If the washing machine is | | | | this!copyright © 2006 by Sherri L. |