So many families are struggling right now due to COVID-19. Many parents are finding themselves needing to homeschool their children, which is wildly unfamiliar territory for most! I reached out to homeschooling moms across the web and gathered their best advice for teaching from home.
My kids are still little..in fact, my oldest is enrolled in pre-K next fall! We do plenty of learning activities at home, but I have zero experience in homeschooling a school-aged child.
So, I called on some friends to help me out!
Much of the advice was similar across the board!
- You don’t have to spend all day teaching
- Try and take this time to connect with your child
- Be calm and patient – this is new for everyone!
Keep scrolling for more advice from moms like you.
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You don’t have to spend all day teaching
“If you are teaching younger children, you do not have to have them learning for hours on end. They can learn more with you in 30mins to 1 hr then they can all day at school. Be patient and kind as this is an adjustment for both of you.”
Misty Eilar is a blogger at thiftymamalife.com. Misty homeschools her two young children and has two degrees in Elementary and Special Education. She also runs her own business as a Virtual Assistant so she can spend more time with her children.
You are not the public school system, and that’s OK!
“When you’re teaching your kids from home for the first time, some parents try to duplicate the public school system, not realizing that they certainly don’t have to! When you are teaching your own children, vs a teacher in a classroom, the teacher to student ratio is so much smaller that you can actually get an exponential amount of work done in a fraction of the time. So keep that in mind, and be gentle on yourself and be gentle on your children. Relax, have some fun, and remember, the learning will come. “
Charlene spent many years teaching kids before she had her own kids. She now has 7 kids of her own, whom she has been homeschooling for the last 10 years. Charlene still teaches other children outside of her home but finds great joy in exploring the world with her family. Charlene has participated in many leadership trainings with John C. Maxwell.
Charlene and her husband blog about their homeschooling and parenting adventures over at https://hessunacademy.com. You can follow her on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter, too!
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Parent first, teacher second
“Put parenting first, teaching second. I’ve never regretted putting a lesson off when we were getting frustrated or spent, but I regretted not doing that too many times. Anything can be learned later, and your kids need a safe space emotionally more than they need anything else right now. You can get out and learn in nature, explore subjects your children are interested in, individualize learning to your child’s strengths and needs, take breaks to play, snack while doing school, play learning games, jump on the bed while doing math drills, learn through pretend play…basically, whatever works for you and your kids.”
Gale is a mother of 3 boys, one of whom was homeschooled for four years. She also briefly taught Junior High English and worked as a substitute teacher for many years. She now “afterschools” and works as a tutor, and is once again homeschooling due to Covid-19. You can read Gale’s blog here.
Play to your child’s interests
“Use this time to delve into your child’s interests. Teach them to use planners and to-do lists so that they are as in charge of their life as possible. Use activities they love as motivators for those that they find challenging – alternate between the two categories. If you or your child are getting frustrated, take a break!”
MaryAnne is a middle school teacher and mother of four. She blogs about parenting, crafts, education, and family travel at mamasmiles.com.
Don’t be a “regular” school
“Recognize that homeschool is not a traditional “regular school” The most important thing to keep in mind about temporary homeschooling is that it simply isn’t school. Kids who are used to the school environment won’t be as focused. The social interaction with other kids will be impossible unless with siblings. The combination of the two can create a stressful environment. Try not to be a “regular school”.”
I am Sandra Tanner and I am a blogger at www.optimizedlife.com. Here at Optimized Life, we want to create healthy families and encourage wellness communities. We are simply people who want to live our healthiest and best life possible. Join us!
Well mamas, there you have it! The best advice on the internet to get your kids learning!
If you’re looking for help teaching your child to read, check out Hooked on Phonics. They are currently offering their first month of their monthly subscription for $1! You can cancel after the first month, so what do you have to lose? Maybe it will help! They also offer a GUARANTEE your child will be reading within the month!
I hope this post gave you some good tips or reassurance on your homeschooling. Remember, if you’re in this position because of COVID-19, it will hopefully be over with soon!
I wish you a happy and healthy homeschooling day.
