A=Attitude, R=Relationship, T=Teaching
I always refer to this at the beginning of each day. A good attitude will carry us through many a trials in our life and I REALLY want to instill in my children that anything in life can be handled if we have a good attitude.
Thus, if we have a good attitude we can have good relationships with other people. In turn, we can learn from one another. I not only teach my children but I learn from them as well. We both need to come to the “table” with a good attitude so our relationship can flourish while teaching and learning can be accomplished.
Ok, you say…but I need help in the teaching part. How do I teach?
My answer is Workboxes. You can Youtube the term and many videos will pop up of how different people have incorporated them into their homeschool routine. Here’s how I did it for my children in elementary school.
I purchased a plastic half file box from Staples with a lid that holds pencils, erasers, etc. and has a handle. I put file folders of paperwork along with books for the children to complete their assignments for the week. That’s it. About half of the work the children complete on their own and the other half they need my assistance.
When they moved into middle school their workboxes became roller backpacks.
MEDIA
Here are a few of the videos that my kiddos really liked.
YOUTUBE
I used YouTube to supplement my science and History lessons. Such a lifesaver!!
BOOKS FOR THE TEACHER
RECORD KEEPING
This is a computer database that I use to plan, assign and grade my students’ school work. This computer program helps me keep on track with assignments and plan upcoming lessons. Each week I give my children their Assignment List, which shows what assignments they need to complete on a daily basis. All assignments are included on the list. They know up-front what is expected of them each day.
We all know life happens, and it can happen more often in homeschooling. This computer program has really helped me keep a focus for my children on what their “job” is each day.
“I have never let my schooling interfere with my education,” Mark Twain.
WORKING PARENTS
Working parents can homeschool their children too. The reason that it is feasible is because homeschool takes less time. The days where you attend school six hours and then come home to do three more hours of homework are gone. When your child completes his homeschool work…he/she is done! No homework. Also, you don’t have to “educate” your child between the hours of 8-3 Monday thru Friday. Homeschooling can be done at night and on weekends.
DIFFICULT CHILD
I have one of those! As parents, we never really know why the child thinks the way they do. We can get close, but we can’t be 100% sure. When you homeschool you have a much better chance to really get to know your child. You see how they interact with others, how they approach problems, their solutions to those problems and hear their myriad of questions throughout the day. The trick is to figure out how you two can work together to achieve the same goal…home education. I will never say it’s an easy task, but it is a simple one.
I told my challenging child the other day when we were reviewing his workbox at the end of the day. “If you can get along with me, who you love to argue with, you can get along with anyone.” We had a bit of a chuckle and moved on to finish the box.
TESTS
I don’t need any standardized tests. I interact with my child each day. I know my children are progressing when they can read books, do math equations and understand concepts they couldn’t before.
SOCIAL
What is school for…to socialize or to learn? Homeschool children socialize with a variety of people ranging from babies to adults. They live in society, not locked up at home or at school. Socialization is really a non-issue.
MULTIPLE CHILDREN
No worries! Reading and math are usually tailored to the individual child but science and history can be taught as a family. Just give the older student more challenging work like an extra book to read or a paper to write. The middle age children can narrate the lesson back to you and do some writing while the younger children can listen and draw a picture of the lesson. Remember, observing is a great teacher just by itself too.