In this article, we discussed the meaning of homeschooling resources, curriculum development, tips for creating a homeschool, and resources for homeschooling curriculum and development:
Definition
Homeschooling is the practice of teaching school subjects to children at home. Families may choose to homeschool for many reasons, but freedom is often a top reason.
Homeschooling resources are materials and methods used to educate children at home.
Curriculum development is a process that educators use to create engaging learning experiences for students. It involves planning learning activities and assessments to help students achieve learning outcomes. The goal is to deliver high-quality lessons that meet the needs of students with different abilities and interests.
Curriculum development is a planned, thoughtful and deliberate course of actions that ultimately enhance the quality and impact of the learning experience for students. It includes the development and organization of learning activities designed to meet intended learning outcomes.
Tips for parents going the homeschool route
Here are our top tips to make sure your child’s education is effective and matches their learning needs:
Familiarize yourself with common teaching methods
With so many different teaching strategies and educational concepts available, helping your child thrive in a homeschooling environment can feel like trying to solve a never-ending puzzle.
But there is a solution! Getting comfortable with the best teaching methods can help you feel more confident in your choices, and ultimately give you the freedom to find creative ways that work best for your child. Different educators may not agree on the best way to teach, but you know your child best.
Develop a homeschool curriculum
Choosing the best resources for home education is a tough decision, especially when trying to balance your child’s learning needs with your own needs and teaching preferences.
Does the content cover what you need it to? Does the approach and delivery match your parenting style and your child’s learning style? Do you want to focus on hands-on learning or textbook learning?
When you’re choosing a homeschool curriculum, there are many factors to consider. Think about:
How many children you’re teaching and the differences between them
Each child’s learning style and the study strategies that would best match it
How much time you have to dedicate and how independent you want your child’s learning to be
Each child’s learning goals — both short and long term (ex. What are their post-graduation plans?)
Write down your answers to each of these questions. Then choose the curriculum that offers the best overall solution to each of these needs. For each curriculum, consider.
Reputation
Affordability
Resources available
With so many options available, you’re sure to find something that matches your child’s needs and keeps them engaged, while also being practical for you.
Learn the legalese of homeschooling
As you build your own homeschool environment, it’s important to understand what responsible homeschooling means.
Get to know the homeschooling laws in your area. This will equip you with the tools to educate your child in a way that’s aligned with state requirements. Plus, you’ll know exactly how much freedom you have and where you can make your own decisions about your child’s education.
Extra tips for building a great homeschool environment
- Create a learning space at home that’s used exclusively for homeschooling.
- Create a daily schedule and keep it somewhere your child can easily access.
- Take regular brain breaks to help your child unwind and stay engaged with what they’re learning.
- Outside of the schedule you’ve set, give your child choices whenever possible. For example, let them choose whether your group learning activity will be indoors or outdoors that day.
- Use a positive parenting approach to help your child stay intrinsically motivated to learn. Make expectations clear, be consistent and reliable, and seek to understand your child’s needs.
Best Homeschooling Resources
Prodigy Math
Prodigy was built to make learning fun. As your child embarks on exciting adventures, explores online worlds and collects pets, gear and more, they’ll also answer skill-building math questions aligned to your region’s curriculum.
Khan Academy
Price: Free
Khan Academy offers free lessons in the form of instructional videos, practice exercises and test prep for many different grade levels.
It covers a range of subjects, including:
Life skills
Arts and humanities
Computer programming
And much more! Khan academy aims to help students build strong foundations so they can achieve more in the future.
Time4Learning
Your Time4Learning account also gives you instant access to lesson planning tools, printable worksheets, learning style guides and more.
Plus, their online parent forum lets you interact with other homeschoolers and learn how they use the website to help their kids thrive.
Simple Homeschool
This useful website was founded by Jamie C. Martin — a mom, wife, teacher and author. It’s your one-stop-shop for resources, books and blog posts to help you homeschool effectively.
The contributors of Simple Homeschool also created their own podcast, so you can hear helpful homeschooling tips whether you’re at home, in the car or out for a walk.
Conclusion
With so many online educational games, tools and resources available, it’s so important — yet tough — to find the right ones for your family.
But creating a great homeschool environment means finding what works for you and your child, not anyone else. Use the resources above to help you find your perfect fit.