Keep a Balanced Approach
Are you feeling overwhelmed? For many teachers, parents and carers, the idea of homeschooling is unfamiliar and overwhelming waters to be treading. And so it’s vital to keep a balanced approach when it comes to homeschooling. We urge you to lean towards an approach that works for your family.
Shutterstock image by Smile Studio
Avoid putting too much pressure on yourself because by doing so, you are likely to set unrealistic expectations. And this is likely to result in feelings of frustration.
Avoid Comparison
Avoid comparison at all costs! Try not to compare what you are doing, or what your children are doing with others. Comparison is a slippery slope that feeds uncertainty. Be self-assured that what you are choosing to do is the right decision for you. And that is all that matters.
To get started and beat feelings of overwhelm, head to our collection of School Closure Teaching Resources. Here you’ll find a Learning From Home Resource Pack for every primary school year level.
The resources included cover the key learning areas of English, Maths and Science, along with some additional craft and mindfulness activities!
Use a Visual Timetable
Do you love routine? A visual timetable can bring structure and predictability to your child’s day! Also, it’s a great way to increase motivation to complete less desirable tasks, by showing that preferred activities are scheduled within the day!
Top Tip: Cut out the task cards and use velcro dots on the daily plans to make it easier to change daily!
Enjoy Incidental Learning
Incidental learning is any learning experience that was unplanned, and takes place without any intent to learn! Homeschooling provides the perfect opportunity to explore informal and naturally occurring opportunities to learn.
You’ll find no end of incidental learning opportunities through play and by getting out in to nature.
Practise Mindfulness
There is no doubt that we are experiencing uncertain and stressful times. And it’s important to remember that children (and adults) respond to stress in different ways. For example, children may become more clingy, angry, withdrawn or unable to focus. Therefore it is essential that you and your family practise mindfulness daily.
Don’t miss our Mindfulness – Learning From Home Pack! This pack includes a collection of mindfulness related teaching resources and activities for parents to use with their children or teachers to send home with students during unexpected school closures.
Take Learning Outside
Fresh air makes everything feel better! So, if you are lucky enough to have a garden or a small outdoor area close to your home, then why not head outside for some homeschooling?
Get organised to learn outdoors by using our useful Outdoor Lesson Box Cut and Assemble Kit. Don’t forget your mozzie spray!
For more information on the benefits of learning outdoors, read Emma’s blog Opening the Door To an Outdoor Classroom | Creating an Outdoor Lesson Box.
Focus On Life Skills
Learning in the home environment provides the perfect opportunity to teach kids essential life skills. From cooking to budgeting the possibilities are endless! Why not use our Pandora’s Party Palace Maths Activity when learning about money?
Here are a few examples of life skills that could develop as part of homeschooling:
- cooking
- domestic skills
- budgeting
- social skills and manners
- responsibility for belongings
- living sustainably.
You’ll have your household ticking like clockwork in no time at all!
Design, Create and Innovate
Homeschooling is the perfect opportunity for STEM activities. STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. Your kids will love the challenge of being set a STEM task. And they will learn the skills of problem-solving, creativity and critical analysis.
Download our STEM Challenge Cards – Lower Years for a set of 22 challenge cards to encourage critical thinking and problem-solving.
And for older students choose from STEM Challenge Cards – Middle Years or STEM Challenge Cards – Upper Years.
Keep It Positive
And finally, try to keep things positive. Easier said than done? Yes. Teaching your kids at home can be challenging and frustrating. But, you can go along way towards keeping things positive by finding a balanced approach to homeschooling.
Part of homeschooling is modelling to children how to regulate our emotions and how to stay calm when things don’t go to plan. So, it’s important to know your emotional triggers. If you start to feel frustrated, irritated or angry, take a break.
Most importantly, avoid forcing learning and to find an approach that both you and your children enjoy. Oh, and let go of perfection!
Make Memories
When all is said and done, remember… have fun making memories, stay connected to what is important, and most of all love each other.
“The most important thing in the world is family and love.” – John Wooden
Don’t hesitate to reach out to the Teach Starter team if you need any further help and support. Together we can move mountains #teachstarter
This is useful!
Hi Sophia, Thank you for your feedback! We're glad to hear you like the resource!