subject: Homeschooling Issues: How To Keep Order
[print this page] Sometimes particular discipline problems may arise when the mother is also the teacher and the child remains at home during the day. It isn't too hard for the child to come to feel that the homeschooling is just an extension of summer vacation and that the same freedoms apply.
One of the big advantages of homeschooling is that your child and you both have a lot of flexibility. However, it is necessary to make scheduling decisions early on in the homeschooling process despite its flexible nature.
Make a chart right at the start that outlines the daily activities, and adhere to it. You may initially have to work hard on scheduling, because you are probably accustomed to standard school timetables. You will have to consider the best interests of your whole family when you prepare your schedule.
Children should expect to do some of the course work without your help once the class work portion has been done; homework is very much a part of the homeschooling methodology.
The many lessons that children must learn in their formative years include politeness, punctuality and civility; these are varying aspects of discipline. You should be sure to teach your children how to behave acceptably and speaking appropriately, and you should be prepared to discipline them if they don't adhere to these rules.
Often there is a specific room or area in a room that is reserved for the homeschool, and parents expect the children to be in this area at a certain time, appropriately dressed for school and with all their needed class materials.
If you don't establish and enforce good ground rules at the very start, it can be difficult to ensure that homeschool isn't regarded as an extended play time.
The success of homeschooling depends on being patient, both with your child and with yourself.
Sometimes the child loses focus and can't listen to you properly; it is often good at this point to literally change the subject. Taking a moment to recharge during these times can reinvigorate both you and your child, allowing focus to be regained.
Initially the informal nature of homeschooling sometimes works against it due to the "hominess" of the learning environment, but with patience, focus, and hard work, you'll soon get into a routine that best fits both your child and your family.
However, if you set up standards at the outset and follow through on them, you are much more likely to succeed with your homeschooling project.
