Homeschooling continues to rise in popularity amongst a broad spectrum of families within the UK. Whereas some children thrive within a classroom environment, benefiting from a host social-learning aspects as well as group activities, many parents have highlighted the advantages of one-to-one learning for their child’s individual requirements. Whilst a classroom setting can provide a stimulating and structured approach towards learning, the overall pace towards learning key concepts and consolidating a child’s understanding of a newly-taught subject can occasionally move too quickly for every child to grasp. Equally, some children require further stretch and challenge within their lessons and can hugely benefit from homeschooling in order to pursue their interests and excel their talents. Below are some of our top tips for parents who have begun to blend school learning with a homeschooling curriculum:
1. Get advice from teaching professionals and introduce the National Curriculum
Before embarking upon your homeschooling journey, it is essential to gain an insight into your child’s current attainment and the teaching methods employed by their school. Within the National Curriculum, there is a plethora of learning objectives and expectations that each child should be able to attain according to their year group. If you have undertaken a teaching role at home, it would be a wonderful first step to familiarise yourself with the learning objectives and different schemes of learning available. Alternatively, employing a tutor to devise a home schooling framework and tailor lesson plans to suit your child’s individual learning goals would be a highly supportive and beneficial foundation for creating a successful homeschooling environment.
2. Create a routine
Routine is paramount for a successful homeschooling learning environment. Changing your lifestyle to accommodate a homeschooling routine offers a host of benefits. Your schooling routine can be as structured or flexible as necessary. Often, homeschoolers focus on the core subjects during the morning such as English, math and science, with greater flexibility in the afternoon. Afternoon sessions can be a mixture of creative arts, humanities, sporting activities and/or extra-curricular pursuits that your child may not have had the opportunity to explore whilst at school. Having the freedom to centre a routine around your child’s needs and lifestyle offers an exceptional opportunity to design the most appropriately structured day for your child.
3. Resources
Depending on the respective ages of your homeschoolers, resources are a brilliant way to engage your child with their learning. At Eden Tutors, we encourage a ‘hands-on’ approach for our primary learners in order to create a stimulating and memorable learning experience. Whether using paint, matching cards, counters, numicon (just to name a few), it is highly beneficial for young learners to develop a contextual understanding of the foundation subjects. Within the summer months, it is advisable to use outdoor spaces and the wider environment to encourage real-life application of these essential skills. Whether your child is benefiting from parental support or a private tutor, compiling a useful resource kit to encourage their learning is a fantastic way to inspire and promote the acquisition of knowledge.
4. How does your child learn best?
Tailoring learning to match your child’s individual requirements is one of the most advantageous aspects of homeschooling. Often, children will learn within group settings as part of a traditional schooling environment. However, homeschooling enables the primary teacher to assess how a child learns best. Some children are natural story-tellers, mathematicians or have a propensity towards artistic pursuits. In addition, many children enjoy being seated and writing a story, whereas some would prefer to move as often as possible, whilst learning through play. Determining your child’s learning style is an excellent initial step towards defining their routine so that they can have a successful homeschooling experience.
5. Find local home schooling groups
Homeschooling may, at times, feel isolating in comparison to traditional schooling. From meeting other parents and teachers at the school gates, to then learning at home can present some social changes. Homeschooling can be transformational with respect to your child’s attitude towards learning, however it’s important to maintain a supportive network of like-minded individuals. By keeping in contact with parents and joining local homeschooling groups, your child can continue to develop their social skills whilst being able to participate within extra-curricular activities.
6. In person or online tutoring
Depending on your individual circumstances, private tuition with qualified teachers can promote a high standard of learning within the foundation subjects. At Eden Tutors, we specialise within primary tuition and maintain high standards for all of our pupils. By introducing some private tuition sessions during the week, whether in-person or online, your child can benefit from a dedicated teaching professional who will support them on their learning journey. Private tuition lessons can help to boost your child’s confidence and offer a tailored approach towards enabling your child to achieve their academic potential.
To receive further advice and guidance on your homeschooling journey contact us to speak to one of our qualified education consultants!
