I have compiled some tips to help you accomplish more with teaching your kids at home. These are very practical ideas to help your child focus his attention and to be more successful with learning. I hope this helps you!
~ Structure your day for optimum results. Start with a subject he really likes in order to get his attention and set the momentum for the rest of the day. Then, move into the hardest or most dreaded subject to get it out of the way. Save his favorite subject for the end of the day so that he will have something to look forward to. Take frequent, short breaks. It also helps to alternate between types of activities, such as separating subjects that include mostly reading and/or writing with subjects that may include more creative projects. Also, separate lessons that require your help with lessons he can complete independently. Planning the day this way will help him to be able to focus his attention and energy more effectively. Also, why not allow him be the one to choose what subject he feels like doing sometimes? Be sure to balance structure with flexibility. You need to establish firm expectations and limits, as well as a predictable routine and accountability, but don’t be too rigid that you miss out on truly teachable moments and forget to enjoy learning.
~ Be very sensitive to his feelings. Learn to ease up a bit when you know you aren’t going to accomplish as much and to pour it on when he is really on top of things. However, you also want to be careful about not letting him manipulate the situation. We all have cycles of energy and moods in which we can be at our best some days or we don’t feel like doing as much on other days. As adults, we have learned through self-discipline to do our best even when we don’t feel like it. However, we need to gently and gradually teach this concept to our children. This also applies to having him do certain tasks. Make sure he is at his best before you have him take a test or have to work on a difficult assignment. If he is frustrated, unmotivated, or inattentive, it might be best to just change activities for a while and come back to the difficult one later when he feels better. He will produce a much better quality of work this way.
~ Set reasonable expectations. We need to achieve balance between having high expectations that inspire our children to succeed without putting undue pressure and stress on their little bodies. On the other end of the spectrum, we want to also have a balance of being relaxed enough to enjoy life, but without becoming lazy. There is a fine line between these. To put this in terms of home schooling, we need to be sure we have high standards for their work without going overboard and expecting too much.
~ Offer incentives. This is one of my favorite parts of teaching. There are so many ways to implement this. I liked to have sticker charts for everything with my children. I then offered prizes from my treasure box or special trips or activities for a set amount of stickers on the chart. As a child works for extrinsic rewards, he will also begin to learn the value of intrinsic rewards, such as the feeling of a job well done. In time, as they mature, this will be enough. I also encourage lots of praise, but be sure it is sincere. Empty praise is meaningless, and can teach our children to accept substandard work. However, they do need to know when we are proud of their accomplishments. Let your child know that he is wonderful and that you are amazed by his awesome abilities, especially since God made him that way and gave him his abilities. Be sure to praise specific behaviors and accomplishments as well. Let him know that you love him no matter what he does, and that if you are not accepting his work, that does not mean you are not accepting him. Be sure to separate the two.
~ Allow him to work in an environment that is conducive to learning. For some, this is a traditional desk with no distractions. Keep the learning area neat, organized, and free of clutter. Display stimulating and educational artwork and posters. For many children, it is more productive to work in a less traditional and relaxed setting. Sometimes, my children worked outside in the lawn swing, on the couch, lying on the floor, etc. You can even do some work underneath a blanket tent. Why not? Who says you can’t have fun while you learn? I also played soft classical or jazz music a lot while we worked. This really helps some learners, depending on their learning style. It is also not a bad idea to have an occasional snack during a lesson. We sometimes drank hot chocolate or ate popcorn when doing school work.
~ Keep in mind your child’s learning style. If he is kinesthetic, it would be more productive to incorporate a lot of active and hands-on activities. Or, if you child is more auditory, he will benefit from hearing recorded stories or learning songs to practice concepts. Not everything has to be paper and pencil to achieve learning. Why not use M & M’s to practice math concepts, or use chalk to practice handwriting? Why not act out the story you are reading, or type spelling words in different colors on the computer? You could even have him trace letters in shaving cream. Be creative and have fun!
~ Have special days to look forward to. Sometimes it helps me, personally, to know that I have a field trip, holiday, or special project coming up. It gets me through when I am getting bored with the same ol’ routine every day. Sometimes a child has difficulty concentrating when he has had to work intensely for so many days in a row. Children can become burnt out as much as adults can.
I sincerely hope you found some suggestions that will make a real difference in your home schooling. I wish you all well in this adventure! I think you parents are all amazing for this awesome commitment you have made for giving your child the best education possible
