Tips for First Time Homeschool Parents
Most schools across the country have chosen to close down through the end of the school year. Some schools have decided for classes to continue at home. If you’ve never homeschooled your children before, this can be overwhelming. Most children don’t see home as a classroom and this means getting them on board may be difficult. Let’s take a closer look at tips for first time homeschool parents.
Set Some Ground Rules
You need to sit down with your children and discuss what is expected of them. Explain that for the next few weeks, school is going to be at home. This means that during certain hours of the day, there will be no TV, video games, or other activities that aren’t related to homeschool. Explain how lessons will be done, when they will be done, etc. In other words, you’re going to need a good plan before you get started.
Make a Schedule and Stick to It
A schedule is essential. If your kids are allowed to work on their assignments whenever they want, they will get behind. It only takes a few days of being off track for things to be completely messed up. Look at the lesson plan the teacher has provided and schedule the day for each child. If your children have to go online for some assignments, schedule the time so that other children are working on other things, if you don’t have enough computers for each child. If children have live-lessons with their teachers, make absolutely sure your schedule takes this into account.
Get Help If You Need It
Here’s the thing. Many adults can no longer do some of the work their children are required to do. Common core math, anyone? If you’re in over your head, reach out to the teacher. You may even have to get your child an online tutor to help out.
Be Realistic
This is new for you and your children. Homeschool isn’t always easy for those that do it as their normal schooling method. You need to make sure you set realistic expectations. Be as prepared as you can be, but understand that there will be hiccups along the way.
Take Care of Yourself
Last, but not least, homeschool can be stressful. Make sure that you’re doing something for yourself each evening. Read a good book, have a hot cup of tea, eat a pint of your favorite ice cream… Do something for you. Me time is so important for parents, but definitely parents that are homeschooling.
Homeschool is a new experience for many parents and children. You’re not alone in this challenge. Take it one day at a time and do the best you can.
Lisa Joy Thompson
May 4, 2020As a mom who has worked from home for over 10 years and homeschooled on and off for the last 7, these are great tips. Setting ground rules and realistic expectations are especially important.
Rog Willis
May 4, 2020These are great rules for first-time homeschool parents. This is very handy with parents now working from home during this trying time.
Heather
May 4, 2020These are great tips! As a Mom who never even considered homeschool and then suddenly got the role of homeschool Mom out of no where, I know these will help!
Anne Marie
May 4, 2020Schedules are critically important. It’s so easy to get off the track when you’re knee deep in home life and all the distractions
Tara Pittman
May 4, 2020Thankfully my kids are older so I dont have to manage their school. They are doing online school
Fatima Torres
May 4, 2020Staying organized is key. not only with your materials but also with your time.
Romy
May 5, 2020These are such great tips, thanks for sharing! So many parents are becoming teachers at home and they need all the resources they can get.
the joyous living
May 6, 2020Nice list, Angela. I think when my mom starting homeschooling in the 90s that she would have agreed especially with taking care of yourself and being realistic.
Colleen
June 17, 2020Hoo boy, are there a lot of parents who need this right now. I had to homeschool the kids before remote learning was implemented, and I have an even great respect for teachers than I did before.
Bill
June 17, 2020Homeschooling is no joke! Whether you have a little, a tween , or a high schooler, teaching is hard. I can’t believe people do this for a living! LOL
Jennifer Prince
June 17, 2020Making a schedule and sticking to it is so helpful! I only homeschooled for one year, but it was enough to totally appreciate all that homeschooling parents go through!
Lisa
June 17, 2020I’ve been homeschooling for a while and having a loose schedule really helps my family. They all know what is expected of them, but there’s some wiggle room for them to do things they enjoy as well.
ashley
June 17, 2020These are some great tips. We are thinking about homeschooling our children and these tips will definitely come in handy.
Marie Phillips
June 17, 2020As someone who has home schooled for over 20 years, this is all great advice. I would want parents to know not to sweat the small stuff but to enjoy time with their kids.
Lily
June 17, 2020These are all such good points! I’m not a momma yet, but this is all good to keep in mind.
Cristina Petrini
June 18, 2020Even the parents had to actually learn something new in this lockdown, fascinating blog post!
Toni
June 18, 2020This is awesome! It can be a good opportunity for parents to have more time with kids but can be really stressful. I am sure this will be a huge help for parents.
Elizabeth O
June 18, 2020Having a schedule is a must. and setting rules makes our life easier too.
Scarlet
June 18, 2020Yes! Ground rules are essential! A schedule is as important as the need to be flexible with it.
Sara | mshealthesteem.com
June 18, 2020So many more parents are homeschooling right now and I imagine the numbers will continue to stay high into next year and throughout the pandemic! Your advice is so helpful and kind. I imagine any parent homeschooling will greatly appreciate this!
kileen
June 18, 2020omg i need all the help i can get! homeschooling is not easy!
xo,
kileen
Natalie
June 18, 2020These are great tips. Thanks for sharing. When we started homeschooling the first thing we did we set the rules and made daily schedule. Sticking to that daily plan made us productive and less stressful.
Ntensibe Edgar Michael
June 18, 2020Being realistic and making a Schedule and sticking to It, is the sure way to go. A lot can be achieved through that path,
GiGi Eats
June 18, 2020Woof. I cannot even IMAGINE home-schooling. CANNOT. And will not LOL! I am praying that a pandemic does NOT occur again when my son is of the age where he needs home schooled! I WILL fail miserably LOL!
Treasure Every Moment
June 18, 2020This is really helpful – back in March I found myself suddenly becoming my daughter’s teacher at home and it has been a learning curve! I think me realistic is really helpful advice 🙂
Ronnie
June 18, 2020This is so necessary since so many of us have been placed into homeschooling positions due to quarantine. Thanks for the valuable tips! They will help us through the new reality.
Rosey
June 18, 2020I wonder how many people are going to switch to homeschool. It will have some hiccups like you said, but it can be so worth it too.
Emman Damian
June 18, 2020I think Setting Some Ground Rules should be a cardinal rule. There should be a thin line between studying and play time.
Monidipa
June 19, 2020I donot have kids but my neices are homeschooled now and these are very good and helpful.
Knycx journeying
June 19, 2020Okay! that could be extremely challenging, true, to any parents who have never been homeschooled their children before – I, myself, am already panicking just to hear the idea of it. Thanks lot for the tips and insights, and still I hope I would never have to use these skills. Knycx Journeying
Samantha Donnelly
June 19, 2020I think a lot of parents whether first time or not will find this post helpful, especially with more parents facing this x
Linda Hobbis
June 19, 2020I’m with you on the setting up of a schedule. The tricky bit is to stick to it. Currently we are using Wi-Fi time as a bribe for completing homework. It’s still a bit of a battle though.
Kristine Nicole Alessandra
June 19, 2020Thank you for these tips. My grandson will be enrolling in a virtual classroom learning system this school year. I will share these tips with my daughter so she can properly guide her child to transition from classroom learning to a virtual setting.
Jessica Collazo
June 19, 2020Thank you for the tips. I have a toddler here but I have to start teaching her basic stuff so this is very helpful
Deborah
June 19, 2020No kids for me but I’m sure it can be so challenging with children being home and still needing to get an education!
Megan Elliott
June 19, 2020These are great tips! I don’t have children, but I can only imagine how much of a transition it is to start homeschooling – especially so abruptly!
Stephanie
June 19, 2020Great tips! I was home-educated throughout my entire schooling career, and I loved it. It was a different experience as I moved from the younger grades into high school, but I still found it to be so helpful – and now I realize how much it has benefitted me as an adult!
Autumn
June 19, 2020All great tips, thank you. I am looking into homeschooling my children and this is very helpful.
shannon gurnee
June 19, 2020This is some great information. I have a lot of friends who will be homeschooling this upcoming school year,.
Georgina @ Culinary TravEls
June 20, 2020I’ve no experience with homeschooling but a lot of my friends and family are doing so. It’s difficult sometimes isn’t it?
Laura | Tales of a Natural Spoonie
June 23, 2020Although I am sure these tips will work for some we have actually found that homeschooling works best for us when we are really flexible with the timetable and expectations.