The COVID-19 pandemic has presented parents with a peculiar challenge. Many of us have to teach and learn simultaneously, and we’re all enrolled in the school of hard knocks right now.
In a way, this new system makes sense. Education begins at home anyway. It’s where we learn etiquette, basic life skills, and obligatory potty training. But what happens when we’re forced to take over from professional teachers?
It appears that the solution lies beyond just hiring VCE English tutors. Since you can’t take your kid to school and you have to bring school home, here’s how you can achieve that in the least stressful way possible:
1. Get Ahead in the Morning
At this point, parents realise that being at home with the kids is nothing like the vacation it initially sounded like. Since there’s so much to do, you’re better off dealing with some of your tasks first thing in the morning before distractions derail you.
Finish that report for your boss, do your chores, tidy up the house – anything that can free up your time for when school is in session. This will give you more breathing room to focus your energy on homeschooling.
2. Family that Reads Together Proceeds Together
Good literature not only nurtures young minds but builds character as well. As you read together, change your voice to suit each character and gesticulate a bit – whatever makes it exciting and worth looking forward to for your kids.
Readers make good writers. So, the more your child is exposed to different ways of expressing thought, the greater their capacity for expressing their own thoughts will be.
3. Get Practical
If your kids were in school right now, they’d be involved in extracurricular activities. Sports, theatre, agriculture – these are things that are just as important as sticking your nose in a book.
Education is not limited to the classroom. Did you know that you can teach algebra through the game of chess? Find creative ways to teach theory through practice. Get your hands dirty. Do some physically demanding activities together. This will teach your kids the importance of being fit. After all, a healthy body equals a healthy mind.
4. Tailor-Made Learning
Not every student is the same. Some are visual learners, some are verbal learners, and some need to incorporate the sense of touch. Identify what type of learner your child is and accommodate them accordingly.
If they’re more visual, get some pictures and images and focus on spatial understanding. If they’re verbal learners, use music and sound to make them more comfortable. Sometimes, all it takes is a new angle. See what works for your young ones and run with it.
5. Order out of Chaos
School is very structured, filled with timetables, queuing, and having to raise your hand before you speak. To keep your homeschooling efforts from devolving into chaos, you’ll also have to maintain some order in your home. Make a schedule covering everything from the moment they wake up.
Designate an area of your house for study. Letting them work in bed or on the couch won’t do your kids any good because their young minds won’t register that it’s time to work.
At the same time, we shouldn’t forget that all learners are different. If studying in the bedroom has been working just fine, don’t ruin a good thing! It’ll take a bit of time to adjust to home schooling for all involved. Give your kids frequent breaks, encourage them often, and be patient with your little learners.
