Surviving does sound a little dramatic I guess. However when you look at all the educational stimulus offered to us on a daily basis it is a case of surviving the decision making process in how to present the best possible materials in the best possible way!
Enjoy these 7 tried and true tips for surviving the rigors of homeschooling in the 21st century.
Tip 1: Be open to continuous learning!
No matter how much we think we might know, there is always room for more! When we remain open to continuous learning life doesn't just happen to us. We become proactive in our approach and lead our children to be less reactive to the world. Full participation in 21st century life requires us to keep an open mind, and be in a position to successfully filter through the huge amount of new information generated on a daily basis.
Tip 2: Engage with those with more experience than you.
It is sometimes difficult to put ourselves in a position where we might feel inferior. Yet it can be truly liberating to surround ourselves with those who have more experience in different aspects of life than we do. This helps in a couple of ways. First you become privy to some very exciting ideas that you perhaps may not have come to on your own. It is amazingly inspiring to be in the company of those who bring us to new levels of thinking! These are experiences you can then bring to the education of your own children. Children often teach us this essential lesson in the way they interact in our world.
Tip 3: Tune into the daily needs of your student
It is very easy for all of us to have an "off" day. Your child is no exception. Remain present when communicating with your child. Children are sensitive creatures and will fluctuate sometimes on a daily basis. It is really a good idea to take this into consideration when planning your program. If your child is more alert in the pm perhaps your program will start later in the day. Homeschooling is just that. Schooling that is flexibly integrated into daily family life to fit the varying needs of your child.
Tip 4: Use technology to "enhance" learning
The use of technology is changing life in the 21st century dramatically. However it is a good idea not to just use it for the sake of using it! Connected with a learning experience it still must make sense and have meaning for the student to retain and use the information again in another setting. Virtual programs are exciting and very engaging. However attached to a negatively charged learning environment they do not promote or support learning. If there is ever a negative feeling toward your online materials take a step back and make changes to the way you may be using them. You do not want to loose the power of such a wonderful teaching tool.
Tip 5: Involve humor in your program
Humor hands down helps to positively engage children in life in general! Thinking back to your own learning experiences you probably can pull some pretty hilarious moments and remember the information that came along with it!
Tip 6: Model the behavior you want to see in your child.
How many times have you caught yourself yelling:
"stop yelling at me and get on with your work!"
There are those days where it is difficult to model the behavior we want to see in our kids. However it is most often on the most difficult of days that doing the opposite of what the child is doing that creates a break through for both parent and child. It generally makes sense to listen to someone who is being calm and rational. In our adult world we don't tolerate being yelled at too often by other adults. Nor do we really resort to yelling back! Kids start to pay more attention when adults behave in a more rational manner. So next time you want to blow your stack - breathe, count to ten and rationally ask for what it is you require at that moment.
Tip 7: Be flexible in your thinking
Engaging in flexible thought practices you are giving yourself and your students the option of changing things that don't work as soon as you see a change is needed. No one becomes "stuck" in a learning situation that is not actively supporting the learning environment. Flexibility promotes curiosity which then in turn encourages different approaches to thinking and problem solving.
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Of course you will come up with many more tips that support your wonderfully personalized learning environment. Should you need a few more visit http://www.k12homeschoolsupport.com We are continually working towards more creative and supportive approaches to homeschooling in the 21st century.
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