If you are considering homeschooling, but don’t know where to start, we have rounded up some of our best resources from Inner Child Learning to help you make an informed decision for you and your family. Here are 10 of our most popular homeschooling posts covering everything from pros and cons of homeschooling, to creating inspiring learning spaces, to how to make your own learning manipulatives using common household items.
Getting Started with Homeschooling
1. The Pros and Cons of Becoming a Homeschooler
Homeschooling is becoming a popular choice. It gives the children a flexible schedule and allows the curriculum to cater to the individual child. Is homeschooling the right choice for you? Well, that all depends. Contributing writer Val Rose provides more insight into the pros and cons of homeschooling.
2. What About Socialization?
Are you hesitant to homeschool because you’re worried about socialization? It’s a common misconception that homeschoolers are unsocialized and the socialization question is frequently asked. Melissa shares answers she has gathered from several homeschooling parents on how they tackle socialization and homeschooling.
3. Planning Your First Year of Homeschooling
You’ve taught your little one his alphabet. You’ve made sensory bins, explored with play dough, and even made a light table. Now it’s that time for your little one to venture to Kindergarten — but instead of sending him to school, you’ve decided to try homeschooling for a few years. Leann has created a list of some things to consider when you are planning out your first year of homeschooling.
4. Year-At-A-Glance Calendar for Your Homeschool Year
We all have great ideas for our kids school year as homeschoolers, but if we tried to start every great idea on day #1 of school our kids (and us!) would burn out very quickly. For this reason, Val Rose started to use this year-at-a-glance calendar to plan the things she wants to get to this year, but not necessarily right now.
5. Structuring Your Homeschool Day
Figuring out a homeschool schedule can be a challenge. Should you focus on reading and math? What about the other subjects? Are you doing enough in a day? Once your homeschool year begins, it sometimes takes a few weeks to figure out what works for you and your family. Leann shares a few things to consider when you are structuring your homeschool day.
6. Homemade Learning Manipulatives
There’s a lot of learning potential in the simple items you can either find around your home or make yourself with a little creativity. There are many benefits to making your own learning manipulatives. It can be a fun, rewarding experience that allows you to save some money and perfectly tailor the end product to your child and your lesson. Here are 15 ideas for homemade learning manipulatives from around the web.
7. Creating Inviting Learning Spaces
The spaces in our home have the potential to make or break our school year. When our rooms and surfaces are cluttered we feel the chaos, and learning doesn’t come as smoothly or naturally. On the other hand, if we have inviting and organized spaces, the spaces themselves help facilitate learning. Joyce shares some simple ideas to create inviting learning spaces.
8. The Elements of a Perfect Book Nook
Book nooks are easy to create with things you have on hand. Soon your child will be running to his little spot with books in hand, ready to go on a literary adventure. Val Rose gives ideas on how to create a perfect book nook.
9. Super Easy DIY Homework Station
These homework stations are quick and easy these are to make. When not in use, they fold flat for easy storage. The kids really love them and I’m happy that homework time now means fewer distractions and more focus! Here is how to make your own homework station.
10. Learning with Ordinary Household Items
Did you know that many items from around the home are very useful learning manipulatives? With a little creativity, it is easy to help your child learn with ordinary household items! Melissa shows how to make your own learning manipulatives from common household items you probably already have on-hand.
