Nanny to Mommy

Homeschooling is an excellent option for parents who want more control over what they teach their children. Also, it’s healthier for the kids as they get to learn in a less formal environment with more one-to-one instruction. Still, not every mom or dad is cut out for the role. To be successful, you need to be an effective teacher. 

Making the transition isn’t a walk in the park, not if you don’t have any teaching experience. However, you have to catch on quickly, or else you run the risk of putting your children’s education in jeopardy, and that’s the opposite of what you want.

The issue is, it’s not as if you can take a one-day, intensive course. You need to learn over time, which makes the process more challenging. There will always be mistakes and small errors. The trick is to eliminate the big ones so that you do less damage along the way. 

Although it sounds straightforward, it’s very tough in the beginning as your new responsibility is intimidating. But, you needn’t worry too much since there are hacks that will allow you to make a smoother transition. Please continue reading to find out what they are and how you can leverage them as a homeschooling parent. 

Taking on the role of the teacher is the most obvious choice, yet it isn’t the only one available. This is the biggest mistake people make as teaching is an art as well as a profession, and some parents aren’t cut out for the big leagues. This isn’t necessarily a negative, not if you put your ego aside and react accordingly. 

For example, it might be that there is a homeschooler in the area who is happy to teach your kids. This person has the results to back up their claims, which means they will probably provide your kids with the best possible education out of the two of you. Unfortunately, some guardians let pride get in the way and it harms the quality of teaching. 

Alternatively, you can split the duties between you and other homeschooling parents. By teaching in a part-time capacity, you get to strike a balance between learning the ropes and getting breathing space. 

The decision might be dictated to you due to your state’s homeschooling laws. Each one is different, and depending on what they are, you could have to pass the teaching responsibilities to someone more qualified or experienced. 

When you need to be successful, you should create and write down the goals you want to reach. Realistic targets are incredibly powerful since they act as a road map. With them, you can see where you’re going and why, and these features improve the odds of reaching your destination. 

But, the targets must be specific. You can’t steal them from the internet or other homeschoolers because there’s no way to tell if they will help you or your children. Instead, you can use a general framework to help you keep on top of the specifics. The following areas will come in handy: 

- Goals should be measurable and realistic

- They should focus on behaviors - too many parents concentrate on outcomes

- Targets must invest in learning - try to avoid competing topics for the sake of it

- Goals can’t forget strengths - dealing with weakness is essential, yet you shouldn’t ignore their strengths entirely 

Apart from the children's targets, you want to think about your own. How do you plan on being better? What do you need to work on? Are you an effective communicator? Is your planning up to scratch. You can set these goals in the same way. 

It’s tempting to pass off bad behaviors as a phase. After all, they aren’t unusual to you because you deal with them daily. But, there’s a time to put on your parent hat, and a time to wear your teacher’s hat. With the former, you’ll take on a different perspective, one that could help you spot warning signs that were right in front of your eyes. 

Learning difficulties are notorious nowadays, and it’s often teachers who see the flares and pass on the information. This is because you might assume that a low attention span is normal when they are watching TV or playing with mobile devices. The same can’t be said for numeracy and literacy. 

If they are fidgety and anxious all the time, it might be an indicator that they have a learning difficulty. Spotting the problem is half of the battle since there are several options to make your child feel more comfortable. ABA therapy is just one avenue, yet many more exist. 

Don’t go overboard and treat every habit or behavior as an unhealthy sign. However, you should speak to an expert when you have a nagging thought in the back of your mind that’s backed up by evidence. 

Okay, you’re not going to cheat. You’re not taking any tests! Still, there are always loopholes that make life easier, and homeschooling is no different. Parents are reluctant as it might be construed as cutting corners, yet it isn’t if you are careful and pick the right places to scale back. 

Think about Covid-19 for a moment. Has it made your life much more challenging, as a parent and teacher? The answer is yes because it’s made everybody's lives tough. Thankfully, a clever way to get around the problem is to use free education resources, such as Discovery Ed and Brain Pop. 

Not only are they accessible and affordable, but they inject a sense of excitement into classes. It’s easy to do the same things over and over when you lack inspiration. The good news is, educational resources will stop you from making this mistake and boost your level of teaching during emergency school closures. 

Joining a homeschool group is an excellent way to find out more ways to make your life easier. All the people in the group will be veterans, and they’ll have tons of advice on saving time without reducing the quality of education. 

Leaving the house on a field trip instantly makes your job as a teacher easier. The main priority is safety as you need to keep an eye on the kids at all times. Of course, you’ve been out so many times that they understand the rules and what they can and can’t do. But, a field trip isn’t a day off for you and your children. 

If anything, it’s part of the reason you decided to homeschool them in the first place. School curriculums are strict and rigid, and they don’t provide opportunities for different types of learning. For instance, your students might absorb visual information more effectively. Therefore, going to a museum will be ideal. 

Alternatively, a library could be a smart choice as your children can pick books that appeal to them, rather than being told what to read. Remember that one of the building blocks of homeschooling is that you can adapt to your kids’ changing requirements. 

So, if it’s sunny outside and you can sense they are stir crazy, there’s nothing wrong with taking classes outdoors. After all, the quest for knowledge is about making learning enjoyable! 

The transition from a parent to a teacher isn’t always smooth. There will be pitfalls along the way, yet if you know your limits, have goals and remember to have fun, the process should pay off in the long run.