I feel like we should create a post to compile tips for Pedes that have had to deal with their kids be freed from indoctrination camps/schools.
So I'll start. Please fellow homeschool parents, jump in.
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Do NOT try and recreate public school. PS is designed to teach en mass, typically a one size fits all approach. Why do that when you can customize each child's learning to their personal strengths, deficits, and desires. A kid who excels at reading should be pushed to read more challenging stuff. A kid struggling at math should have more time and resources dedicated to that.
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Get a guide. Seriously, unless you are a teacher, we often dont know what to teach and when. Guides are helpful in setting benchmarks and giving ideas on how to approach it. You are not beholden to them, so you can and should alter it to fit your kid. We started with a book called "The Well Trained Mind" by Susan Bauer.
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Teach more than just academics. Everything is educational. Teach them about your faith, running a household, maintenance of vehicles, rhetoric, home repair, anything that we hear others complain that schools don't do.
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Seize the little moments. Use everyday things to teach an academic lesson. Cooking uses math and also teaches task management. Dinner time discussions become etiquette and rhetoric lessons.
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The internet has loads of resources for homeschool. Sift through them to find worthwhile ones. Some are trash or leftist influenced so be mindful of it.
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Get them involved in a sport outside of the home. Its easy to focus on the mental and neglect the physical, dont.
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Keep them connected to peers outside the home somehow. Kill the excuse that homeschool kids arent socialized (read: corrupted or groomed) unless they are in PS. By keeping them in positive peer settings, you get all of the benefits and none of the downsides. Ex: Church youth groups, Trail Life or American Heritage Girls, sports leagues, hobby groups, homeschool groups.
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Do not feel like you need to spend 8 hours a day on lessons. A couple of quality hours of lessons at home beatsa full day of PS. The rest of the day can be filled with little natural learning moments.
That's what I have to start with. What else does everyone else got?
We've been homeschooling K-12 and it works just fine.
For the rest of the time, who cares? Let the kids socialize, experiment, destroy your kitchen trying to make new recipes, clean the kitchen, do home improvements or repairs, make friends, play basketball in the middle of the day. Just get them off their phones (unless they are making videos or doing art or stuff) and kick them out of the house from time to time. Just let the kids LIVE LIFE the way it was meant to be lived -- one day at a time, enjoying each moment for what it is.
FINALLY, PLAY WITH YOUR KIDS. Oh my gosh -- how can I emphasize how important it is to get dads roughhousing with the kids, and moms playing cards with their kids or whatever it is you like to do, get your kids involved. Life is too short to be scared about the future. Just work, play, live together like God intended.
I wish libraries were still opened but they closed without notice so people werent even able to check out books to have on hand during this chaos.