Homeschooling requires four basic things: time, temperament, resources, and passion. If you’re thinking of homeschooling your child this school year, make sure that you have a lasting supply of these. There are also a lot of decisions to make, which can be overwhelming. But still, nothing is too difficult to do with enough knowledge and preparation, right?
Just follow this step-by-step guideline that covers everything you should know before taking charge of your kiddie’s education. Same with doing any other project, it starts with research and investigation, and ends with noting the common pitfalls.
Research on options
You’ll be presented options according to your kiddie’s age and education level – early education (Kinder 1 & 2), Grade School, or High School. Institutions like VCIS Homestudy, for instance, offers electives, foreign languages, and Bible studies other than local subjects. This month is the best time for you to research and prepare, as school term is ending on March.
Get ideas from the web and printed resources, visit libraries, and speak with other parents who homeschool their child. As you do this, you’d realize if you’re making the right decision and whether or not it’s good for your entire family. To know more about homeschooling and open universities in the philippines, click here.
Know the requirements
Homeschooling is legal in the Philippines and is accredited by DepEd. There are actually no requirements to submit to the government when you decide to homeschool your kid. What you should know, however, is how to get DepEd accreditation when you finally decide to enroll your child in a regular school. As the legal compulsory age for school attendance is 6 to 12 years, some parents seek accreditation only when their kids begin grade school. Others only do so upon transferring their kiddies to regular schools.
To get started on your homeschooling program for your kiddie, research the homeschool programs with DepEd accreditation as you visit this link. Your child should take exams such as the Philippine Validating Test (PVT) or those offered at the Center for Educational Measurement Inc. (CEM) to get assessed.
After choosing a particular homeschooling institution, coordinate with them regarding the list of their requirements. Ask if there are records to maintain, reports to submit, and other tests to take.
Decide on the curriculum
Curricula are bought directly from the homeschooling institution. It normally comes with a list of text and workbooks that teach about reading, writing, and arithmetic. As mentioned in the options part, some institutions offer foreign languages and electives other than the local subjects for grade school and high school children. You can also buy materials catering to different child interests as you attend conventions and curriculum fairs that showcase various homeschool publications.
List specific goals
After prepping a homeschooling space in your house, write a list of what you want to accomplish. This will vary according to your child’s age and edicational level. There are many things to consider other than the academics, such as your kiddie’s physical activity, socialization with other kids, and extracurricular activities. Talk with other parents to get ideas, visit your local community center, and refer to printed ads and listings.
Make a personal schedule
Create a plan that specifically meets the goals you listed above. This will help you keep things organized and focus on your mission. Find a book that will help you make a detailed homeschooling schedule to get started. Break up the schedule to each academic subject you want to work on.
Decide also on how you hope to break up the learning week by week. There should be field trips and visits to the library. Never forget you can adapt your schedule to your kiddie’s needs, as flexibility is the primary reason you considered homeschooling.
Note the common pitfalls
Take the time you need to understand the issues that often discourage beginners, which you’ll learn about by joining a support group. Examples are committing to a curriculum too early and purchasing a costly package that doesn’t suit your kiddie’s learning style.
Despite all the pitfalls mentioned above, remember that you’ll learn as you go. Adjustment to the freedom and flexibility are among the challenges you’ll have to face. You’ll be defining yourself as you go along homeschooling your kiddie. Drop the worries and take the time you need to ensure success in this parenthood project.
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