5 Tricks I Use to 'Make It Work'

by Valorie Delp | More from this Blogger

I recently wrote a blog in baby where I answered the question that seems to be on inquiring minds: "Just How Do You Do It?" I realize that many of you know this, but by way of introduction for those who are new, I have five children ages 8, 6, 4 and 2 year old twins. I homeschool the oldest two who are in 3rd and 1st grade respectively. My four year old does some version of preschool (although I should note that she just turned 4 a week ago). A commenter on the aforementioned blog asked how I got in instructional time with all this going on. Here is my answer:

Trick #1 Deschooling the Parents

I run a support group for homeschoolers in the city. New homeschoolers, especially those who have pulled their children out of public school, often have a hard time thinking of education outside of the traditional school box. Every year in September I find myself repeating the following: "There is no law that says school must occur Monday through Friday from 8am to 3pm." We school everywhere and anywhere. I bring stories to read in the car, we school on Saturdays (after all soccer practice does count as Physical Education), we school in the evenings, and we school through the mundane tasks of life. (Cooking provides a great hands-on math lesson.) Once parents are free to view school and instructional time as occurring whenever a child is learning something, it is easier to see how it can all fit in-even with toddling twins!

Trick #2 We Don't Waste Time

I think if parents were to watch an entire day of school in session, keeping track minute by minute of what goes on. . .they would be shocked at how little instructional time there is in traditional school. When you have a classroom full of 20 children, you waste time while kids get out their papers. You waste time getting in line. You waste time for snack. You waste time waiting for everyone to finish. You waste time for "special" things like fire drills. None of this has to happen in a homeschool situation. Even things that do happen like getting ready with a pencil and paper, don't take long when you're talking about one or two children.

Trick #3 We Are Free to Move On

I know from my teaching days that a good teacher teaches to the middle. She provides extra challenges for the students who are ahead and provides extra help to the struggling students. But in essence, you don't move on from a particular concept until at least most of the group gets it. In homeschooling, I am free to move at my children's pace. I don't have to wait for anyone else to finish what they're doing or hold anyone else back while someone repeats a concept. The individualization is so advantageous in my opinion, that concepts can be learned in about half the time as it might take in a classroom.

Trick #4 The Right Curriculum

Andrea and I have both written blogs about the curriculum we use. (Andrea wrote one on Time4Learning and I wrote one on Sonlight Curriculum). The trick isn't that one is better than the other. . .the trick is that each curriculum suits our families, and our needs well. One reason that I chose my curriculum is that it requires a lot of reading out loud. So we cuddle up in the afternoons on a giant bean bag chair and read, and discuss.

Trick #5 A Family Endeavor

Like all parenting decisions, homeschooling is a family endeavor. It is true that my "job" is to homeschool. I have to admit that my husband would be lost if he were to look in my lesson plan book. However, homeschooling requires my husband's support. This comes in many forms from house chores to teaching, to engaging discussions. It is a lifestyle rather than something we do.

Like so many things, this is really more about your attitude, vision and thinking regarding education. However, I do have some very practical tips that I use to make sure that I meet my states standards. I'll share those in my next blog!

Learn more about Valorie Delp

Hello everybody! My name is Valorie and I am one busy lady! When I'm not writing or editing for families, I am busy trying to get my brood of 5 in line.

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