Deciding to home-educate is not always easy. First there is the oppostion that is experienced by many, from not just friends, but family from whom you would like support too. Then there is the sheer physical aspect of having your young child/ren around you 24 hours a day without a break. The cost must be counted. Many parents of young children will testify to these early days being very hard - especially if they are expecting more children. However, do not despair. It is not hard to educate a young child aged 4 to 8 at home and it does not need to cost lots of money or even time. At this age the only real 'school' work that needs to be done is the 3 R's: reading, 'riting and 'rithmatic. Yes, school children must be in school from 9 until 3, but they will not be sitting at a desk for all those hours. In the early years, much of their time will be spent engaging in play. I hasten to add, that much of their time will also be wasted. Early Years settings seek to replicate the home-life - baking/shopping/travelling etc..! This seems bizarre when their main aim is to get the children away from home. Think of the old fashioned 'home-corner', or playing shop, dressing up - all valuable parts of childhood, but which are no less educational for being done at home as part of a child's normal life. So English and Maths are essential. Other subjects are not essential at this age, as little children learn holistically. That is, all subjects merge into just one - life. They learn best through exploration, reading and playing (inside and out) and plenty of time in a child’s day needs to be given to these latter three. Although as home-educators we do not need to follow a timetable as such, it is equally true that young children thrive best when there is a consistent routine. If the children know that they will be sitting down to do school work in the the morning, then you can cut the battles in half at least! Try and make sure that some maths and Language work is done every day and that most days it is quality work. Of course there are always going to be those times when unexpected things happen that throw the routine out - but get back to it as soon as possible. Children are usually more alert and receptive in the morning. It is good to do the work, and then have free time. Work then play. My suggested plan of a day: 9 - 10am English work: reading, writing, spelling For young children these three will best be taught through a good synthetic, systematic phonic programme. Aim for your child to be the best reader s/he can be as this will form the basis for all future learning. The main aim of these lessons will be to give your child the tools s/he will need in order to become a good reader and writer. Reading is best taught alongside spelling. Writing is best learnt by separating the skills of handwriting and composition. At this age, composition is best done verbally. Copy work (copying from suitable books/poems etc...) should play a large part. 10 -10.30 a break - play in the garden in summer, a walk round the block in winter - or play indoors if mum is tired or the weather is bad. Some days I used to put some classical music on and let them run and jump to let off some energy. Endeavour to factor in some exercise each day, even in winter as you will all feel better for it and hopefully be healthier. It doesn't have to be at this time, but a regular time helps everybody to know what to expect. Young children thrive on routine. 10.30 - 11.30 Maths work When the children are very young (4-5) the maths and English may not take so long. Be Prepared Do be prepared before each days lessons: have the work ready, know what equipment will be needed. Have the children set up the school room if need be after breakfast. Train them to know that after breakfast, they should be ready to come to the table when called to work. There should be no arguments about this. Good training spares a lot of frayed tempers! For those with a mix of ages: train older children to work as independently as possible. Obviously you will need to listen to them reading and check work, but they should be moving towards being able to get on with an exercise by themselves for a few minutes while you work with a younger child. Train babies from the start to play quietly in the school room - provide quiet toys, such as bricks, puzzles etc...Have them ready so that as one activity flags, you can provide another. Do factor in time to spend with baby - maybe doing a shape sorter or a puzzle together. Move from child to child as needed making sure that all have done what is necessary each day. Again, a routine helps to give structure and order to your 'school' and helps young children feel confident and secure. 11.30 -12.30 On some days art work or project activities, though on some days it may be appropriate to do this in the afternoon. I always planned on one art activity a week at least and I set a regular day for it to ensure that it happened. This should not be seen by the children as 'school' work - this should be general homelife - all of you learning together. All chidlren (except tiny bables) can join in the art work, doing so at his/her own level). 12.30: Lunch Afternoons Free Now is the time for free exploration/play, outings or for doing activities together. Many families like to have a time of family rest at some point when younger ones sleep and older ones read/colour/play quietly. It is good if at the start of the week you can make a plan of what you intend to do when. This means that activities are more likely to happen. Do not feel that you have to wear yourself out taking the children out every day to socialise. I used to try and plan for one major 'out of home' activity a week, then other afternoons being quieter at home. Do not feel guilty if some days the afternoons are free play. The children do not need structure all day and actually it is better for them if they don’t have it as it makes them find their own ‘fun’ and develop self-motivation. Later this may lead to hobbies and interests. If you have the energy and children are flagging in ideas, sometimes you could play together - set up a shop, or imagine a cardboard box is a boat. Usually that would be enough to set them going for a while. If a bit of peace and quiet is needed as the children are getting fractious, then a cuddle with mum with a good story often resettles everybody. Bed Time A good bed-time routine is esential for an orderly home, which a home-school home needs to be. Aim to have tea at about the same time each day, followed by family prayers and bath, then a bedtime story and individual prayer time before lights out. A regular routine each night helps to settle children to rest, ready for learning the next day. Four year olds need 11.5 hours sleep, five year olds need 11 hours and 6 to 8 year olds need approx. 10-11 hours (source NHS). To find bedtime work backwards from the time you need the child to get up. Tired children are more likely to be awkward, fretful and make life generally more difficult for everyone in the home. Other considerations: Technology is not essential in the early years. Young children do not need access to a computer for learning or for pleasure. They do not need entertaining with a screen - it doesn't engage the brain in the same way that learning from books does, due to its fast moving images. A few carefully chosen DVD's are a resources to be used wisely on occasion, not something that should be a matter of course everyday. Try not to use the TV as a baby sitter regularly, tempting though it is! You would do well if you can do without a TV in the home. Children will soon find sources of amusement that are better for them. Instead, provide good quality toys: toys that meet the need for construction and role -play (bricks, dolls, garages, trains, Play-Mobil etc..). Avoid violent toys and toys linked with children's TV programmes. Spend time with your children. Don't let them see project/art work as 'school'. Plan family outings to stimulate discussion, widen horizons and hopefully pave the way for future interests. Excursions are a great opportunity for family bonding and having time to relate with our chidlren away from school time. Listen to good music - classical music, folk music, hymns. Avoid pop music as it is rebellious by nature - rebellious ultimately agaisnt God, being symoblic of promisuity, drugs and rebellion. Guidelines for a successful home-school:
To help keep the cost down for you, I provide FREE and low priced resources for KS1 on this website (see side-bar for examples) and on my main website, Lilibette's Resources. My project packs are being added to all the time and provide plenty of 'dip - in' activities to help give your explorations a focus. If you have any questions, please ask! You may also like to look at the Mothers Companion Curriculum - low priced and all conveniently on a USB stick. All of these are compatible with a classical style curriculum.
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Welcome!After studying for an Early Years Specialism degree (B.Ed. Hons), and teaching in mainstream education, I home-educated my own children, after my husband and I were persuaded of the need to take responsibility for bringing up our children 'in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.' (Ephesians 6:4) We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
This costs the purchaser nothing extra. In this way I can continue to provide free resources. Thank you for your support. Looking for a read-aloud?
Here's one I heartlily reccomend for ages 10 +. Search
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The First book from Christina Eastwood - the first in a triology - only £5.99 (ages 8 to 13).
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See here Now available in PRINT
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