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5 Essential Ingredients to Homeschooling Success

By Terri Johnson co-author of Homeschooling ABCs an online class starting this month for brand new homeschoolers

We've all seen it or, at least, heard about it the homeschooled child who wins the geography bee, or the one who graduates at the age of 15, or the one who excels in musical accomplishments?

Now,obviously, a student does not have to be homeschooled in order to accomplish one of the feats above, nor does every homeschooled child excel in such notable ways. However, every homeschooling parent desires for success in teaching their children at home and launching them intothe world to become all that God has intended for them to be.

The flipside to this statement is that no one wants to fail when it comesto teaching their children at home. So, what are the five necessary ingredients to homeschooling success?

The first one is the desire to foster a closer relationship with each of your children and your kids with one another. If you don't want to spend more time together and deepen these relationships (or, at least, want to want to spend more time together), then homeschooling may not be the best choice for you. However, I am sure that you have heard it said before that at the end of the day, no one is going to say, I wish that I had spent more time at work or by myself or with my canary? No,the universal regret that aging and dying people declare is their sadness over not spending enough time with their loved ones. Teaching your children at home is an amazing opportunity to spend more time withyour dearest loved ones and have no regrets.

The second ingredient to homeschooling success is a teachable spirit on the part of the parent. This is essential because, like it or not, you will learn so much more teaching your own children than you ever did inschool the first time around. So, you might as well like to learn.

On that same note, the third essential ingredient to successful homeschooling is creating a home environment that is conducive to learning. This may show itself differently in each of our homes, but the result is the same, a place where kids can learn and enjoy it.

A home that is conducive to learning may have quiet and cozy reading nooks, bookshelves crammed with great books, a listening corner complete with headphones and a beanbag chair, uncluttered smooth surfaces for writing, stacks of coloring/activity books and colored pencils, a place to gather together and talk about the day's events.You get the idea? Create centers in your home that make learning fun and accessible.

The fourth ingredient for a successful homeschool is 2 hours of your time to devote to your children's studies. Truly, when the one-on-oneteaching method is employed in your home, you do not need all day inorder to get things done. In fact, a child in K-2 grades might be finished with her schoolwork in as few as 45 minutes (of course, that probably does not include the time that you spend reading together because who can get enough of that!).

At the other end of the spectrum, you might not need that much time with your middle schooler or high schooler either, because they become such independent learners by this age. The kids that will need the majority of that time that you have designated for school, those full 2 hours would be your students in 3-6 grades as math and grammar assignments might get a little more involved.

The final ingredient for homeschooling success is a library card. That's right! With access to a huge roomful of books, a world of learning opportunities is at your doorstep. Let's say that your child is interested in insects or flowers, electricity or magnetism,transportation or inventions check out as many books as he can devour on the subject and then some more. Watch your child light up with the delight of learning.

With these 5 essential ingredients incorporated into your homeschool, you will experience successful learning in the lives of your children,because this is the measure of success, children that love to learn!

Enjoy those learning moments?

Terri Johnson

Co-author of Homeschooling ABCs an online class starting this month for brand new homeschoolers.Don't let self-doubt, or lack of experience, rob you of the best first year possible! Sign up for class at Homeschooling ABCs

DON'T MISS our April Giveaway - Sponsored by the Homeschool Boutique!!!

Homeschool Boutique has generously partnered with edifyathome.com to sponsor an April Giveaway! Win a FREE inspirational T-shirt of YOUR CHOICE from among the Homeschool Boutique’s auctions listed on edifyathome.com. To enter, simply REGISTER for a FREE account with edifyathome.com and find your favorite T-shirt from among a wide selection of the Homeschool Boutique’s AUCTIONS. Then, visit the Homeschool Boutique’s PROFILE PAGE and leave a comment in their guestbook identifying which T-shirt you would like and WHY it is your favorite. On April 30th, our randomly selected winner will be notified via email and announced on edifyathome.com under Site News.

Please Note: This giveaway is open to everyone, including current members, who may skip the first step above regarding registration. Additionally, please feel free to share this giveaway with your Homeschool Group, or create links to this giveaway via family friendly websites, forums, or blogs.

www.edifyathome.com/news,page,76,topic_id,content_pages

End of School Year Testing

This will be our first year doing the end of year testing required by home schoolers in NC. I have tried doing some research on different test approved for NC and I am so confused!

I am thinking of just going with the standard CAT test this year and see how that goes. I would like to do one that I can administer at home to my children and one that is easy for us to follow.

I have two 2nd graders and one 5th grader to test so the cost is a concern as well. I have found a site I can get the CAT for $25 from Seton Home. I am not so much concerned with the grades as just finding out if they are at least on grade level.

Since started home school this year I have just been focusing on math, reading, and language arts. I haven't really done a whole lot in other subjects at least not steady. I wanted to be sure that they were solid in those areas and plan on adding more next year.

If anyone has any recommendations of a good end of year test for us please feel free to let me know.