Parents can use this as a chance to build relationships and encourage. Make Time to Touch Base: Set a time to sit down and have your kids be able to express what they are learning, what they’d like to see more of and what they’d like to change. Setting goals of what you want to have accomplished with your child over a certain time frame is key. The experience will be different because of your child’s individual learning plan. Realistic Expectations: When we have families join our communities, they expect it to be like what happens in a traditional classroom. It will help them know what to expect throughout the day. Schedule and Routine: Students are used to structure in traditional and homeschool classrooms. Try a door hanger to communicate to your kids when it is OK to interrupt and when it is not. Set Boundaries: Even homeschool families are learning how to all work at home. LRF: For parents who are temporarily homeschooling, what tips can you offer parents as they balance WFH responsibilities and virtual school? The Education Alliance - Arkansas’ largest state-wide homeschool organizationĤ-H - offers a 10 week program for homeschoolers” Home Ed - local support group for Little Rock-area homeschoolers Little Rock Flames - organized sports for homeschoolers There are a lot of resources and opportunities:Ĭurriculum-based communities - like ours from Classical Conversations Homeschooling offers a broader realm of opportunities than many realize. “You don’t have to be in a co-op, but reaching out is a natural part of the process. LRF: Do you have any tips for homeschooling in Little Rock specifically? Homeschool kids can interact with more than just their peers and can be out in the community where they can make diverse and intergenerational connections.” And then you should be intentional about getting your kids involved in sports and other social interactions. Remember, you are not alone.Īs a homeschooler, I recommend you start with your curriculum. You find outlets to meetup and learn from others. You need to research it and find connections. If you start a hobby, you don’t just come home and start it. So you need to seek out opportunities and support. As a homeschooler you are not just coming home, you are entering a different school realm. As parents, we are not meant to do this alone. LRF: What’s your top tip for families as they transition from a traditional classroom to a homeschool classroom? So if you're considering homeschooling, start by digging deep and find your why.” COVID has opened many parents eyes’ to new possibilities. Right now, your first why might be COVID, but when you dig a little deeper your why might be medical, academics, or that you want your kids to have a greater impact on the world as lifelong learners.Īs a homeschooling parent, it's easy to get bogged down with the details, so we need a reason to help us keep going. That is very important when I think about families coming into the homeschooling realm. Plus, we found a curriculum that really works for us. As a homeschool teacher, I was able to see her needs and pay attention to that.īecause of my kids' individual needs and the community support we’ve found, we continue to homeschool. Thankfully, she was testing higher than expected because of her individualized learning plan. On the other hand, we discovered that my daughter has some learning difficulties when she was in the fourth grade. I had not intended to homeschool when I had kids, but at that point I didn’t feel like public school was an option. When it was time for kindergarten, we were worried he would be a disruption in class. So I went ahead and started teaching him how. When my oldest was four, we noticed that he was ready to read. LRF: Can you tell a little bit about your family? What made you decide to homeschool your children? During our conversation she offered her best tips for parents transitioning from a traditional classroom. Mom of three, she’s heading into her 11th year of homeschooling. To help, we reached out to local vetran homeschooler Kristina Keller. The Little Rock Family staff wanted to learn more about what it's really like to homeschool in Central Arkansas. After the abrupt end to the school year in March and the uncertainty surrounding the 20/21 school year, many parents are considering homeschooling for the first time.
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