How do I homeschool my elementary school child?
In elementary school, parents build on the foundation of skills and knowledge that the child has already acquired. Wherever your child is at, you can start from there. This is great news for children who do not learn at the same rate as the provincial curriculum dictates. It is possible for one homeschooled child to be at a certain grade level in math and a different one in English. Whatever their area of interest or expertise is, your child can move forward in that area without needing to wait for the rest of the class to catch up. Thankfully, this also helps children who are struggling in a certain area to take the time to learn concepts before moving on.
As children progress through the elementary years, parents have many options of how to enable their children to learn and the flexibility to try new options from year to year. Here are explanations about different education methods which may help you with how to enable your child to learn.
Reading out loud through this stage continues to be important. Vocabulary expansion and understanding character development are just two benefits of reading to children even though they are capable of reading to themselves. As you read with your children, be sure to ask questions. “What predictions could you make?” “Does this remind you of anything that happened at soccer practice yesterday?”
Fostering creativity, group learning experiences with peers at a local co-op, and lots of outdoor active learning are commonplace in elementary home education. As children progress toward high school, remember that you aren’t restricted to courses that your local public school offers. It’s okay to have a tech or home economics class. Requesting input from your child during the planning stages can help both you and your child have a successful, enjoyable year.