Tips for a more effective home schooling?

Question

This is my first time to do this so I am still adjusting. I can't seem to concentrate on my modules and I even forget that I am homeschooling so I don't get any studying done for days.

Answer 1

There are three things that have really helped us.  First, we get right to it in the morning.  We don't wait around and claim we're going to do it later on in the day.  If we don't get started right after breakfast, we pretty much have to write off the day.  The kids are up, fed, dressed, groomed and on the go by no later than 9:00 am. Second, we get the more tedious and undesirable tasks finished first.  That way, we can take as much time as we want with the more enjoyable things.   Third, we use a lot of incentives to keep our kids going.  For example, our eldest is into motocross.  When his school work and chores are done, he can ride his dirt bike for as long as he wants.  He can ride right through to supper time and even after because there's no homework.  Most often, all of his stuff is finished no later than 11:30 am.  I give my kids more responsibility for their education and they have to deal with the consequences of not getting done.  It's pretty rare that they don't though.  I hope this helps.

Answer 2

You might want to watch some of these videos from homeschooling experts. They might give you some ideas.

Answer 3

Wake up early and do your work first thing. It's easier to do things you don't want to do in the morning, when you'd be grouchy anyway. I have karate at 8 AM twice a week, meaning I have to be at the place at 7:45 if I'm going to have enough time to change and get hydrated. I pack my bag the night before, wake up at 7, fall out of bed and get out the door as fast as possible. I'd rather sleep in but this way I get some exercise, and I just get it over with. The same logic should apply to schoolwork.

Be ready to start working by 9:00 at the latest. If you wake up at 7:30 or 8, that's plenty of time to take a shower and have breakfast. Then, just sit down and do it. Alternate between easy and hard subjects to give your brain a break. Do what you hate the most first, and then do something easier that you like. Then something harder, then something easier, and so on. When you're done, you're done and you can have the whole day for whatever you want. In my case, that's computer games. I just built a new rig so I'm pretty psyched about playing Portal and Bioshock. But, I had to do some math first -fun but hard- and chemistry -confusing and boring at this stage of them game- before I could play.

It's really, really tempting and easy to let your work fall by the wayside, but it comes back to bite you. You'll have lost time, which is the only truly non-renewable resource. The work will be harder because you'll have a lot to do in less time and won't have had consistent exposure. You'll be stressed out. Your parents will be pissed off.

Do what you can to make it easier, though. I can't get through a page of Lewis structures without a massive glass of lemonade. Get pens, pencils, and notebooks in colors and patterns that you like. If it's a nice day out, shove your books in your bag, toss in a clipboard and a few pens, and do your work outside. There's no point in wasting time, stressing yourself out, in an environment you don't like.

It's okay to take breaks, but don't go online. It will suck your soul. Even if it's something academic but unrelated. For example, today I was looking up something for math and ended up coming across a Satanist website, which led me to the Flying Spaghetti Monster, which somehow led me to a Linux forum. I was completely distracted by then and ended up searching for hamster videos on Youtube. There's nothing wrong with using the Internet to relax, but it's best to avoid the temptation all together.