The Biggest Mistakes Parents Make When Homeschooling
With the rise in homeschooling, more and more parents are making the decision to educate their children at home. This can be a great option for students who are struggling in traditional school settings or who have unique needs that aren’t being adequately met in a public or private school.
However, parents make some common mistakes when homeschooling high school-aged students. High School of America offers the best homeschooling programs to help you avoid these mistakes and give your child the best education possible.
In this post, we’ll look at the biggest mistakes parents make and provide tips on how to avoid them.
Read on to learn more!
Top 15 Mistakes Homeschooling Parents Make and How to Avoid them
Some of the common mistakes that homeschooling make include:
1. Not Following a Curriculum
Many parents believe that they can wing it when homeschooling their high school-aged students. They think that since they know the material, they can teach it to their child without having to follow any sort of guide. This is a huge mistake.
Without following a homeschool curriculum, you are more likely to skip over crucial concepts or not cover all of the material that your child needs to know. In addition, your child will likely become bored quickly if you don’t have a set plan for each day or week.
It’s important to find a curriculum that covers all of the necessary topics, and that is engaging for your child. The curriculum should also be flexible enough to allow you to make adjustments as needed.
2. Not Planning for College
If you’re homeschooling with the goal of getting your child into college, you need to start planning early. Many parents wait until their child is a senior to start thinking about college, and this is too late.
By then, it’s often too late to take the necessary steps to prepare for college.
You need to start thinking about college as early as possible to take appropriate high school courses and get involved in extracurricular activities that will help your child stand out when applying to colleges.
High School of America’s counselors can help you plan for college and make sure your child is on track to get into the school of their dreams.
3. Not Teaching Social Skills
One of the biggest concerns people have about homeschooling is whether or not homeschooled students will be able to socialize properly.
Many homeschooling parents fail to teach their teens social skills. This is a valid concern, but it can easily be remedied.
There are many ways to ensure your child is getting the social interaction they need. For example, you can join homeschooling groups or participate in extracurricular activities like sports or music.
You can also take field trips with other homeschooling families or arrange playdates with children who attend traditional schools.
4. Not Getting Enough Sleep
Many parents try to pack too much into their homeschooling day, which often results in students not getting enough sleep.
It’s important to remember that high school students need around 8-10 hours of sleep each night in order to function properly. If you’re finding that your child is always tired or struggling to focus, they’re likely not getting enough sleep.
Try to structure your homeschooling day so that your child has time to relax and unwind before bed and make sure they’re not working on schoolwork too late into the night.
5. Not Staying Organized
As a homeschooling parent, you can make the mistake of not being organized. If you’re not careful, homeschooling can quickly become a chaotic mess. This is especially true if you have more than one child homeschooling. It’s crucial to stay organized from the very beginning.
Create a schedule for each day and week and stick to it as much as possible. Have a designated area for all of your homeschooling materials, and make sure everything is put away in its proper place after each homeschooling session.
This will help them immensely when they transition to college or the workforce.
6. Not Encouraging Reading
One of the most important things you can do for your child’s education is to encourage a love of reading. This can be difficult if your child is not naturally inclined to read, but it’s essential to make an effort.
Set aside time each day for reading and let your child choose the books they want to read. In addition, visit the library frequently and check out books that interest your child. If your child prefers those formats, you can also look for audiobooks or e-books.
7. Not Planning for Tests
If you’re homeschooling with the goal of getting your child into college, you need to start planning for standardized tests early. Many colleges require students to take the SAT or ACT, and it’s important to make sure your child is prepared.
There are many resources available to help your child study for these exams. You can find practice tests online or in books, and there are also tutoring services that specialize in helping homeschooled students prepare for standardized tests.
High School of America offers a course on SAT prep, which covers topics like test-taking tips and techniques, practice tests, and essay writing. This course can help your child score their best on the SAT or ACT.
8. Not Keeping Up with Technology
In today’s world, it’s important for children to be proficient in technology. This can be a challenge for homeschooling parents who are not comfortable with technology themselves.
However, many resources are available to help you teach your child the skills they need. Online courses, homeschooling software, and even apps can help your child learn about technology.
Make sure you’re taking advantage of these resources to prepare your child for the future.
9. Not Providing Enough Structure
One of the biggest mistakes parents makes when homeschooling is not providing enough structure. This can lead to children feeling lost and confused about what they’re supposed to be doing. It can also result in them becoming bored or frustrated with their education.
To avoid this, it’s important to provide a set daily schedule and routine for your child. High School of America’s courses are designed to provide structure and support for homeschoolers. Each course has a set schedule of lessons and activities, as well as built-in support from teachers and counselors.
10. Setting Unrealistic Expectations
Setting unrealistic expectations can be a homeschooling parent’s downfall. Don’t expect your child to learn at the same pace as children in traditional schools.
Each child learns differently and at their own pace. In addition, don’t expect yourself to be able to teach every subject.
It’s okay to seek help from tutors or other experts when you need it. Finally, don’t expect homeschooling to be easy. It takes hard work and dedication, but it can be a rewarding experience for both you and your child.
11. Not Teaching Study Skills
Study skills are an important part of any education, but homeschooling parents often overlook them. This can lead to children having difficulty with things like time management, test-taking, and note-taking. To make sure your child is prepared for success in college and beyond.
High School of America offers a course on study skills, which covers topics like time management, test-taking, and note-taking. This course can help your child develop the skills they need to succeed in school and in life.
12. Not Tracking Progress
It’s also important to track your child’s progress when homeschooling. This includes keeping records of coursework, grades, and test scores. Tracking progress allows you to see how your child is doing and identify any areas where they may need additional help.
High School of America’s online learning platform makes it easy to track your child’s progress. You can view their grades and coursework online and see how they’re doing on tests and quizzes. This information can be used to help your child improve their academic performance.
13. Not Following the Law
Homeschooling laws vary from state to state, so it’s important to make sure you’re familiar with the homeschooling laws in your state. In some states, you need to register as a homeschooler and follow certain guidelines.
In other states, there are no specific laws governing homeschooling. Make sure you know what the requirements are in your state so that you can comply with the law.
High School of America’s online homeschooling courses are aligned with state standards so you can be confident your child is getting a quality education.
14. Not Prioritizing Your Child’s Education
Homeschooling should be about what’s best for your child, not what’s convenient for you. Make sure you’re putting your child’s education first and making decisions based on what will benefit them the most. This may mean making sacrifices, such as giving up work or social activities, but it will be worth it in the end.
15. Ignoring the Input of Your Children
Ignoring the input of your children can be a recipe for disaster. Homeschooling is a team effort, and both you and your child should be involved in the decision-making process.
Listen to your child’s suggestions and concerns and take them into account when making decisions about homeschooling.
Conclusion
Homeschooling can be a rewarding and successful experience for both parents and children when done correctly. However, as with any undertaking, there are potential pitfalls that must be avoided.
By being aware of the most common mistakes homeschooling parents make, you can take steps to ensure that your homeschooling experience is a positive one.
At High School of America, we understand the importance of homeschooling and want to help you every step of the way.
We provide a quality curriculum and experienced educators who will work with you to ensure your child receives a top-notch education.
Contact us today for more information about our programs and how we can help your family achieve success.