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Using the Right Strategies to Home-School Successfully

Bycongres@acpeq.org

Practical Advice for a Winning Strategy

As parent educators, we occasionally find ourselves exhausted from our homeschool schedule and the management of our household. Therefore, we often turn into drill sergeant. Yet, homeschooling is more effective when our priorities are set elsewhere. A child’s learning difficulties or pace and everyday life interruptions are beyond our control. However, putting a plan in place to control some other conditions will allow us to gain enough time to make TIME an ally rather than an insensitive MASTER. Let us discover some practical advice and tools gather from experienced parent educators that will help us develop a winning strategy.
 

 

The Atmosphere of Our Home

We need to consider the effect a good atmosphere has on learning. Our main priority should focus on creating, encouraging and maintaining a conducive atmosphere. We will do this by taking into account the overall development, e.g. the physical, intellectual, emotional and spiritual aspects of all the members of our household. The workshop Strategies in Prioritizing in a Homeschool Environment led by Sylvie V. Maurais at the ACPEQ 2020 Conference is a good starting point to bring these different elements together.

The Spiritual Aspect

‘Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30

”Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.’
1 Peter 5:7

‘But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.’
Matthew 6:33-34

Listen and be instructed by God. When we put God first in our lives, he grants us wisdom to place a high priority on what is eternal and essential rather than what is ephemeral and unhelpful. Furthermore, let us unburden ourselves on God so that our worries do not overwhelm us.

Suggested resources:

Paper version:

Online:

 

The Emotional Aspect

‘Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life. ‘
Proverbs 13:12 NIV

‘A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit. ‘
Proverbs 15:13

When we listen, we need neither psychological knowledge nor training in psychotherapy.
The important thing is to know how to be present to the specific feelings and needs that an individual feels here and now.
Marshall B. Rosenberg

Let us strive to see beyond the crying, weeping and disturbing behaviour. Let us strive to understand the deep needs of our children and spouses. Also, let us strive to take the time to invest in our children’s character so that they learn to manage their emotions, express them appropriately and respect others. Let us strive to aim to be role models that our children will want to follow.

Suggestions for Christian resources:

 

The Intellectual Aspect

‘The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. ‘
Proverbs 1:7

‘The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, for the ears of the wise seek it out. ‘
Proverbs 18:15

Have a collection of resources or activities for children where they can develop their interests, creativity and talents. Sports or artistic activities require organized groups; however, it is also possible to acquire artistic skills with textbooks and on-line courses and to do individual or family sports activities at home, for example, skating, biking, skateboarding, basketball, etc. Use the resources of the municipal library or the National Library (BAnQ) to learn astronomy, a new language, creative arts, programming, etc.

Suggested resources:
  • Hobbies and Crafts Reference Center (via BAnQ numérique (The search Engine is in French, but you have access to a lot of resources in English for free)

 

The Physical Aspect


How can we implement these pieces of advice when we are already short of time? The solution lies in the organization of time and space.

‘There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:
a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace. ‘
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

The Organization of Space and Time

Establishing Routines

We tend to see routines as a set of repetitive and monotonous actions. Yet, once set up, they require little “grey matter” in their execution. It is their real strength. Routines are ideal for morning and evening rituals as well as household chores. They produce impressive results and justify the planning and management efforts they require. Besides, our children will benefit from the discipline and perseverance necessary for their execution. To be successful in their implementation, let’s add pictograms to the to-do lists and above all take the time to instruct, show and accompany our children until they can accomplish their task on their own.

Suggested resources:
Time Blocking

Although there are several decent methods for time management, we will focus on the activity blocks method. It consists of “blocking” parts of the day to focus on specific tasks. This method allows you to consider other commitments for the day or week and allocate the time required for each.

Some Useful Tips for Implementing This Method in a Homeschool Environment
  1. Let’s start by writing down everything we do during the week: from our morning ritual to our household chores. Then let’s group them into categories. We suggest the following blocks of activities for the learning blocs:
    • Morning, midday and evening rituals
    • Individual meetings with Mum
    • Independent Work
    • Computer time
    • Time with older or younger siblings
    • Reading and quiet activities
    • Group learning
    • Chores Time
    • Outdoor activities
    • Etc.
  1. Allow a few minutes for a transition between activities. Why not try the Pomodoro method (25 minutes for the work activity followed by a 5-minute break)?
  2. Take care of the youngest, First For Individual meetings with Mum, let’s start by planning activities with the younger children.

For babies and toddlers

Whenever possible, let babies and toddlers stay near us. Let’s “define a space” by placing the child on a blanket on the floor or in a “playpen.” Provide a box of “toys and games” to be taken out only during school hours. Let’s not overdo it. It’s best to have a rotation to keep the child’s interest. Let’s spend the planned time with the child and then allow him or her to have fun on their own or with an older sibling while we go to our next one-on-one meeting with the next child.

4–5 years old

Preschool children (4–5 years old) also want homeschool because they do not want to be left behind. So get them activity books or print activity sheets from the Internet. Then, accompany them in “their homework.”

Notebooks (to do school like the grown-ups)

https://www.popularbook.ca/products/grade/preschool

  1. Maximize the resources at our disposal

Let’s use all the human resources in our family to maximize learning. Whether it is to play or to teach, the older siblings can take turns spending time with the younger ones while you are meeting one-on-one with another child. It kills two birds with one stone. The older siblings need to have mastered the subject to teach it to a younger one.

  1. Don’t neglect reading and quiet activities.

Take advantage of babies’ and toddlers’ naps to plan a period when each child chooses a place in the house and engages in reading and quiet activities. These can continue as the babies and toddlers become older. Let’s also take advantage of this quiet period to rest or take up a hobby.

  1. Let’s equip our children for independent learning

In order not to overwhelm children who may have difficulty doing work on their own, let’s provide them with educational toys and play materials. Indeed, play enriches the child’s growth and encourages learning.

 

On-line:

  

In closing, when discouragement takes shape on the horizon, let’s take a look at the atmosphere in our home, assess the factors under our control and implement ONE of the practises mentioned in this article to help us develop a winning strategy.

‘Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.’
James 1:4-5

The value of a person is measured not by the quantity of his acts, but by the degree of love and perseverance she puts into carrying them out.
Cécile Fortier Keays

Note: We have favoured the resources offered by exhibitors at the ACPEQ Conference.
If you have other resources to suggest, do not hesitate to Write to Us

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