Getting Started with Homeschooling

"Three things that you have to remember if you're going to homeschool or tutor your child is that it's not hard but you do have to be serious about it. And three of the most serious things are especially if you're going to homeschool you have to make sure that you're illegally prepared to do so and that means checking with your state, with your local representatives, you can look on line, and find out what steps do I have to take. Do I have to fill out an application? Every state is different but every state homeschooling is legal. But you have to make sure that you're legally covered and ready to homeschool and take the necessary steps. Second thing that you have to make sure is that you have a workspace. You have to designate one place in your home that throughout anytime, anywhere, this is going to be where we will homeschool. If it's a kitchen table, then during the time you're homeschooling, no one is permitted to bring food or anything, no body is permitted to disturb you at that place. That place is the same, no matter where it is, you have to designate it, you have to guard it, it is the little school within your house. The third most important thing is to be time consistent. Everyday at the same time or if you have to have different times everyday, just make sure you know exactly what day, what time you're going to devote a full hour, 2 hours, whatever you decide what you're going to do to working with your child. You're not going to let anybody interrupt you, if you have to not answer phone calls, whatever you have to do everyone in your household will know this is the school time, this is the serious time. Children when they're enjoying their learning, they can go for up to 2 hours without needing a break, even children as young as 4 or 5. But it has to be fun. If you need a break after the first hour, that's fine but make sure they know 10 minute, 5 minute break, they come right back. Time consistency, it can't over emphasize it. Do not let the little pushes and pulls of the day make you say, well today we'll just put it off till tomorrow, cause that'll be the end of it."