Homeschool Techniques

Maintain Order

The three homeschool techniques here are valuable for maintaining or restoring order to your homeschool.

For when chaos reigns, learning goes out the window. At that point, gaining control can be difficult, but order should, must, can be restored.

The following tried and true methods are simple, helpful and--sometimes good for a laugh (always a bonus!):

• Always start at the same time. No exceptions. This emphasizes that learning is important and serious (but pleasant) business. Dad doesn't get to show up at work whenever he rolls out of bed. School is a student's job.

  Everyone must be "on deck" at the appointed time and ready to begin with lessons. After arrival, don't accept I'm hungry." "I'm cold." (Then, he disappears for half an hour to dress.) If that's the case, suggest to the youngster that he get up half an hour earlier so that he can eat at leisure and dress warmly.

  ******************** On our first day of homeschooling 19 years ago, I learned another reason for having an inflexible start time. Structure is important to the child. It gives him security and a sense of accomplishment.

  It was 8:15 or so that initial morning. All of us were up.

  I was rushing around doing last minute chores when my husband whispered, "You'd better get downstairs."

  "Why?"

  "Look there," pointing downstairs to where we'd set up the desks and books.

  There sitting in their little desks were our two girls, ages 5 and 10. They were dressed and waiting. I learned my lesson. 8:30 a.m. has been--and is--the time around which our lives happily revolve.

  ********************

  Now, the eagerness may wear off but the order needs to remain. How to get them there at 8:30? We have a lovely, traditional school bell, rung at 8:25 sharp. If someone is late, he stays that amount of time after school is finished or misses recess. If necessary, use the Token System until he gets the idea.

• The bathroom pass. Yes, this homeschool technique sounds pretty hokey. But it works. If you find your students are leaving frequently and absent for much longer than you know is necessary, have them make a "bathroom pass." They can use their imagination. Have fun with this. Ours was heavy red paper with "Bathroom Pass--15 minutes" written in bold, black letters all the way down it. The children wrapped it again and again in transparent tape (for sturdiness, I guess).

  Daily, it lay prominently on my desk ready to be handed to the next child. Oddly enough, the siblings watched assiduously to be certain the pass holder returned on time. It was a huge success, and one over which we now share lots of laughs.

• Buy a bookcase. Try this homeschool technique if the children are bothering each other, separate them. Because you need to always keep an eye on the young ones, keep them in the same room with you, of course, but put a divider in-between. One of those from a discount store is perfect. It's the right size and great storage. We bought four of them!

Try these homeschool techniques...draft from them. Innovate... Keep homeschooling serious and diligent, but optimistic and pleasant. It's a win-win situation.

Discipline

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