Homeschooling hours

How many, how often and when? These are some oft-repeated

questions when it comes to homeschooling hours. Flexibility is of

course one of the key underlying principles behind homeschooling.

This flexibility applies not only to the curriculum but also to

the number of hours. It is only natural that parents, especially

if they have just started out on homeschooling should feel that

their children should be at their books all the time when regular

school-goers are at school. This is not only fallacious but can

also be damaging and counter-productive.

One of the most ignored but glaring drawbacks of the public

schooling system is the sheer waste of time and energy that it

causes. Many periods are simply wasted away and the child

effectively derives only 1-3 hours of study everyday. Then, there

are days when the studies become too intensive and other days when

it's only games and no work at all. There is a lot of 'invisible

wastage' involved here.

Early on in your homeschooling practice, work out a schedule. It

is advisable to stick to the same hours everyday. A routine makes

it easier to learn and gives structure to the learning experience.

It also tells the students that parents are strict about their

learning. A routine also allows your child to free his mind from

other activities and concentrate on studies. He knows that a

particular time is strictly set aside for learning.

The actual number of hours that you need depends on the curriculum

you have chosen and the learning style that suits your child. If

you are dealing with a subject that seems to be more complex, you

may need to sit with the child for a longer period. Using various

techniques, it may be necessary to demonstrate what you are trying

to teach. For instance, a lesson in Algebra may take more time

than a lesson in English.

Homeschooling does not refer to the practice of sitting in front

of the books and learning the printed matter. Field trips,

watching documentaries, visiting factories and libraries also make

up an important slice of the homeschooling process. It makes sense

to intersperse these activities so that learning becomes fun.

You may want to finish off the few hours of textbook learning

in the morning and dedicate the afternoons to these kinds

of activities.

Given the fact that too many public school hours are wasted in

meaningless activities ranging from talking to extra-curricular

activities, do not allow public school hours to dictate the time

you should spend teaching your child at home. Remember that at

home, he is getting a high-quality one-to-one time that is highly

productive. About 1-3 hours of study is enough in the primary

level. It is of course true that the more number of hours you put

in, the more learning takes place. This is also the reason why

homeschooling children are much smarter and more balanced than

regular school going children.