Often friends and family have misconceptions about a typical homeschool schedule. Friends and family can assume that a homeschooling parent has time to entertain friends for tea during the day or talk on the phone at any given time, when in actuality the parent has a job to do.
A homeschooling parent is the only person responsible for his or her child's success. Homeschool parents have chosen to bear a large responsibility, and while many wouldn't trade the experience, there are often regrets at the end of even the fullest of days. Truth be told, no parent – superhuman or not – could ever give a child all the knowledge he or she wants to, but there are some steps that can be taken to minimize distractions in order to foster a caring and distraction-free learning environment.
Simple Tips to Avoid Homeschool Interruptions
- Create a Homeschool Schedule: Creating and maintaining a homeschool schedule not only provides continuity for students, but it can also be a useful tool when dealing with friends and family. If friends and family know teaching takes place between 10AM and 2PM everyday, there should be a reasonable expectation that they will call or stop by outside of those hours. It is important to make that schedule known to people who often stop by or call during the day. Some homeschoolers even go so far as to post it on their front door or leave it on their answering machine.
- Do Not Run For the Phone: There is no rule that says a parent who is at home must answer the telephone or the doorbell each time it rings. There are answering machines to take messages, and if it is of the utmost importance, a call can be returned.
- Cleaning Can Wait: Just as there is no rule for answering a telephone, there is also no rule for housework. Cleaning can be done before or after school, and the children can even become a part of it.
- Plan Meals in Advance: Families can actually save money by planning the meals ahead of time and shopping in advance. Cutting coupons, cooking and shopping can even be included as homeschool lessons.
- Monitor Computer and TV Time: Computers and televisions are often big distractions, not only in homeschooling families, but in all families. Setting up a schedule for each child, as well as mom and dad, is a great way to not only ensure schoolwork is being completed but also to monitor programming choices.
Avoid Letting Personal Needs Be A Distractions
In the end, it is easy to let personal needs slip in and interfere with homeschooling. Homeschooling parents may occasionally wake up and not "feel" like sticking to the schedule for various reasons. However, they know it is in the best interest of their child, and because of this, they give all of their energy to providing a distraction-free learning environment for their child.
Overall it is important that a homeschooling parent keep household and personal distractions to a minimum in order to foster a calm, orderly and quiet learning environment. Creating schedules, avoiding unnecessary phone calls and visitors, and advance household planning can help homeschoolers to avoid distractions during instructional times. Homeschooling is a major responsibility and it should be treated as such by all members of the household.
For other great homeschooling information read these other Suite101 articles Create An Effective Homeschool Schedule, Homeschooling Multiple Children and Housework and Homeschooling.
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