{"id":4636,"date":"2023-10-20T20:21:54","date_gmt":"2023-10-20T20:21:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.staging.miacademy.co\/?page_id=4636"},"modified":"2024-05-10T17:05:07","modified_gmt":"2024-05-10T17:05:07","slug":"tips-organized-and-focused","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/miacademy.co\/homeschool-curriculum\/tips-organized-and-focused\/","title":{"rendered":"Homeschooling Tips for Staying Organized and Focused"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A benefit of homeschooling<\/a> is the increased control you have over the learning environment. However, it can be difficult for your homeschooler to stay on task when the phone is ringing, the dog is barking, and other kids are playing outside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019ve provided some tips to make your homeschooling environment as calm and comfortable as possible. These can be especially helpful if you have a neurodivergent student or if you\u2019re homeschooling multiple children at a time. Sometimes, a slight adjustment can mean a world of difference when it\u2019s time to learn!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Make sure your basic needs are met.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s hard to focus when you\u2019re thirsty or need the restroom, but it\u2019s easy to forget about when you\u2019re in the middle of a lesson! Things like getting enough sleep, taking regular breaks, and keeping a water bottle nearby can help keep your student comfortable throughout the day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Include your child in decisions.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Making your child a part of decision-making can make them feel heard. With homeschooling, letting your child help with selecting their courses<\/a> and schedule can keep them motivated by feeling more in control of their day. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This could look like choosing which electives<\/a> to take, whether to take biology or earth science, and which subject to start on. If possible, they could also choose when to begin schoolwork or where to work for the day. Simply having a say in the decisions that affect them can grow their feelings of responsibility self confidence. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Take lots of breaks!<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Breaks are important! Who wouldn\u2019t get tired after hours of nonstop studying? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It may be difficult to determine when to take breaks. The goal is to take them before<\/em> your child starts feeling tired. A good tool for scheduling breaks is the Pomodoro Technique<\/a>. This technique breaks up time into chunks, with 25 minutes of work followed by a five-minute break. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If 25 minutes is a struggle, try shorter periods of time, followed by a quick stretch break. This can be especially helpful when homeschooling students with ADHD<\/a>. Incorporating movement is not only healthy, but it also allows the body to release some energy and relax. Having regular breaks also helps your child focus by giving them something to look forward to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Keep things interesting.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you and your student need something fresh, mix up your routine! Try taking your schoolwork outside, playing a game, or use different technology or hands-on activities. Adding a new activity can keep things interesting for everyone and help break up long, monotonous days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Need something a little more permanent? Try changing your study area. If your child always studies in the kitchen, maybe taking things to the couch, spare bedroom, or even the patio could be refreshing. You could also try mixing up the schedule \u2014 there\u2019s no rule that school has to start at 8:00 AM! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Change roles<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Letting your child play the role of teacher can be fun for them to show what they know! By \u201cteaching\u201d you, they are explaining what they\u2019ve learned and how they understand it. They also get to take a break from their books or computer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you have multiple students, try having them teach each other. Teaching what they\u2019ve learned can help solidify what they know as they explain in their own words. For older students who may not want to role-play, asking them to explain why their answer is correct or incorrect can help them self-assess what they do and don\u2019t understand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6. Get moving<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Incorporating exercise into your homeschool schedule can keep students more relaxed during study time. It\u2019s also good for them! Similar to public schools having recess daily, try going to the playground or taking a daily walk. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can also have them moving while learning, for example, bouncing on a yoga ball while they read or practicing multiplication tables by letting them shoot a basket for every correct answer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

7. Keep things relevant<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Your student may become unengaged if they find their work repetitive or irrelevant. If they\u2019re already bored three days into your month of planned Shakespeare content, it may be time to reevaluate. <\/p>\n\n\n\n


Try lightening the workload. Instead of writing 10 poems, do five. Instead of annotating Hamlet<\/em> entirely, listen to the audiobook and watch The Lion King<\/em> afterwards. Shorten units that aren\u2019t motivating to cover just the main ideas, and only do the most important assignments. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can also connect the content to your student\u2019s life. They might think Shakespeare is 400 years outdated, but they probably still use figures of speech coined by this famous playwright. They may even be able to pick up on how his works influenced some of their favorite modern TV shows and movies! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

8. Everything in its place<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s easy to get off task when you\u2019re disorganized. The paper is here, the pens are there\u2026 but where are the scissors?! Having a good organizational system can prevent having to hunt for supplies later. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some helpful tips for organizing supplies can be: <\/p>\n\n\n\n