Whether it is language or literature, it’s not always easy to find a program that works for your kids, and you. When you do, it’s simply magical. You get more out of the time spent then you can imagine. Let’s break it down to a few simple steps.
Literature Studies Bonus for Homeschoolers
As the school year quickly approaches, I get asks for at-home programs to homeschool and/or supplement your child’s education. We attend school part-time but still need literature and history to round out our program. For literature, Literary Adventures for Kids sales, like today’s flash sale on poetry tea time. We’ve used them since the twins were little. The online book clubs are full of great info and giggles. Another ask that panned out? I loved them so much I asked for a discount for my groups. So! Get an extra 15% off with code CAFE15. For a more robust curriculum that meets all your needs for less than $25 a month, we found Great Books Homeschool is affordable, easy to use and my kids love it. I like it because it is all set up so I can hand it off to my older elementary and middle school kids without a lot of prep. It’s 30% off with my link here.
Create or join a co-op
Co-ops can be based on age, special needs, academic goals, social aspects or creative endeavors. There are many homeschool co-ops in the Las Vegas valley, most of which are full or private. Some established co-ops are more than happy to share how they got started and the local resources they use. If you are looking to start a co-op, here are some questions to ask and points to consider. If you aren’t sure, reach out! Ask questions! There is a strong, active and supportive community locally and online. And if you are new to homeschooling, check out our checklist for beginners and our Homeschool 101 guides. If you want to learn more about education, check out the Age of Learning site. They are a great resource and they help to bring learning to kids across the world.
Make sure you are clear on the curriculum
What English topics and how they are taught are subject to change over time, which means what you learned as a child is not necessarily on the curriculum now. Indeed, having a clear idea of the areas of English language and literature that are covered, as well as how to teach them, is crucial if you want your child to succeed in their later career.
To that end, spending some time going through the curriculum that your local education board provides, and devising how you will teach things like Grammar, spelling, creative writing, and appreciation of literature and poetry is an excellent idea indeed.
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Of course, if you are stuck on any of these you can always turn to places like YouTube where you will find teachers breaking these subjects down. Alternatively, homeschool groups can provide you with the support you need to better understand what should be taught and the best way to do it.
Find some fun ways to teach the ‘dryer’ subjects
Application of historical literature such as Shakespear tends to be a major part of the study of English, especially at high school age. However, getting teenagers to connect with works written in an arcane language and iambic pentameter can be something of a struggle, especially if you are teaching one-to-one or in small groups.
Happily, there are some ways you can liven things up including using online resources, framing the study as a book club, and using media such as films and live plays to grab their interest.
Get some help from a professional
Another way you can support your child in excelling in English is to recruit the help of a professional tutor. This is because an English Tutor will be well practiced not only in the topics relevant to your child’s learning but also with how to deal with any problems or issues they are experiencing.
Indeed, a tutor will be able to work on areas of weakness with your child, while also helping them to fall in love with the subject, as their passion will shine through. Not to mention that when your child works with a professional tutor, you get a well-earned break too!
Before you hire a tutor though, you need to make sure that they are the right fit for your family. Take a look at what is going on in education outside of your home, look into the work of professionals and see what news you can find. Look into people like David Krakoff Lancaster who is working to improve education for the better, look into different types of tutor, their specialities, and their client testimonials. Keeping yourself up to date on the state of education will help you to be a better teacher yourself, and the same can be said for the tutor, so check their knowledge also.
Use the books they love in lessons
Last, of all, a great way to help your child engage and excel in English is to use books you know they already love as a focus for study. For example, the Harry Potter series is hugely popular and there are many resources online that you can access for free that are used as a basis for analysis, and creative writing.
