How Do I Teach at Home?

Although having your child enrolled in a high quality kindergarten or school setting is best recommended to support your child’s academic growth and social development there may be times when your child is not able to attend school. This may be due to school closure, illness, or other unavoidable circumstances. During the period your child is not able to attend school it is important to keep the routine as consistent as possible,and to try to keep up with their learning and curriculum goals as much as possible. Even if you have never had to “teach at home” there are some simple guidelines that help you to keep your child learning while they are away from school.

1. Set Clear Learning Goals

  • Identify the objectives: What do you want the learner to achieve by the end of each lesson or week? 
  • Break goals into smaller steps: Especially for younger learners, breaking larger tasks into bite-sized pieces.
  • Assess and adjust goals: Revisit goals periodically to ensure they are still appropriate, or adjust them as needed based on the learner’s progress.

2. Create a Structured Routine

  • Designate a learning space: Set up a quiet, comfortable space where learning can happen. 
  • Establish a daily schedule: Having a routine and balance between academic learning with breaks and physical activities can make a difference. 
  • Incorporate flexibility: Be ready to adjust the schedule if something isn’t working or if the learner needs extra support on a particular topic.

3. Use Active Learning Strategies

  • Interactive and hands-on: Learning doesn’t have to be limited to books. Use activities like arts and crafts, science experiments, educational games, or field trips to make the lessons more engaging.
  • Project-based learning: Have the learner work on projects that span multiple subjects. 
  • Learning through discussion: Encourage critical thinking by asking open-ended questions and fostering discussions around the material.

4. Foster Independent Learning

  • Encourage problem-solving: Guide the learner through challenges, but try to avoid doing everything for them. Teach them how to look for solutions on their own.
  • Provide resources for self-learning: Create a library of books, videos, and online resources that the learner can access independently when they need to explore a topic further.
  • Good study habits: Teach organizational skills, note-taking, and time management. Encourage learners to take ownership of their work and progress.

5. Monitor Progress and Provide Feedback

  • Assess regularly: Use quizzes, tests, or informal check-ins to see how well the learner is retaining information.
  • Give constructive feedback: Be sure to celebrate successes, but also give constructive feedback on areas that need improvement.
  • Keep a portfolio: This can help you track the learner’s progress over time and reflect on what methods are working best.

6. Make Learning Fun

  • Incorporate games and rewards: Use educational games, challenges, or rewards to motivate and engage the learner. 
  • Involve their interests: If the learner is passionate about a topic (like dinosaurs, space, or art), try to incorporate it into their lessons to make learning more relevant and fun.

7. Encourage Socialization

  • Field trips: Take advantage of educational opportunities outside the home, such as visiting museums, parks, or historical sites.
  • Extracurricular activities: Encourage participation in sports, music, or other social clubs to help with the development of social skills.

8. Additional Tips:

  • Focus on foundational skills like letters, numbers, shapes, and colours.
  • Incorporate a lot of play-based learning and hands-on activities.
  • Keep lessons short and engaging (15-30 minutes at a time).