How to Help Homeschool Students Stay on Task

Many of us parents who homeschool our children have struggled with getting our kids to stay on task when doing their school work. In the home setting it is very easy for them to get distracted by all the activities around them like when little brother clamors for moms attention, the phone rings and mom gets pulled into a conversation, or baby sister is watching television in the next room while the older kids try to review their spelling words. The following are some suggestions on how to help your child stay on task, minimize their distractions and help keep them focused throughout the day in the midst of a busy household.

First, write out what work your children are expected to complete for that day. Last year my wife started writing down their assignments for that day on a white board so they could keep track themselves and know exactly what was expected from them for that day. This really helped our girls stay on task and helped them get their work done in a more timely manner. They also love feeling a sense of accomplishment when they finish each assignment and get to check it off themselves on the whiteboard when completed.

Secondly, find a quite place for your kids to do their work for that day. Our oldest girl has a real difficult time staying focused on her work when other things are going on around her. However when my wife notices this she helps her find a place in the house where she be alone to complete her assignments.

Finally, understand how your child is wired and how each child is different in their attention span and learning styles. For example, get to know how much hands on attention is needed for each of your kids.  Also find out how long your children are able to work productively and how often they need a break from their work.  Long term,  find out what their learning style is to help you make any adjustments needed and choose the next years curriculum that best fits their individual learning style

Chris Kasterman has been married to his wife of 14 years and currently lives and works in Northern Virgina. Chris and his wife currently homeschool their three childen ages 10, 7 and 4. If your new to homeschooling or or have been homeschooling for a while but feel frustrated and need more direction, encouragement, and better resources to homeschool your children and help them stay on task, check out http://www.homeschoolingabcz.com

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