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How to get Dad involved in Home Schooling
By Brandy “Aunt B.” Strouse
http://storysoupkids.com
How to get Dad more involved in home schooling your children? This is a
common question that is asked among many home school groups. Most home
school families are primarily taught by the Mom in the home. I love to hear
when people say that Dad teaches certain subjects that he is strong in and
Mom teachers the other subjects. For those of you who live in a home where
Mom is the main teacher and Dad is either not involved much or not enough.
Here are some ideas on how to get Dad more involved.
Take Dad to the local/state conference or local support meeting. This will
show Dad how much is involved in home schooling. Most Dads are surprised
when they go to the local/state conference and there are so many Dads there.
The vendors and speakers will help expand Dad’s mind to what home schooling
is all about.
Mom and Dad sit down together and choose what goals you want to set for your
child for the following year. Dad might have different ideas then Mom. Dad
might even add some extra curricular ideas to that goal list. Such as; Goal:
Tom will be able to change the oil and a tire correctly by himself by the
end of the school year.
Have Dad pick out a subject or two that he will be responsible for. This
does not have to be book subjects like Math and Science. This can be the
extra curricular subjects; auto mechanics, gardening, sports/physical
education to name a few.
Include Dad in Bible. Whether you have Bible time in the am or pm. Dad can
read the bible to the family and ask comprehension questions. This will grow
the whole family.
Include Dad in as many field trips as you can. If that means you have to
wait till the weekend to take field trips, then you do. Dad will watch his
children learn while spending quality time with them.
If Dads work will allow it, Dad can take your child/children to work maybe
once a semester or every couple months. Depending on what Dad does, your
child can learn many different things from this field trip.
Have a monthly “School Board Meeting.” Gather your family around the table
once a month and as Mom reviews what they have learned and the children can
show off samples of their work. The children can recite poems or read a
short exert of their favorite book they enjoyed in the last month. This is
also a good time for the children to be able to share what they liked and
disliked the month prior. This is a good time to discuss fieldtrips for the
following month. Maybe, Dad can put them on his calendar to join the family.
Dad will enjoy seeing his children grow each month.
Hang a few new assignments on the fridge or wall for all to see. Change them
weekly to show improvement.
Theme dinners are always fun. If you are studying the Civil War have a Civil
War theme dinner with food cooked from that time era. Have oral reports
given on this night. You can even dress the part. This will be great review
for your children and give Dad an idea of what you have been doing for the
last few weeks.
Does Dad read the newspaper? Have him share that time with your children. If
your child is not old enough to read, Dad can read an article or two to him.
If your child is old enough to read then Dad can share an article or two
even a whole section with his child. This is a wonderful way to encourage
reading in your child and Dad to be involved with your child’s schooling.
These are just a few ideas on how to get Dad more involved in home
schooling. Even if Dad is involved in home schooling try out some of these
ideas. You will cherish the time your family has spent together.
© 2005 Brandy “Aunt B.” Strouse
Story Soup Kids
Mixing up their next great adventure!
http://storysoupkids.com
Designed to help encourage children to use their imaginations, be more
creative, and to feel confident in their abilities, through books, story
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