Help! We’re Falling Behind in Homeschool!

Homeschool can sometimes feel overwhelming and it might easily feel like you’re falling behind. If you’re feeling as though this is the case, read on for couple of helpful tips and tricks to get you back on track and motivated to keep going.

There could be any number of reasons why you or your child might be falling behind. First of all, you should look at why students often fall behind at school. Here are nine of the most common reasons:

1. Lack of schedule or structure
2. Speed or depth of the course
3. Distractions
4. Health issues
5. Learning issues or disabilities
6. Family issues or emergencies
7. Mismatch of homeschool curriculum to their learning style
8. Advanced placement beyond their abilities or that the work is too difficult
9. Boredom

This might require that you take a step back and re-evaluate your child’s homeschool structure and curriculum, as you might need to make changes or adjustments to help with their learning. As a a parent that homeschools, there is one important fact to keep in mind if you’re concerned: almost every parent who homeschools feels as though they’re falling behind at one point or another – even if they’re not. The key is to stay calm, and read through our tips below to set yourself up for success:

Evaluate Their Progress

One of the best ways to evaluate where your child is struggling and falling behind is to test them and see where they’re having the most difficulty. Start by finding gaps in their knowledge or schooling. You can also extend the school year through the summer if needed, and set strong milestones and goals, offering your child rewards for meeting them.

What Pace Suits Your Child?

When your child is homeschooled, they work at a pace that works best for their individual educational needs. What that means for parents is that they are able to slow lessons down if you find that your child is struggling or if they need more time with certain lessons and concepts. On the other hand, this also means that you can speed up your child’s learning pace, depending on their unique needs.

Flexible Scheduling

Importantly, you want your child to be engaged in their learning and develop an appropriate structure to help them succeed. As a parent who homeschools, you are responsible for delivering their education at a pace that best suits their needs; homeschooling comes with flexible scheduling, so you can always catch up at a later time, if need be. 

While you might feel overwhelmed, remember that homeschooling is functionally an entirely different educational platform and methodology compared to traditional schooling. You can slow down or pick up the pace, depending on your child’s progress and learning capabilities.

If you’re struggling with homeschooling and feeling as though you’re falling behind, The Centre for Learning@HOME can help. We’re welcoming and supportive to families who might be new or struggling with homeschooling their children, with programs to offer support and guidance. Give us a call at (403) 938-4119 or our toll-free number 1-800-659-1945 to learn more about our programs and courses or if you have any questions or concerns.