Here Are Some Handy Tips for Homeschooling Expat Children
When it comes to learning, every child is different. With that being said, no two schools are the same. Some international schools may have a strict curriculum, while some others may have too many students per class. Some may not have adequate instructional facilities for children with learning disabilities.
So, an international school may not be as per your child’s liking even if you have moved to a major expat hub abroad. Hence, more and more parents are looking into homeschooling expat children.
Homeschooling can be a great option that can be implemented with a little hard work and creativity. These days, many expats are looking at homeschooling as a great option for their children because of the rising costs in children’s education. COVID-19 has made homeschooling a necessity for many expatriates abroad. Through homeschooling, you will be able to save a large amount of money that would have been incurred as tuition fees in an international school, and your child’s educational curriculum won’t get disrupted following the move overseas.
Five tips that can help you in successfully moving on the path of homeschooling:
1. Select an Accredited Home School Curriculum
When it comes to homeschooling expat children, you must choose a school curriculum that is accredited or recognized by other educational establishments so that your child can later pursue university education easily. For instance, you can try using the curriculum promoted by the Home Education Association of Australia. It is a recognized curriculum and is apt for various expat kids living in Australia. Many expatriates will want a home schooling program which uses the curriculum from the UK, America or Canada. One program that looks good that we found online is Pearson Online Academy.
2. Offer Adequate Opportunities to Your Children
To ensure that your child doesn’t feel isolated, you should try to get connected with fellow expats who are homeschooling their kids like you. Organize a couple of get-togethers so that the kids get to know each other better and make friends. This will also let your child develop vital social skills and connections. Using Zoom and other video programs can also be useful.
Enroll your child to local sports clubs or art classes so that they don’t feel lonely. Meetups and house parties are great ways to offer adequate opportunities for children to socialize and make them feel at home in a foreign country. Organizing outdoors activities with other children is a great way to get some fresh air, exercise and allow kids to make new friends.
3. Learn and Understand the Teaching Process
If teaching doesn’t come naturally to you, initially, you should try to learn and understand the process with the help of a tutor. There is a possibility that you may not know to teach every subject. If you lack adequate knowledge, you can hire a few tutors for at least a couple of months.
When it comes to homeschooling expat children, be aware of the curriculum as it may keep changing. In that case, you may not be in a good position to teach various subjects in an ideal manner. Check out online or visit various expat forums to get the necessary guidance to find the right tutors for your child.
4. Create and Stick to a Planned Schedule
Homeschooling expat children should be taken seriously. Encourage and motivate your children to follow a planned schedule. Children who were earlier going to traditional schools will take time to fit into the new routine and setting.
However, in due time they will be able to adjust to the new way of learning if you are patient enough to stick to the set homeschooling schedule. Also, please encourage them to get involved in the planning process when you opt for the homeschooling methods of learning.
5. Hire a Tutor
You have to remember that if you are working and living abroad, you can’t do everything and you probably don’t have a teaching background. We recommend that expat parents hire a tutor – either in person or virtually. There are lots of great tutoring services out there are geared to working with students on a virtual basis such as:
But individual tutors in your new destination country or back home may have the ability to tutor via Skype or Zoom. Khan Academy also provides some great videos that can assist your expat children.
6. Stay Committed to Your Decision to Home School
As a parent, you should lead by example. So, plan out your day and teaching schedule in an organized manner. Ensure that your homeschooling schedule is not interrupted or skipped on days when you are too stressed or busy. You must be thoroughly prepared to commit 100% to home school.
All the hard work and commitment will pay off eventually if you succeed in giving your child the education he/she requires. You can always seek out guidance or advice from other home tutors in your area if you get stuck in the homeschooling process.