A positive school environment is the key to successful home schooling, and Mom is the key to that positive environment. No one wants to study if Mom is upset, critical or hollering everytime someone makes a mistake. Here are some tips on how home schooling moms can create and keep a positive school environment.
Mom, have a positive spirit yourself. Enter the school environment neatly dressed, smelling nice and with a warm smile. Let the kids know that you are excited about a new day of school and the things they will be learning. Show them that you are interested in what they are learning, and make it fun.
If there are any negative comments made by the children about studying or spending time in school, respond with a smile or chuckle and assure them, in a positive way, that they are going to actually enjoy themselves, and that it will be fun to see what new things they will be learning. You may even look at the pages they will be studying in their first subject, and point out something that will be exciting. Give them a short explanation why.
Home school students need lots of encouragement and praise. If they ask a question or act discouraged, find something that they have done that you can praise them for. If they are sitting quietly and are actively studying, walk by, pat them on the shoulder and tell them you are excited about the way they are studying. When you notice that their handwriting has improved or is very neat, tell them how proud you are of them, tell them how nice it looks or just tell them they've done a great job.
Rewarding good attitudes with stickers at the end of the day, helps keep a positive environment. Make a small chart, approximately 2 inches wide and 4 inches long. Make five inch squares across the lower half and five inch squares down. At the top put a picture of your child or a picture of something he likes.
When the child has a good attitude during school time, allow him to place a sticker on the chart when he is finished for the day. If he displays a bad attitude, leave the square blank or put an x on it. The chart will last for five weeks. Plan something special for the children who don't have more than two empty squares on their chart at the end of the five weeks. They will look forward to the reward, and they will work hard to keep a positive attitude.
In home schooling Mom has the power to create a positive or a negative environment. You set the type of environment for the day by the way you enter the room first thing in the morning. Relax, love your children and enjoy every moment with them. Remember, creating and keeping a positive school environment makes learning fun.