“Brush your teeth, make your bed, don’t throw your dirty clothes on the floor.”  Do these words sound familiar?  These phrases, in addition to many others, are probably part of your everyday vocabulary if you are a parent.  Pick up any copy of a parenting magazine and you are likely to find tips for motivating your child to complete everyday tasks and chores.  So what about the parent who homeschools?  Homeschooling parents have the challenge of playing two motivational roles.  First, they have to play the role of parent motivator, “Comb your hair, put away your toys, and leave your sister alone.”  Next, homeschooling parents have the job to motivate as a teacher, “Finish your reading assignment, complete that math worksheet, and clean up your work station.” 

Motivation is the key to everyday life in the home and in the classroom.  So how do homeschooling parents motivate their students?  What can homeschooling parents do to motivate their children in the classroom and what can they do to continue to motivate?  Here are some tips to help you motivate your students.

Plan your unit studies to encourage your students to think.  For example if you are studying Thanksgiving or the Pilgrims, do not just require your student to write a “book report” about a well-known Pilgrim.  Encourage your students to write a story about the First Thanksgiving or their favorite Pilgrim.  If you are teaching more than one student, encourage them to act out a scene from the First Thanksgiving.  Incorporate hands-on activities and craft projects that relate to that particular unit study or topic.  Kids are motivated by hands-on activities and lessons. 

To motivate students who are special needs or struggling with a certain skill, you may need to adapt the unit studies in order to motivate them to complete it.  Get to know your student’s strengths and weaknesses so you are prepared to adapt your curriculum to fit their needs.  For students who do have special needs, remember the importance of effort and not just results.  Make the learning environment for your special needs student one that he or she can succeed in, take pride in, and learn in.

Give your students ownership of their unit studies.  Sure, many of you might already encourage your students to give you input about what they study.  But how about giving them ownership in organizing and preparing their unit studies?  Give students a sense of purpose by including them in the development of their curriculum.  For example, sit down with your students and a Project Pack of their choice from In the Hands of a Child.  Plan how many days you will allow for the completion of the lapbook, which activities they are going to complete on each day, make a list of supplies that are needed, and cut out the graphics needed to complete the activities.

Keep a positive attitude!  Attitudes are contagious!  If you dislike history, do not let your students know.  Try to find hands-on activities or resources that can help you portray a positive attitude even when you don’t necessarily have one!  For help with subjects or unit studies you are not familiar or comfortable with, purchase products from In the Hands of a Child that include Research Guides.  These guides are helpful to both the student and the parents!

Set clear and reasonable goals for you and your students.  If you set a goal of completing 5 lapbooks in one month, you could be setting your students and yourself up for failure. Not only is this a big goal to set for yourself as far as organizing and preparing, but it is also a big goal for your students.  If students are unable to achieve goals that have been set too high, their motivation immediately lessens.  

Make sure your kids live an active lifestyle.  Are you making time for them to play?  Encourage movement and games, outside play, or extracurricular activities like sports or dance.  Best of all, give praise to your students!  Reward them for a job well done! 

Katie Kubesh is co-owner and writer/researcher for In the Hands of a Child.  Recognizing that hands-on projects are essential to the learning experience, In the Hands of a Child has created Project Packs that go beyond the hands-on aspect.   They have taken the preparation time out of the parent/teacher job description with Complete Ready to Assemble Lapbook-style units that are available in printed book, on cd, or ebook formats.    Please visit their website at www.handsofachild.com.

©Katie Kubesh 2007

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