While you teach your homeschool student in the best possible manner, there is always room for improvement. Here are ten relatively simple practices which will make it much easier for your student to remember all that you have ever taught him.
1. Actively Use Recall
Once you have read a page in the book, or shown him a short video on a topic, shut it down. Now ask him to recall exactly what was read or seen. As his ability to recall what was learnt improves, so will his actual learning.
2. Test All The Time
Use Flash Cards, ask spot questions, or take pop quizzes on an unrelated study day. It will keep him learning and recalling constantly.
3. Use Chunking
Teach your homeschool student to chunk some set of steps together. This will allow for better recalling as with a single step all the rest will flow.
4. Spread Out Repetition
Repetition is a good thing, but by taking some time off in between each one you will encourage stronger recall of the facts for your student.
5. Switch Teaching Techniques
When you teach from a book most problems are only ever solved in a single manner. Instead get your students to solve the problem using a different technique. That way they learn to apply what knowledge they have.
6. Take a Break
By taking short breaks you allow the student to decompress and assimilate what has been taught better. So make sure that you schedule breaks throughout your school day.
7. Analogies and Metaphors
Using examples from every day life to depict what topic is being discussed makes it much easier for the homeschool student to understand what is being explained. It also makes recall easier.
8. Developing Focus
The actual duration when a child can focus on a topic is very short. You have to ensure that your homeschool student is able to give his complete attention and focus to you for the short duration that you are actually teaching him.
9. Tough Stuff First
There is a tendency to do the easy things first and leave the tough stuff for later. Instead of doing that, be honest with yourself and pick the toughest thing to do and do it first thing in the school day.
