Feeling overwhelmed at the thought of homeschooling middle school? Not anymore! This series will break down homeschooling middle school step by step.
This fall I will have my very first middle schooler. I’ll admit I am a little overwhelmed at the prospect of teaching higher level subjects. I also know after middle school comes…. HIGH SCHOOL! Where did my baby go?!
Anyway, in preparation for ME teaching middle school, I thought we’d start a series here on homeschooling middle school. Each week we will look at a different subject and I will share resources, tips, and a list of topics our students need to know. Maybe we can prepare for middle school together!
Homeschooling Middle School
At this age, the main focus is to teach our children to become more independent thinkers and learners. Much of the focus in Middle School is on problem-solving and finding more than one way to do things. As our kids enter Middle School the subject matter will be more complicated. But, guess what? We don’t HAVE to teach them everything there is to learn at this age it is important to teach them how to learn and to reinforce the basic knowledge and basic tools of learning.
Another focus at this age is on strengthening the basics. Before they enter high school our goal is to ensure they have a solid foundation in mathematics. Reinforcing reading comprehension, grammar, and basic composition skills are important also as they transition from report writing to essay and analysis.
Our middle schoolers have their own passions, interests, and talents. At this age, it is important to incorporate opportunities for them to pursue them. Some of our kids may be ready to move into some high school level work. If this is your child encourage them to challenge themselves. It is also important to consider what your child may want to study in high school, and guys we can even begin researching homeschooling at the high school level.
Middle School Is Full of Transitions
This season of life for our middle schoolers is one of great transition —physically, emotionally, and spiritually. These years can be a challenging as they face changes they may not understand. With these changes can come problems with friends, relationships, and peer pressure. It is important to teach our children respect, manners, and how to deal with situations that may arise. In doing so it is also VERY important to keep the lines of communication open. Let them know they can come to us with problems regarding social issues. Let them know we will listen without judgement. Take their concerns seriously and in doing so we will develop an even stronger relationship with our middle schooler.
Homeschooling middle school is not for the faint of heart. Our days will look a lot different than they did in elementary school. Gone are the days of cut and paste, messy crafts, and hand holding. Instead, we will be focusing on responsibility, teaching our student how to complete their work independently, letting them explore their own interests, and have a say in what they are learning.
Our goal is to work ourselves out of a job right? And that starts when we are homeschooling middle school. Check out all of the other posts in this series to learn everything you need to know about homeschooling middle school!
- What to Teach in Middle School
- 25 Great Books for Middle Schoolers
- Help Your Student Transition Well From Middle School, to High School to College
Author Bio: Misty Bailey is the blogger behind Joy in the Journey and the podcaster behind Joyfully Homeschooling. Her goal in this online space is to encourage and inspire you on your homeschool journey by providing practical tips for real life homeschooling. Through real stories, real struggles, and real life, Misty encourages her blog readers and podcast listeners to embrace imperfection and strive for a more joyful homeschool.
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