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Did you know that 34% more Aussie parents have started homeschooling in the last two years? In fact, homeschooling has reached a record high in South Australia. The Covid-19 pandemic has shone a light on the fact that many kids learn better at home, and parents across the country are making the change.

Kids learn better in a comfortable environment, with one-on-one learning, and a teacher who understands their needs. But how do you give your child the best education possible while meeting those needs? And is there any way to reduce your stress in the process?

That’s where a personalised learning plan comes in. A learning plan that’s tailored to your child will help you educate them in a focused, goal-oriented way while keeping things fun. A learning plan is a perfect way to promote student growth and make home education work for your family.

So how do you come up with a personalised learning plan for your child? Follow our tips below to design a plan that’s right for your student.

Make Learning Fun

The first key is to make learning something your child looks forward to every day. While it may sound idealistic, there are ways to help your child love learning. In the end, the best learners are the ones who love learning.

When designing a learning plan, prepare to teach in an interactive way, focus on the process of learning itself, and keep the pressure low. Plan entertaining activities your child will love. These are all ways to develop a desire to learn in your child.

And if you lead by example, your kids will see that learning is what the cool kids do.

Know Your Child’s Learning Style

Did you know you have seven different learning styles at your disposal?

Visual learners prefer pictures to words and benefit from mapping things out to retain them. If your child’s a visual learner, use visual aids like flashcards, play a picture game, or engage their imagination.

Or maybe your child is a logical learner, who likes mathematical reasoning, and problem-solving. A great way to engage their interest is by helping them reason out problems, use puzzles, or play games involving strategy and planning.

Your child will have a variety of learning styles, so observe them as you start off your homeschooling routine. Note the ways they learn best and include activities and methods that’ll help them learn in the most effective way.

Set a Daily Goal

When creating a plan, know what you want to achieve each step of the way.

What do you want your child to have achieved by the end of their homeschooling experience? What should they have learned by the end of the term? What should they know by the end of the day?

By building goals into your plan, you can evaluate your child’s progress. You’ll learn what they’ve internalised, and any weaknesses you need to help them strengthen.

Work on Their Weaknesses

As you delve into home education, you’ll start to see where your child could use some more help. As you find these areas, note them down.

It’s important not to get stressed or exasperated if your child just can’t seem to understand a certain point. This could limit their mindset, making them think that they’ll never be good at X, Y, or Z.

Instead, think of engaging, even subtle ways to teach them this aspect. And using encouraging statements like, ‘well done’, or, ‘see, I told you you could do it’, will boost their confidence and self-esteem.

Use Materials They’re Interested In

The Australian Curriculum sets out eight learning areas that will give your child a well-rounded and full education. But you have a wide array of learning materials to choose from.

You know your child better than anyone – what do they love? If you’ve got a little girl who’s obsessed with princesses, then help her learn to read with Rapunzel and Snow White. If your teenage son loves footie, then throw in some questions that incorporate the game.

Change Up the Learning Environment

Your homeschool space is your child’s new classroom, so you need to make it a practical yet fun learning area. But we all know that sitting in one spot all day long can make any of us zone out. So, change it up!

Build outdoor days into your learning plan. If you’ve got a suitable backyard, set up an outside classroom. Then plan outdoor learning sessions.

This will make the best use of your time and will give your child something to look forward to. Plus, planning these sessions will make sure you don’t forget to change up your environment from time to time.

Plan for Real-World Applications

While knowing the Pythagoras theorem will help in a maths exam, it won’t help your child learn how to count change at Coles. To help get them ready for real life, build real-world applications into your personalized learning plan.

If they’re learning math skills, why not set them up for the task of totting up your shopping list? You can get them to multiply prices, work out percentages, and even calculate how much change they’ll get.

By using their smarts in real life, your child will understand that education is important. This knowledge will help motivate them to keep learning and become more independent.

Arrange Group Learning

One perceivable downside to home education is not having a bunch of other kids around for the social aspect. But with more parents turning to homeschool, there’s a whole community out there just waiting to welcome you in.

If you’re somewhere with an established homeschooling community, you’ll likely find them online. Homeschooling families also love the library, which is another great place to look. And if there’s no group nearby, then make your own!

You can advertise online, put posters up, or look for other homeschoolers at activity venues. Once you meet other home educators, your child will have some new playmates, and you’ll get fresh ideas for how to hone your teaching skills, too.

How to Create a Personalised Learning Plan

Parents all over Australia are turning to homeschooling. Many families are happier with how much their kids retain when they learn at home. And others notice their child’s grades improve in a homeschool setting.

To get started with home education, you’ll need a personalised learning plan. Know your child’s learning styles and use materials that’ll hold their interest. And if you help them apply their newfound skills in the real world, your children will prize an education that will set them up for life.

Are you ready to homeschool but don’t know where to start? Then check out our grades to find the right one for your child.