Online printing is often linked to advertising or customized gifts. However, some see it as an opportunity to take a hands-on approach on their children’s education. According to the homeschooling statistics published by the U.S Department of Education, around 1,77 million students were homeschooled in the spring of 2011. And 44% of the parents said the decision was made because they wanted to give a different approach to the one used in schools.
Even if the children attend public or private schools, printing their own educational materials becomes an important matter to many parents and teachers. It allows them to custom print the materials to their needs, giving them full control over the content and delivery method.
What would parents print educational materials for?
● Teaching your child a different language
● Provide religious education
● Help children improve in a lacking area through a game
● Teach children about their cultural background or heritage
● Improve their school grades by using creative study techniques
All you have to do is search for the material that would fit your needs. There are many websites with printable games and activities you can access. ABCtech.com, FamilyEducation.com or Education.com to name a few. Most of them let you download the files on a pdf or jpeg file. You can get your favorite ones, take them to a professional printer a make a booklet. Or select a worksheet with a high enough image quality to order large format printing.
Remember that kids need to be excited by the materials to feel motivated. Plain boring files probably won’t make the cut for them. Search for printables with great images and fun activities to get them engaged in the learning process. Try printing them in colors or good quality to make them visually appealing. Make your own stickers to use as rewards or positive evaluation.
● If you’re planning to have an afterschool educational session with your child, don’t make them feel like they’re having the longest of school days. Make the activities fun and game-like.
● Too many distraction won’t help your homeschooling plan. Select an area of the house to be your main study space. Probably the one with less immediate access to video games and candy.
● Review the materials before printing. Make sure you understand what they are all about before giving wrong instructions to your child.
● Take the time to evaluate the content of any printable and the learning objectives they are supposed to cover.
Make the best of all the resources the internet has to offer. Being involved in your child’s education doesn’t have to be an overwhelming mission if you have the right material to help you with it. Identify the learning style that best suits your child and have fun with it!
