6 Ways to Prepare Your Homeschooler for a Trade School

Has your homeschooler taken an interest in mechanics? Aeronautics? Perhaps cosmetology? You might want to consider introducing them to a trade school if they seem to like a trade career. Recently, David and I spoke with Brandon Weiss of PIA (Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics). Mr. Weiss supplied six ways to prepare your homeschooler for a trade school. 

• Learn and develop a thirst for knowledge.
• Research trade jobs.
• Ask questions.
• Fail forward.
• Focus on passion, positivity, and persistence.
• Balance innovation and rule-following.

Trade School Prep 101

As you read over the bullet points, you’ll likely see that many of these traits blossom naturally within a young student if they’re homeschooled. Therefore, your homeschooler receives a boost at a trade school just by being homeschooled because they have developed these skills naturally throughout their educational career. 

First of all, you must help your homeschooler develop a thirst for knowledge. Let them deep dive into topics that they love. Let them try new hobbies or read random books about different subjects. Try unique field trips to develop their interests. Start this habit when they’re young and watch them flourish in well-rounded knowledge. 

After you have studied their learning style and taken note of their passions, start to research trade schools. Look into the superb aeronautics programs offered by PIA. Take your kiddo to trade school open houses and let them see how tradesmen and women work every day. 

Next, encourage your child to ask questions throughout their life. Encourage them to seek out how things work or why something functions in a particular manner. Thirsting for knowledge and asking good questions go hand-in-hand. 

With homeschooling, there will be moments of failure. Maybe you will fail, or your child will fail. Let your homeschooler see that failure teaches good life lessons and perseverance. They can learn from failure and become better human beings. 

Continuing, focus on the three P’s. Mr. Weiss clearly defined that trade school students need to have passion, positivity, and perseverance. All three of these traits lead to accomplishment. Therefore, allow your homeschooler to shine bright in their passion/area of interest.

Also, encourage them to reframe negative thoughts and pursue positive mindsets. Show them that perseverance comes with life. As a homeschool parent, you will have to persevere. You can use these hardships to act as an example to your child. 

Finally, support innovation from your homeschooler. Get excited when they want to create things. Let them fix a leaky sink or bake a cake. Cheer them on as they work on a STEM project. However, Mr. Weiss warned that balance must come into play. Homeschoolers must realize that innovation is a wonderful thing, but they must also follow rules. 

Mr. Weiss explained that mechanics and engineers follow instructions and methods for reasons. Therefore, your homeschooler must strive for innovation, but also be respectful of the rules when working on a project. 

Conclusion

In conclusion, you can prepare your child for a trade school right at home. You can teach them how to love knowledge and ask good questions. Let them explore and create. Show them that failure teaches good lessons. You can incorporate the three P’s into their life and encourage innovation. However, as the parent, you can also watch out for your child. Remind them to follow the rules and become respectful. You can also support them in a trade school path with love, support, and a little family research time. 

The trades create well-rounded, wise individuals. You can create one of these individuals right in your home starting today. 

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- NxtEra

Written by Bethany (@thebookwormgirl_bethany)