The homeschooling way of learning has grown in popularity over the past decade as a viable and valid option for children to learn and not be confined to the traditional schools. With homeschooling, the child gets to be in charge of their own learning and determine how quickly or slowly they wish to progress. Homeschooling gives the parents the freedom to customize their children’s education and to provide an education that caters to the individual needs of their child.
But what exactly is it and how does it work?
Introduction
Homeschooling is a process or method of teaching and education of children at home. It is a form of alternative education, which is structured to meet the needs of each student. Educational programs are often tailored to the individual student, offering both academic and non-academic learning experiences.
Homeschooling can take many forms such as traditional, unschooling, co-teaching, independent study and more; the ultimate goal being to provide the student with a quality education that suits the individual needs of the student. The decision to homeschool is an important one and one that parents should think carefully about before taking the plunge.
There are some important factors that should be taken into consideration such as understanding local homeschool laws, alternative educational options available, resources that are available to assist with homeschooling and more.
Advantages of Homeschooling
Homeschooling offers several advantages to the student and their parents. Parents are able to tailor their child’s education to their specific needs, providing a customized education. Homeschooling can also offer a chance for parents and children to spend more quality time together and to build a stronger bond.
Furthermore, homeschooling allows the parents to control the student’s learning environment such as the content of their education and the teaching style used. Moreover, homeschooling offers the student the opportunity to learn at their own pace.
The student does not have to compete with classmates or keep up with the class, allowing them to spend as much or as little time as necessary on a subject until they have firmly absorbed the knowledge.
Disadvantages of Homeschooling
However, homeschooling is not without its challenges. The most significant challenge is that of teaching the subject material, as the parents have to teach all the subjects themselves. This can be very time consuming and demanding, as they have to create and plan the curriculum on their own, as well as monitor and assess the student’s progress.
Along with the teaching challenge, homeschooled children often lack the social interaction and contact with peers that they would usually get in a classroom. This can leave them feeling isolated or out of the loop with what their peers are doing and learning.
Furthermore, the resources for homeschooling can be limited and the student may lack access to some curriculums or courses that would otherwise be available in a traditional classroom setting.
Local Homeschool Laws
Every state in the US has their own homeschool laws, and parents have to research and understand the homeschool laws before deciding to homeschool their child. The laws vary from state to state, ranging from relatively lenient to quite strict.
Generally, laws specify that all parents who opt for homeschooling must register or notify the state or local education authority, and that a record of the course of studies should be maintained, as well as attendance records. Furthermore, the law may require that the parents should have specific qualifications to be able to homeschool and that the child should take standardized tests.
Alternative Educational Options
In many cases, parents may feel overwhelmed and without support when considering homeschooling. Therefore, it is important to know the local alternative educational options that may be available to the student, particularly for a younger child. For younger children, Montessori, Waldorf and Reggio Emilia are all excellent options that offer a more personalized approach to learning.
Furthermore, there are also hybrid options like co-ops, hybrid schools and enrichment programs where the students attend classes either onsite or virtually.
Resources For Homeschooling
Homeschooling can be made much easier with the right resources, mentors and networks. There are plenty of free and paid resources to assist with the education of homeschooled students. Online resources such as instructional videos, webinars and e-learning can provide a more personalized learning experience for the student.
Moreover, there are several homeschool co-ops and networks that offer support to homeschooling parents and their children. They provide assistance with curriculum planning and homeschooling assistance, as well as offer after-school tutoring, peer mentoring and social interaction for the homeschooled student.
Conclusion
Homeschooling can be a rewarding and enriching experience for both the parent and child, but the decision to go down that route should not be taken lightly. A thorough discussion of local homeschool laws, alternative educational options, and access to the necessary resources should be had before one commits to homeschooling their child.
Once this is sorted, the parent can then focus on creating a curriculum that fits the individual needs of their child and offers the best learning experience possible. Homeschooling can be an adventure, as long as the parent takes their time to research and prepare for the journey ahead.