Are you considering homeschooling your child? It’s an important decision that requires research, thought and discussion with your child to decide what the best fit homeschool program is for your family. Here are fifteen questions you should consider in your homeschool evaluation process to ensure you choose the homeschool program that’s most suitable for your child.
1. Are you a public or private school?
The first key question is whether the program you’re considering is a public or private school supported homeschool program. Public school programs involve curriculum and instruction that is funded by the state, however students still have to meet state educational standards and take assessments to demonstrate their knowledge and learning. Private school programs are typically funded by families, however students don’t have to meet the same standards as public school students.
2. What grade level is the program intended for?
It’s important to determine the grade or age range that the program caters to as this will determine whether it’s a suitable fit for your child. Similarly, you should pay attention to the grade level requested by the program in order to identify potential homework grades and objective topics that may not suit your child.
3. What Does the Program Entail?
You should ask yourself what the program entails and how it can contribute to your child’s education. Achieve an understanding of the program’s curriculum and instruction, what they will teach, how they will teach it, and how your child will learn. Research any online portals or apps that are associated with the program to ensure your child will be comfortable navigating them.
4. What Subjects Are Covered in the Program?
The subject matter of the program also needs to be taken into consideration as every homeschool program differs in the topics they cover. Some may focus on core areas such as Maths, English and Science, while others may have a range of elective subjects from Foreign Languages to Coding.
Look into whether topics are customizable so that you can tailor the program to your child’s interests.
5. How Is the Course Delivered?
It’s important to consider how the course is delivered as this will have an influence on your child’s learning. Some programs may have an online/virtual delivery model, for example, where students can access content through an online portal or app, and follow an asynchronous learning plan. Others might have a more traditional delivery model, and involve interactive sessions with live instruction and mentoring.
6. Do the Teachers Have Qualifications?
If you’re choosing a private school program, you should find out if the teachers and tutors have subject qualifications and teaching experience. Find out what kind of background they have, as well as their passion and energy as instructors.
Note that this may not apply in public school programs as they don’t typically involve direct instruction.
7. How Is the Program Structured?
When selecting a homeschool program, it’s important to evaluate the delivery method, the structure and the amount of support it provides. Some programs require weekly instruction that parents provide, while others offer more flexibility and allow students to complete the course at their own pace. Additionally, find out what kind of support system the program has in place, i.
e. regular testing and feedback, online support, grade reviews etc.
8. Does the Program Cater to Different Styles of Learning?
Homeschool programs should be able to cater to different styles of learning, depending on how your child works best. Programs should provide different approaches to teaching to ensure that each student receives the attention, stimulation and engagement they need in order to learn.
9. Does the Program Have An Extracurricular Component?
It’s important to consider the extracurricular activities that a program has, in order to maintain a balanced curriculum. Consider activities such as field trips, art, physical and outdoor sports and music, to integrate learning experiences and allow your child to explore other interests.
10. Does the Program Provide Socialization and Connections?
Programs should be able to offer social opportunities, in order to ensure that your child is able to connect with their peers, as well as interact with adults and experienced teachers. You should examine the program’s online doors and online clubs or clubs that your child can join, as well as whether there are opportunities to connect with local groups.
11. Is There Room For Growth and Flexibility?
Flexibility and growth are integral in successful learning, so it’s important to research homeschool programs that can adapt to your child’s changing needs. Find out if you can customize the curriculum and study plan to meet your child’s current and future academic and personal goals.
12. What Are the Potential Challenges to Consider?
It’s important to consider the potential challenges associated with homeschooling. Challenges include but are not limited to maintaining a study routine and staying on track, time management, engaging in self-led research, and ensuring that your child has adequate access to resources.
13. Are There Online Connections and Resources Available?
It’s useful for homeschool programs to be able to offer online access to educational resources and online activities, as these can be used as supplementary learning materials. Research the support services and global connections available, as well as the online tutorials, video lessons and webinars that can help enhance your child’s learning.
14. Does the Program Offer Assessments and Testing?
Ideally, the homeschool program should have student assessments and testing incorporated into their curriculum in order to guarantee rigid instruction and higher quality learning outcomes. These assessments should also include some form of standardization in order to compare your child’s knowledge to others in the same grade and school level.
15. What Are the Costs Involved?
Finally, it’s important to take the cost of the program into account in order to plan how long the program should run and what amount of money needs to be devoted to the endeavor. Some programs may be free, while others may require payment of course fees, additional software costs and supplemental materials.
Homeschool programs are a great way to provide your child with a personalized learning experience and it’s important to ask the right questions in order to select the one that’s best for their needs. Consider the questions mentioned above to help you evaluate potential programs and decide which offers the best fit for your family.
Conclusion
Selecting the perfect homeschool program for your child is an important decision that requires in-depth research, discussing potential options and deciding on the best curriculum situation for your family. Being informed about the questions you should ask will be beneficial for ensuring that you choose the homeschool program that’s most suitable for your child.
Consider the fifteen questions above to make sure you select the best and most suitable homeschool program for your child.