Homeschooling has become increasingly popular over the years and some findings have noted that it could be attributed to the rise in academic achievement of their students. Homeschooled kids often outperform their peers in academic tests and activities, and also tend to have higher self-esteem levels.
In this article, we will take an in-depth look at some of the reasons why homeschooled kids are so smart.
Customised Learning
One of the most significant advantages of homeschooling is the customised learning that is offered. As parents are in charge of the curriculum, they can tailor it to the specific needs of their child. This means that they can pick and choose what they think would be best for their kids, which helps them keep engaged better.
Additionally, homeschoolers often have more time to devote to specialized subject areas, and can focus on these to gain in-depth knowledge in a particular area. A homeschool environment also allows for a more interactive and hands-on approach to learning, as it is primarily parent-driven.
This means that students can get their questions and queries answered in a more direct manner, providing them with greater clarity. Since the homeschool environment is more relaxed, students can ask questions on topics and areas that they don’t understand without feeling embarrassed, so they can really get to grip with the topics more effectively.
More Time Dedicated to Learning
Homeschooled kids often have more time to dedicate to learning and education overall. Whilst public and private school students are restricted to a school day, homeschoolers can learn any day at any time, making them more likely to learn and stay up to date with school work.
This allows individuals to dedicate more of their free time to topics they are interested in and pursue those further, which can lead to a greater level of knowledge and understanding. Additionally, homeschooling allows teachers to give more individual attention to their students. As the student to teacher ratio is usually significantly lower, this offers homeschooled kids the opportunity to ask for more help and guidance in areas they are having trouble with.
Over time, this can lead to a more thorough understanding of the topics and can help to sharpen their skillset.
Encouraged Self-Learning
Homeschooling can be an excellent platform to encourage self-learning. As homeschoolers are often required to work on their own and usually alone, this can encourage them to take more responsibility for their own education. They cannot rely on their peers for help, so have to take the initiative to seek out sources and assistance if they are struggling.
This leads to a greater sense of self-reliance and can make them more independent as a result. Homeschoolers can also experiment with various strategies and approaches to learning, as they are not bound by the same standards and guidelines as public and private schools.
This can make them more creative and can spark new ways of more effective ways of learning. As homeschoolers don’t have to worry about keeping up with the speeds of a classroom, this allows them to go at their own pace without feeling overwhelmed or ashamed.
Greater Control Over Education
As the parent is in charge of the curriculum, they can ensure that their kids don’t miss out on any particular subject areas. This allows them to fulfil any educational roles that they feel their kid needs in order to attain the relevant skills they’ll need in the future.
This control is also beneficial since it can help to avoid topics that they feel are not suitable or are not meeting the educational aims of their kids. Moreover, homeschoolers often benefit from technology-based learning opportunities. This can provide an incredible advantage since it allows them to learn a range of topics in a sophisticated and engaging way.
Technology-based learning opens up opportunities for visual learning, simulations, and games such as video game-based learning, which have the potential to make learning a lot more fun.
Improved Social Skills
Whilst there might be a common perception that homeschoolers lack social skills and experience, this isn’t necessarily true. A study by the Northcentral University found that homeschooled students had similar social skills as public school students.
Furthermore, as homeschooled students often accompany their parents to extracurricular activities, it opens up more opportunities for social interactions and social skills. This is especially beneficial since it can help to build confidence levels, as they are more likely to find activities they will enjoy and feel part of. This can lead to greater levels of respect and understanding, as well as a greater sense of understanding of the value of teams and the importance of working together.
Homeschoolers can therefore develop into well-rounded individuals with valuable social skills, which can give a considerable advantage in life.
Conclusion
Homeschooling offers a number of advantages that can help to enhance the academic skills of young students. From greater control over the curriculum to improved social skills and self-motivated learning, the ability to tailor and adapt the learning experience makes homeschooling an attractive option for many parents.
These advantages offer students greater opportunities for enrichment and the ability to pursue topics and areas of interest more in-depth. This can have a number of lasting benefits for students in terms of their academic grades, social skills, and self-confidence.