Homeschooling advocates constantly state that children educated using this learning style turn out just as well (if not better) as those who attend private or public schools.
However, before you decide whether or not to join the growing community of homeschooling families in the country today, you should ask the critical question, “how does homeschooling work?”
Identifying what this learning style is all about will help you make the best decision for yourself and your kids.
Read till the end to get all you need to know about the homeschooling paradigm.
Understanding the Basics of Homeschooling
Homeschooling is now popular but has been around since as far back as the 1970s. Its prevalence is a result of recent events like the COVID-19 pandemic. Also, the increased rate of school shootings has made homeschooling more critical.
This trend has taken root so much that, according to an independent study conducted by the National Home Education Research Institute, homeschooling is being adopted exponentially all over the country.
How Does Homeschooling Work?
Homeschooling refers to a learning model directed by parents at home. Here, students receive academic instruction based on curricula chosen by their parents.
Homeschooling families have a wide range of freedom not seen in private schools and public schools.
This teaching style offers parents the liberty of curriculum choice. Hence, they can schedule classes to fit their lifestyle and even take classes on field trips.
It should be added that homeschooled families don’t operate as a standalone unit.
Homeschooling parents can enlist private school tutors’ aid to take classes. Also, their children take co-op classes with other families and children from homeschools.
In any event, most of the educational responsibilities fall on the parent. This is a significant undertaking, so you must be prepared for the task ahead.
Starting Your Homeschooling Program
For homeschool education to work, you must implement certain things. These homeschool requirements include:
Find Out and Understand Your Local Homeschooling Requirements
The legality of homeschooling ensures that the paradigm’s mode isn’t violating any laws. So, you must understand the regulations guiding non-public education in your region.
Institutional education law for non-public schools will give you a clear blueprint to follow to ensure that your educational activities align with expectations.
Know the Learning Patterns of Your Students
Private and public school students learn at different paces. You should let this fact work in favor of your homeschool students. This means studying the kids to determine how they pick up and process information best.
This knowledge will prove critical in helping you form and execute complete curricula.
Choose What You’d Like to Teach
As mentioned, you have ample leeway in curriculum choice with your homeschooled students. Consequently, you need to carefully choose which of the wide variety of subjects and topics you want your students to learn.
Define Your Curriculum
After you’ve picked the options available, the next step becomes fleshing it out. That is, preparing information in a manner your students can readily absorb.
Highlight Your Teaching Schedule
Finally, you have to create an adequately defined homeschool schedule. This includes laying out everything you want to teach daily and all you want to achieve by the end of the week on paper.
You could include extracurricular activities to make things even more comprehensive.
Doing this will help increase your productivity and encourage better time management.
The Advantages of the Homeschooling
There are many benefits to following the program for non-public schools. These include but aren’t limited to:
1. Homeschooling Increases Flexibility
The considerable latitude homeschooling families enjoy with their students shouldn’t be underestimated. It allows a parent to tailor the academic and moral instructions and time education. As a result, it’s easier to work towards achieving any set goals for the family.
2. Homeschooling Encourages Learning Customization
Education in the traditional school environment has one major failing – they carry out activities at a set and rigid pace. The result of this is that some students get left behind.
Many homeschooling advocates have pointed out the superiority of homeschooling in that regard.
As homeschooling allows for learning customization, students can learn at their own pace.
The proof is in the pudding, as most homeschooled students have been shown to perform very well on standardized tests.
3. Homeschooling Helps Capitalize on Learning Outside the Classroom Setting
Even in public and private schools, the role of learning outside the school environment is well appreciated. That’s why these establishments often try to plan travels and field trips.
However, due to the logistics and resources that go into executing these activities, they tend not to be planned well enough.
Homeschool parents have to manage these challenges too. But they do so on a lesser scale. So it’s easier to perform these activities and turn every outing into a fun and educational lesson.
Homeschool Supplies You Need
Now that you understand the concept of homeschooling, a question that probably crosses your mind is, “what homeschool supplies do I need?”
It’s okay for you to be bothered. This is because, in private schools, the teachers already provide a list for students. However, if you’re new to the system, you’ll be confused about what to get.
The homeschool supply list is grouped into the following:
- Writing materials – pencil, pen, eraser, white-out, etc.
- Craft – scissors, chalk, markers, glue, etc.
- Papers – notebooks, graph sheets, index cards, etc.
- Mathematical – calculator, ruler, protractor, etc.
- Organization – pen case, calender, whiteboard, stapler, duster, etc.
Conclusion
Now that we’ve answered the question, “How does homeschooling work?” you should have a clearer picture of what to expect from this learning style. Also, you’ll better understand whether the homeschool paradigm fits your current lifestyle.
But, even if you opt not to go down this route, remember that learning is still encouraged in the home.
See some ways you can get started on that here!