Did you know almost 6% of children were involved in homeschooling during 2021-2022, according to research conducted by the National Home Education Research Institute? But what exactly is homeschooling, and why do parents prefer it over traditional schooling? So, let’s explore what homeschooling entails, what the pros and cons of homeschooling are, and the different elements involved in it.
What is homeschooling:
Homeschooling means that parents give personalized attention to their children, have a customized curriculum, and have flexible timing for them without sending them to school. They can even take learning on the road. Although there are many benefits to which parents choose homeschooling, the most prominent is freedom.
But what are the benefits of homeschooling?
In homeschooling, parents can make customized curricula for their children because every child has a different learning pattern and way of learning.
- Personalised Learning: Unlike traditional schools, homeschoolers can customize their programs to fit their children’s needs. Also, every student has other interests in education, e.g., many students prefer technical subjects. They like solving analytical things instead of rote learning so that we can tailor the learning to their interests.
- Flexible Schedule: Homeschooling allows for a flexible schedule because there are no set studying times. We can mold them according to our needs so children can easily accommodate family time with study time. Also, children can switch between travel and extra activities without any hindrance to their schedules, which helps them learn according to their availability.
- Teach at Your Own Pace:
Unlike traditional schools, homeschoolers can learn at their own pace because they don’t have to follow a specific term structure and deadlines, which can make them exhausted so that they can follow their time. You can let them have the freedom to slow down or work ahead if they’re working fine on the current lessons.
Drawbacks OF Homeschooling:
Even though it sounds excellent, homeschooling is a unique concept, so it may only work for some.
- Time Consuming for Parents:
Although parents give a lot of attention to their children in homeschooling, it can be time-consuming for them as well because they have to take extra time out of their daily activities to incorporate their children into their schedules. They must spend additional time planning lessons and teaching and managing the household. This can also be a more significant issue for working parents, who have to take time out from their work schedule. - Potential Gaps in Knowledge:
Although homeschooling sounds very good, the parents can create a gap in knowledge in this system for many reasons. Firstly, parents may have a different level of expertise than a professional teacher in a specific subject, so they might be able to do well in some areas they struggle in, which can hamper learning. Secondly, traditional schools have a well-rounded and planned curriculum which intends to cover all the aspects needed. Parents may only be able to prepare some pits and cover all the necessary elements with proper guidance or resources.
So how do I get Started?
So, after weighing the pros and cons, you have decided to go for homeschooling, but the main question is, how do I get started? You’re one of many to be confused in this matter. However, it would help if you started small and take small steps so you can figure everything out. Here’s a step-by-step process you can use đź‘Ť
- Find your local homeschool requirements.
- Find out how your child learns best
- Decide how you want to teach
- Make a schedule
- Design a curriculum
- Enjoy the process
Teaching Methods in Homeschooling:
Homeschooling gives us the freedom to test different types of teaching methods that can be used to suit the needs of the student. Here are some of the most effective methods:
- Informal Learning:
Informal learning happens outside the classroom, and there are no specific boundaries. This is done by incorporating the student’s real-life experiences with learning opportunities, participation, and creation. - Unit Studies: In a unit study approach, students will learn several subjects such as maths, science, history, art, and geography as variations of one theme. Teaching multiple grades simultaneously is ideal, as the depth can vary according to the student.
- All-in-One Curricula: All-in-one homeschooling curriculum—also known as school-at-home teaching, the traditional approach, or school-in-a-box—entails teaching methods in which the curriculum and homework are similar to those in public or private schools.
Conclusion:
To be precise, homeschooling provides flexible and tailored education that suits a child’s needs. By understanding different teaching methods, we can create an effective learning environment. However, to address knowledge gaps, we can hire professional tutors. These tutors offer personalized attention at home and ensure a complete understanding. For example, Find Your Tutor provides one-on-one personalized tutoring for children. This approach helps them progress quickly and reduces the stress of traditional schools.
