There are many great reasons to homeschool your child, but it is not for everyone. At Time4Learning, one of the greatest influencing factors in deciding to homeschool is what a parent is looking for in their child’s education. These typically include:
- One-on-one instruction
- Nurturing and encouraging strengths, instead of focusing on weaknesses
- Student-paced learning
- More time to pursue hobbies and passions
- Developing positive living and education habits
- Creating a love for learning
- Accelerating college prep
- Improving academic foundation when building logic and applying concepts
- Increasing literacy
- More quality family time
A Personalized Experience
Homeschooling allows parents to truly assess their child’s individual needs and provide one-on-one instruction. Rather than being grouped in a class with 30 students attempting to move forward at the same academic pace, homeschool students can benefit from learning with more hands-on, personal experiences. Research by National Home Education Research Institute (NHERI) suggests that the focused approach afforded with homeschooling is resulting in higher reading, math, and history test scores compared to traditionally schooled students. In addition, well-known stats also suggest homeschool students have a higher rate of college readiness and enrollment.
Parents can get their children excited about learning by including activities and incorporating them into their academics. A day at the zoo can be a science lesson, baking can teach students about fractions, and hiking or surfing can count as physical education (PE). Students can get a head start on following their dreams with more time for passions such as dancing, traveling, competing in sports, or reading. Many homeschool families are also members of homeschool groups or co-ops which provide socialization, support, resources, and movements for the homeschooling community.
Focusing on Strengths & Building Academic Confidence
Homeschooling allows students to select different grade levels per subject and pursue their strengths, not only focus on their weaknesses. Allowing students to have a unique learning path customized to their individual needs helps them speed academic growth along. If they can easily progress through a subject that they are good at and dedicate more time to a more challenging subject, this can help students achieve balance and prevent them from becoming overwhelmed.
Homeschooling also permits a student to take the time to review a subject from a previous grade level, where there may have been fundamental gaps. Not only does this enhance a student’s skill set, but it also creates academic confidence and boosts self-esteem.
Homeschooling is a wonderful choice for many families, but it is a big decision to make. It is important to weigh the many factors that come with homeschooling, such as your family, learning environment, work, community, and resources. Homeschooling is more than an educational choice, it’s a lifestyle. Prepare yourself and your family for changes in your routine, decision making, responsibilities, and future.
This could become the best thing that you ever did for your family, as long as it is thought out and a plan is put into action. Remember to be flexible and allow for change, if one thing is not working, that doesn’t mean homeschool is not a good fit for your family. Try mixing up the schedule, changing the curriculum, transferring the locations where you teach, and anything else that is not flowing with your family’s homeschool life. Most importantly, remember to have fun and take everything in. This is an incredible opportunity for you and your family to truly get to know each other and to spend more quality time together; something most families only dream about.