Curious about homeschooling? You are not alone. Many families are increasingly considering home schooling as an alternative to traditional public and private educations. Regardless of the reason why you and your family are considering home school as a viable option for your children’s education, many diverse options exist to make this change a reality.
The Basics
Home schooling guidelines may vary by the state you currently live in. For example, some school systems allow home-schooled children to participate in after school extra-curricular activities and sports, while others do not. States which support home-schooled students access to activities currently include Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, North Dakota, Oregon, Utah, and Washington. It is always a good idea to contact a local educational official to determine regulations that apply to home schooling in your state or school district.
Choosing a Curriculum
A wide variety of home-schooling curricula exists today. Curricula include everything from fundamental reading and math skills to advanced Calculus and religious studies. Home school curricula materials may be purchased in the form of traditional workbooks and textbooks or in online or electronic formats. With literally hundreds of options available, it is very important to determine what kind of curriculum is important to you before beginning your search to find a good match.
Choosing a Teacher
An important point to consider is who will be teaching your home-schooled student? Are you yourself comfortable in teaching every subject? Or are you comfortable teaching some and hiring another individual to teach the rest? Another alternative to hiring a home-school teacher would be to find comprehensive electronic materials. However, these materials complement students who work well on their own and need less guidance through the learning process. Another alternative to teaching 100% of the curricula would be to join with other home-schooling families and have each adult teach a subject he or she is most expert in. An advantage to this system is that students would be learning in small groups, thus facilitating team work when lessons can be created for group projects.
The Benefits
Home schooling offers many benefits. First, the curricula can be tailored to meet each student’s individual needs. For example, if a student learns the concepts of basic Algebra quickly, he or she may not need to spend an entire year learning the material. Instead, he or she could begin the components of Algebra II and remained engaged in the material. Second, students receive a much higher percentage of one-on-one time. This may reduce learner frustration and encourage students to address issues they don’t understand instead of staying silent. Third, with less classroom disruptions, students may find it easier to learn and retain information. Fourth, students may find learning more engaging through many more field trips and excursions than traditional classroom students would enjoy.
Many families are increasingly considering home schooling their children as an alternative to public schools. When considering this decision, it is important to know the resources available both online and in your local area to help you through this process. Many areas have online support groups for parents to connect with other parents and to facilitate group activities with children, such as trips to museums and parks. Other home schooling families exist as an excellent resource to help you get started!