Though homeschooling is not something new, many have seen the rise and evolution of what used to be a simple method of educating children in their home to a now fully functional curriculum that offers not just the basics but also other forms of extracurricular activities experienced in a standard learning environment. “In recent decades, however, homeschooling has expanded beyond its original base, involving families from a vast variety of religious, ethnic and political persuasions, and reaching into the lives of an estimated two million children,” said psychologist Laura Brodie Ph.D.
How does homeschooling work, what are the responsibilities it can entail, and if interested, how can you be a part of it?
The Description
Homeschooling is a progressive learning system that allows kids to gain an education at home while under the guidance and supervision of their parents. In other words, instead of choosing to send children to a typical private or public school, parents would rather spend their time focusing on their children learning the primary subjects taught inside the comforts of their homes. According to Dona Matthews Ph.D., “More and more parents are choosing to educate their child at home, or to join with other parents who don’t want to send their children to the local schools.”
Reasons To Homeschool
There are tons of reasons why people choose home-based learning than a regular school. Some of these are:
- Discontent with the instructional options that are available within their area
- Difference in beliefs and philosophies
- Dissatisfaction with the traditional educational structure
- Bullying or traumatic incidences that occurred either within or outside the vicinity of school premises
- Children with special needs, requiring a modified learning environment
- Social anxiety
The Requirements
Depending on the state, the legal prerequisites for homeschooling within the United States varies from one place to another. While individual states may have a few to no requirements, others would demand standardized testing or portfolio analysis at specific intervals.
Regardless of the basics, the most important obligation that parents must fulfill is to accept the responsibility wholeheartedly. Aside from their presence, parents must also be willing to:
- Engage in their children’s passion
- Level with their energy
- Accommodate all questions without hesitation no matter how trivial the questions are
- Be patient if their child is a slow learner
- Enjoy the company of their children
For those who have fully decided to result in homeschooling their children, the prerequisite is simple: have the desire to make it happen and be committed to the process.
In most places around the United States, parents who want to take on the responsibility of being their child’s teacher do not need an education degree for as long as they adhere to the requirements of instructions within their area; that is if their child has never attended traditional schooling. On the other hand, homeschooling children who already have a background in conventional education require a much more organized approach by following specific guidelines mandated by their districts.
The Curriculum
So now that you’ve settled to homeschool your children, the next step that you should do is decide on the curriculum and resources that you’ll use for homeschooling. Ask yourself the subjects that you will be teaching.
Due to the fast increase in the statistics of children who are being homeschooled, this resulted in a vast array of accessible educational materials and curricula. Advertisements are brimming with an overabundance of preferences based on diverse education approaches, learning philosophies, and duration of time teachers or parents dedicate to regular instruction.
Homeschool subjects incorporated into daily instruction includes a patterned discipline that follows traditional school system with the inclusion of topics that focuses on the capitalization of children’s interests and passion.
The Revolution
What made homeschooling stand out from the rest is the educational personalization, which standardized schools don’t usually have. Transformation is mainly focused on discovering and achieving certain aspects and qualities of children that may or may not be realized if they were sent to regular schools.
By customizing the child’s environment and learning structure, parents and teachers can work hand-in-hand to deliver an individualized arrangement of instruction that is suitable for the children’s ability, learning style, and interests. “As they say, results may vary, but on average, home-schooled children do very well, including socially, at college, and in community involvement,” said Marty Nemko Ph.D.