Parents choose homeschooling and other non-traditional education methods for a variety of reasons. Although plenty of students thrive in a classroom setting, it is not ideal for all learners. Homeschooling is better for some students for a number of different reasons. If you are considering homeschooling your student, the following are five ways to know if homeschooling may be the right fit for you and your family.
1. Your Student Needs a More Personalized Learning Experience
Most classrooms use group learning as the primary instruction method. However, for some students, this can cause distractions and lead to feelings of anxious about learning. If your student struggles to learn in a classroom setting, homeschool may be exactly what they need to overcome any potential problems in school. Additionally, homeschool allows parents to create coursework or select curriculum programs that focus on their students’ preferred learning methods. Rather than learning among a class of 20 or more students, your student can learn using the methods that are the most effective for them.
Homeschooling also allows students to learn at their own pace. For example, if your student is often distracted by other peers or has a hard time focusing, they will probably struggle to keep up with the rest of the class. Instead, you and your student can work through the curriculum as they feel comfortable and take breaks when needed.
Not only that, but if your local school is dealing with teacher shortages, it can ensure your child has the time and attention they need. Sure, as solutions for dealing with teacher shortages go, it is not ideal, but sometimes you just have to put your own child first.
2. Your Family Relocates Frequently
Some parents turn to homeschool because it offers stability and continuity within their child’s education. Often, military families will turn to home education if they must relocate to different stations frequently. Other reasons families may need to relocate often include one of the parent’s jobs or to be closer to relatives. If your family relocates a lot, homeschool could be a good option for providing your student with a more consistent education. Instead of switching schools and curriculums, you and your students can resume lessons where you left off once you get settled in your new home. Moving can be difficult for children as it is, but transferring schools does not have to add to the stress of relocating for your family.
3. You Want More of a Say in Your Student’s Education
In public or private school, teachers and administrators determine what curriculum the students will learn, and parents do not get any say in the matter. For this reason, some families decide to homeschool so that the parents make more decisions about their student’s education. For example, if you are a Christian family, you may want to build instruction around religious teachings. Homeschooling would allow you to determine the trajectory of your student’s curriculum and build lessons around Christian values. This is only an example, and there can be many things you may want to structure your student’s education around, such as their personal interests.
When creating your student’s curriculum, it is important to consider your state’s homeschool requirements, and whether there are subjects you are required to cover. You can still incorporate all the necessary requirements while creating a curriculum around your family’s wants, needs, and interests.
4. Your Student Has a Learning or Cognitive Disability
Even in schools with plenty of resources for students with disabilities, they still may struggle to do well in school. Students with learning or cognitive disabilities may feel ostracized in a traditional classroom. This includes children with Down Syndrome, dyslexia, ADD/ADHD, and autism, among others. If your student has special needs and struggles academically because of their disability, it may be worth considering homeschool. You can structure your student’s entire education to accommodate their disability and use platforms like ABCmouse to provide additional learning opportunities and support. . From the physical setup of their work area to their schedule, everything can be carefully crafted to give your student the best learning environment to excel.
5. Your Family Wants to Spend More Time Together
Families may also turn to homeschool if they want to spend more time together. Between work and school, you and your family may be away from each other for up to eight or nine hours a day. When you include extracurriculars and commute times, this leaves only a few hours per day to do things as a family. With homeschool, you can spend most of your day together. Although you may spend time in homeschool groups or co-ops, most of your schedule will be spent learning alongside one another.
Homeschool also allows you to experience more things together. For example, the flexibility of your homeschool schedule provides more time to go on field trips and explore your city with one another. Not only will you be able to spend quality time together, but you will also get to share plenty of new experiences.
While homeschooling is not for every family, many parents have provided a successful homeschool education to their students. If you are considering home education, be sure to do as much research as possible to ensure that it will be a great fit for you and your family.
