Introduction
Many parents are asking themselves the question, is schooling at home an effective way to learn? Conventional wisdom tells us that going to school is the best way to learn. After all, you get exposure to other students who can help you with your assignments and schoolwork, along with teachers who know what they’re doing. But, the benefits of schooling at home are no less than those of regular or campus schools. It just depends on your viewpoint as to which one is better for you and your child. Let us find out more about schooling at home and whether it is effective or not.
What is schooling at home?
Schooling at home is a concept where parents teach their children how to read, write, speak and solve math problems at home. In effect, it is the same thing as a conventional school, but you do it in your own house with your children instead of sending them to campus or public schools. When schooling at home became an alternative for regular learning, it was thought to be a fad that would not last. But as time went by, researchers and educators started looking into the idea further to find out if it is effective or not!
Pros of schooling at home!
1. It is more flexible
Flexibility in terms of school hours and schedule would be a prominent factor. By sending your children to campus, you are also considering the timings of schools that usually run from 8 AM to 3 PM. You have to spend some time coordinating with the schedule so that everything will go without a hitch.
2. It encourages immersive learning
Being at home also allows the students to have a more immersive learning experience. They become more comfortable with their surroundings, and there is less chance for distractions as it pertains to being in a school environment.
3. Personalized curriculum
Depending on your child’s specific needs, homeschooling allows you to create a customized learning plan for them.
4. You can easily keep track of their progress
If you cannot visit the school frequently, then it is much harder to know how well your children are doing in class or whether they need extra help.
5. Less chance of bullying
In school, kids are constantly being judged and monitored by their peers- if they do something wrong or don’t fit in, they are more likely to be bullied. If your child is homeschooled, you can prevent this from happening because you can easily monitor their activities throughout the day.
Cons of schooling at home!
1. Lack of interaction with other people
While there are many benefits to homeschooling, you need to be aware that your child will not be interacting with other children of their age in the same sense as they would in a traditional classroom setting.
2. Lack of extracurricular activities
Students often benefit from being involved in many different types of extracurricular activities on the school campus. These include sports, clubs, and music- to name a few! Without these opportunities, you will have fewer options for things that your child can try. This could lead them to become bored quickly.
3. Your child may lack task and project management
On an average day in the classroom, your child will be assigned a specific task or project that they will complete by the end of class. Their teacher will also give them a timeline so that they know when it is due. This will ultimately help your child learn how to manage their time. But this is lacking in homeschooling. You will be responsible for assigning tasks and projects to your child daily.
4. You are responsible for their whole school experience.
Their homeschooling experience will be broad, but it is up to you to decide what content they need and when they need it. Their learning will rely on your decisions as it is up to you and not their teacher. Some parents feel that this freedom allows them to make the best possible choices for their children, while others think this is way too much responsibility!
5. Your child might not be able to make many friends.
Parents need to be aware that homeschooling may present some problems with social engagement. It takes a lot of effort from the parent to get children out and about, reducing the time available for an active social life.
Parenting tips for making schooling at home easy and effective!
1. Do not be afraid to trust your child.
2. Make schooling at home fun!
3. Enroll your child in special classes for different experiences.
4. Discover new ways to make learning challenging and effective.
5. Keep track of your child’s progress and assess the results.
6. Make schooling a part of everyday life with easy-to-do activities!
7. Never stop planning and learning new ways to improve the system!
8. Have clear expectations and goals for what you want to achieve.
9. Concentrate on your child’s growth, progress, and interest levels.
10. Make learning a shared activity with your child!
Conclusion
Homeschooling is a valid and effective way for children to learn. The role of the parent in this process, however, cannot be ignored. A primary focus should always be on helping your child grow into an independent learner who can thrive in any environment. If you have considered homeschooling but are unsure about how it might work out with your family or what schools to research more closely, we got you covered! We encourage you to take some time today reviewing our blog post on why homeschooling works and a few tips from experts on how parents can get involved and help their kids benefit most from homeschooling.
