Thinking About Homeschooling Your Child? Here's What You Need To Know

Nowadays, children can get an education at home. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, around 3.4% or approximately 2 million children in America are homeschooled. These children that are receiving first-rate education at home are from ages 5 to 17. Although they've never been to a classroom, they know everything that other children learn from a regular school. 

What is homeschooling?

Homeschooling means that a parent takes the role of a teacher. Some parents decide to sign up for the program once their child reaches the school age. There are parents who turn to homeschool when their child is having issues in school or if they have problems with the school environment. 

Children who have learning disabilities, those who are ill and those who have mental and emotional issues are homeschooled because it is easier for them to learn without any outside influence. There are also parents who home school because they think that their child is not given the chance to excel in a regular school where dozens of students share one classroom. 

Why homeschooling works

So why do a lot of parents opt for homeschooling? It is because the system works. Children can learn faster if they are individually taught. There are two types of teaching methods, differentiated instruction, and individualized instruction. Differentiated instruction is used when students are grouped based on their ability, this is very effective especially in a classroom setting wherein some students are left behind while others are already above their grade level.

Individualized instruction, on the other hand, is focused on the needs of just one student. The progress of the lesson will depend on how fast the student can learn it. This is the type of teaching method that home schools use. 

How to home school your child

If you think it is time to home school your child, you need to look at your options first. You can review different online lessons or you can subscribe to different articles that talk about this topic. Check on the homeschooling requirements because it varies from state to state. There are states where parents are required to submit attendance records, conduct tests and submit quarterly reports. 

It is also a good idea to join a homeschooling group. You can meet other parents who home school their child and you can exchange valuable information about the system. Homeschooling groups also organize activities so that even if your child stays at home, they can still be around children their own age and socialize. 

Purchase a curricula for your child, there are textbooks and workbooks that are available for reading, writing, and arithmetic. You can personalize it too, depending on how well your child can absorb all of the information. You can create your own area where you and your child can work and study. Set up a calendar so you can schedule your lessons and set up goals that you want your child to achieve after every lesson. 

There are also things that you need to look out for if you wish to home school your child. First, your child may feel isolated. It is a normal feeling especially since children want to play and make friends, this is where the homeschooling organization comes in. You can introduce your child to other children who are homeschooled too. You can also sign them up for extracurricular activities so that they can meet other children in the neighborhood.

Second, there is a chance that you might start a curriculum too late or too early. It is best that you test the waters and experiment first before you buy any curriculum. If your child can already keep up, then you can move to the next level. And third, you need to learn too. You will act as your child's teacher so you also need to review their lessons and you need patience and flexibility in order to be an effective instructor.  

ALSO READ: Homeschool Advantages: 6 Benefits Of Homeschooling Your Kids