Parenting their children at home has been a tradition for centuries, with parents taking responsibility for their children's education.
In the early 1970s, educational theorist John Holt began promoting the idea that several years of homeschooling young children provided them with a better educational, psychological, and moral foundation and increased their chances of success in future educational settings. He was the first to advocate for this idea.
Homeschooling is now a widely accepted alternative to traditional schooling, particularly among parents who are concerned about the quality of education and the safety of their children in school. The National Center for Education Statistics reported in 2016 that more than 1.7 million children were being homeschooled in the United States, and that number is expected to grow in the future as well.
In addition, as the advantages of homeschooling become more widely recognized, many families are turning to alternative methods of educating their children at home. Online homeschooling (using an online school) offers many of the same benefits as "traditional" homeschooling, despite the fact that it is different.
When parents choose to send their children to an online school for at-home education, the role of the parent becomes less demanding. Online public school programs also provide free curriculum, learning resources, online tools, and access to professional teachers who assist in ensuring that students meet important educational milestones throughout their educational careers.
Homeschooling Offers a Number of Advantages
While the individual advantages of homeschooling and online homeschooling may vary from student to student, there are five distinct advantages to the educational practice as a whole:
1. Individualized Instruction
The educational structure of homeschooling allows parents and teachers to collaborate in order to tailor learning to the individual needs of their children. Homeschooling, as opposed to traditional classrooms, where the student-to-teacher ratio is frequently dozens of students to one teacher, allows for a more individualized, one-on-one learning environment. In fact, parents have stated that the relationship a student develops with an online homeschooling teacher can be more personal as a result of the opportunities for one-on-one interaction available online.
The flexibility afforded by homeschooling allows parents and instructors to change the approach or adjust teaching methods if something isn't working for a student. In this way, students will not be left behind if a particular lesson plan or activity does not resonate with them or is not engaging them.
2) Preparing for College (Second)
Students who are homeschooled may be better prepared for college because they will learn the importance of taking responsibility for their own learning, which may be more beneficial than traditional schooling. Leading colleges and universities readily accept students who attend online schools or who have been homeschooled. There is strong evidence from numerous studies and professional educators that home-educated students have the same level of college success as their peers.
Students who are homeschooled may also demonstrate greater self-motivation, as online homeschooling encourages students to accept personal responsibility and to maintain accountability for their work and assignments.
3. The ability to be flexible with your schedule
It is not necessary to plan the days around when the bell rings, when lunch is served, and how long recess lasts when homeschooling, whether it be in a parent-to-child or online environment. As an alternative, students can take advantage of the more flexible learning schedule by completing the work that needs to be done while also taking advantage of the free time that remains after their work is completed.
Students who are homeschooled online follow a daily schedule that meets the needs of their education while also allowing them to maintain their personal freedom. Despite the fact that they must meet the state-mandated hours of attendance, they can more easily accommodate the demanding schedules required for extracurricular pursuits such as traveling for competitive sports or performing arts.
4. Attend Classes from Anywhere
Homeschooling is something that can be done anywhere and at any time. Are you planning a month-long trip to Europe with your family? Are you planning on extending your vacation by a few days? You won't have to worry about falling behind if you homeschool your children because the homeschool curriculum can be taken with you wherever you go.
With 24/7 internet access to K–12 curriculum, online homeschooling is even more convenient, whether your student is enrolled in a supplemental online course or is enrolled in a full-time online homeschooling program through a virtual school.
Although online schools follow a traditional school calendar, and some courses have set schedules, students have greater flexibility in where and when they complete lessons and assignments as long as they stay on track and communicate with their instructors.
5. Self-Control and Self-Discipline
Students who receive their education at home have an advantage in developing adult and career skills such as time management, self-motivation, and taking responsibility for their own education. As opposed to traditional homeschooling programs that emphasize grades only, online homeschooling programs encourage students not only to accept responsibility for their actions, but also to discover the joy of learning.
It is no secret that homeschooling has numerous advantages. Through the use of helpful tools such as online homeschooling courses, whether as an enrichment for students currently enrolled in traditional schools or as a permanent, full-time mode of education, your student can benefit from an alternative form of education that is beneficial to the entire family. Learn more about the advantages of online homeschooling by visiting our website today.