How can technology improve our learning process? (Advantages of Homeschooling)

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Introduction

Not all children are educated in a regular school. It's both good and bad. Studies show that 1.77 million students were homeschooled in 2012, and the number of homeschooled children is increasing each year. Homeschooling is one of the fastest-growing trends in education. Before, most homeschooled children came from either politically liberal or very religious families.

People’s opinions on the theme of homeschooling differ greatly. Some people think that it’s better for children to study the school curriculum at home, while others say that such a method has a lot of disadvantages.

Today, all kinds of families home school their kids for their own reasons. Some parents have lost faith in the government’s educational system. Others have a lifestyle that requires them to constantly move from one city or country to another, so it is more convenient for the kids to be homeschooled rather than enrolling and transferring them multiple times.

Advantages of Homeschooling

1. It gives more freedom in planning a curriculum and schedule.

Most states in the United States allow homeschooled kids to learn what they want when they want and for as long as they want. This means that kids can spend more hours learning subjects that really interest them, or more time can be devoted to lessons they find most difficult. There is no pressure to keep up with classmates or the tendency to feel insecure if they can’t memorize their multiplication tables as fast as the other kids. Parents can also include subjects that are not typically taught in school but which they want to teach their children, such as a certain religion or their own cultural heritage and language. Additionally, you won’t have to limit learning to books. You can incorporate other forms of instruction, like online courses.

2. It provides more personalized one-on-one learning opportunities.

One problem with classroom learning in schools is there is just one teacher for quite a large number of students. And with just limited time for each class every day, some kids may not receive the attention or guidance they need to learn as best they can. With homeschooling, the teacher can focus on each child and adapt your teaching methods to each one’s best learning style.

3. It allows children to spend more time with your family.

You can share the common, everyday joys of life together and not miss out on important developmental stages of each person. Parents can also journey with their children as they go through challenging times. Research shows that destructive or rebellious behavior diminishes when teenagers start homeschooling.

4. It lets you protect your children from negative influences they may encounter outside the home.

Sensitive issues can be discussed when you feel they are ready to learn about them. In addition, there is lesser tendency of their involvement in school gangs, violence, bullying, peer pressure, and other potential problems students face in school.

5. It makes family trips and vacations easier to plan.

There won’t be semestral breaks and permanent daily class schedules that you need to strictly follow so you can go on holiday any time of the year, and you can even make these trips educational.

6. Intellectually parents can choose the curriculum which suits the child's learning style and interest. In the homeschool environment, the pace of learning can also be adjusted.

7. Emotionally a child feels secure within the relationship with their parent and as the parent knows the child they will be able to guide their emotional development and IQ.

8. Parents can choose the sport and physical activities which suit the child and is needed for their development especially at specific developmental stages. The homeschool environment is also safe and a child can develop without the threat of bullying.

Disadvantages of Homeschooling

1. It requires you to be with your kids 24/7.

You will have little respite and less time for yourself or your spouse. However, some families don’t mind being together all the time.

2. It consumes a lot of time, energy, and resources.

If parents are not teachers by profession, they might need to exert more effort in learning about lesson preparation and teaching techniques. Parents will also have to continuously do research and adapt their teaching methods to make sure your kids receive the best standard of education. Parents need to prepare to be more patient and innovative in assisting a child who is a slow learner or who has special learning needs.

3. It causes financial restraints.

You or your spouse will have to either opt for a part-time job or not work at all so that one of your family can guide the kids with their homeschooling. And considering that you need to buy books, computers, and other educational tools and activities, your list of expenses can get quite long.

4. It limits a child’s opportunities to participate in team sports, competitions, and other extra-curricular activities.

Socializing with kids, the same age is one of the biggest challenges for homeschooled children. Parents try to solve this by scheduling play dates, organizing sports teams with other families who have homeschooled students, and other ways. However, their kids will still miss out on a large chunk of experiences that can make their school years more unforgettable, such as prom night, inter-school sports competitions, and school clubs.

5. It raises a lot of questions and sometimes even disapproval from other people.

Even if more families are adopting homeschooling each year, most people still cannot fully understand the concept of not letting your children go to a ‘regular’ school. It can get pretty tiring and frustrating to explain your reasons again and again. And it can even become annoying when others openly express their disapproval and bewilderment. Your kids can also be bullied by other kids because they are ‘weird’. Some people will even question the intelligence or knowledge of your children because they think you can’t learn properly if you don’t learn in a traditional school setup.

Conclusion

Everything has advantages and disadvantages. This is why it is necessary to consider carefully the possibilities. What is also essential is to be very aware of your own nature and that of your child. Some personalities are not of the type to undertake the experiment of homeschooling successfully. Whether a parent or child, homeschooling may not be the answer. The private or public system of education, in such situations, may serve best the needs of all parties.

If you think that you do not have the resources, patience, and dedication to successfully help your kids learn outside a public or private school environment, then homeschooling is not for you. And if you’re discouraged by the current educational system of your country but can’t homeschool your kids at the moment, remember that education doesn’t have to be limited to schools. You can still find ways to help your kids learn the most effective way possible and ensure they get the education they deserve by providing them with supplemental classes at home or exposing them to the big, wide world of learning that exists outside their classroom.

Sources

https://www.educationcorner.com/benefits-disadvantages-of-homeschooling.html
http://www.schoolmoney.org/homeschooling-advantages-and-disadvantages/
https://connectusfund.org/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-homeschooling
https://www.sahomeschoolers.org/discussion/12-what-are-the-advantages-and-disadvantages-of-home-education.html