What is Homeschooling? [Types, Advantages of Homeschooling]
- Shifa Ali |
- July 25, 2024
Updated By
Reviewed By
Homeschooling allows parents to be actively involved in their child’s educational journey. It gives parents the authority to make changes to the curriculum. In homeschooling, the parent-child dynamic switches to the teacher-student dynamic, fostering the parent-child relationship.
The kind of education that parents want to offer their children depends entirely on them. This article walks you through the introduction of Homeschooling, the types of Homeschooling, and the Advantages of Homeschooling your child to help you get started!
What is Homeschooling?
Homeschooling refers to the practice of teaching children of school age within the home environment.
Before the introduction of compulsory school attendance laws in the United States in the year 1852, most childhood education was done by families at home in a natural, integrated way.
John Holt an educational theorist initiated the modern homeschool movement in the 1970s.
One of the prominent advocates for homeschooling, he quoted, “Fit the curriculum to the child’s interests, rather than fit the child to the curriculum”.
Backed by his fellow educationalist friend Raymond Moore, they believed that children should be homeschooled until age eight or nine to establish a firm moral and psychological foundation.
“To educate a man in mind and not in morals is to educate a menace to society.” — Theodore Roosevelt
In the past few years, homeschooling has risen in popularity due to educational institutions lacking emphasis on teaching moral and ethical behavior. In 2019, an estimated of 2.5 million children were being homeschooled, which constitutes 3-4% of the school-age population.
Homeschooling rates are the highest in Alaska (16.1%) followed by Oklahoma (8.0%).
Homeschooling allows you to direct your child’s education more closely. Parents get maximum control over the curriculum and it is more cost-effective, with an average cost of $600-$900 per year.
In the 2000s celebrities like Tom Cruise, Jennifer Lopez, and Angelina Jolie have opted for homeschooling for their children.
Looking for private tutors for homeschooling? Book a Free Trial Lesson with Wiingy today and match with expert tutors to achieve your academic goals!
Key types of Homeschooling
Homeschooling is the future of education and can take various forms depending on the curriculum, approach, and methodology.
The homeschooling curriculum has been devised by various learning platforms like Khan Academy, Time4Learning, and Oak Meadow. A curriculum must be chosen with you and your kid’s interests in mind.
By law, the curriculum must be in visual form, such as workbooks, textbooks, or a computer screen.
You can incorporate foreign languages, art, and music into the curriculum for our child’s holistic development. The three widely recognized types of homeschooling based on curriculum are:
Classic Syllabus
The standard school syllabus is taught to children by parents or with the help of tutors. This includes basic arithmetic, grammar, literature, sciences, and electives based on the child’s interest. This traditional approach to curriculum brings schools to homes.
Third-party Homeschooling Curriculum
Homeschooling programs like Charlotte Mason Home Schooling and Montessori believe that a child is a person and we must educate the whole person, not just their mind.
Third-party Homeschooling programs have set forth guidelines to help you stay organized, and save time while maximizing efficiency.
The programs incorporate living books, avoid formal teaching methods, and emphasize on independence of the child.
Self-designed Homeschooling Experience
Parents who have advanced academic understanding design a curriculum for their children catering to the child’s interests and family values.
This homeschooling method gives parents the liberty to create customized educational plans helping in the child’s holistic development.
Advantages of Homeschooling:
Homeschooling has seen a sudden surge after the COVID-19 pandemic. In a survey conducted by EdChoice, 52% of parents said they were likely to consider homeschooling post-pandemic.
The National Home Education Research Institute reported that homeschooling rates doubled during the pandemic, with an estimated of 5.4 million students being homeschooled.
Parents believe that the education provided in schools is outdated and fails to address the skills and practical knowledge essential for surviving in the modern world. Some of the attributes of Homeschooling that give the concept an edge over conventional schools:
- Bully-free environment: Homeschooling minimizes traumatic social experiences for children. Slow learners do not have to keep up with fast-paced school teaching, helping the child move forward with a more gentle approach. Less agile children no longer need to compete with clever students, thereby avoiding feelings of inferiority.
- Full control over curriculum: Homeschooling is elastic. Subjects that do not interest the child can be replaced by subjects holding greater practical applications. Parents can mold the syllabus according to their child’s interests and family values. Parents and tutors can customize the series of topics for better comprehension of historical events, mathematical concepts, and scientific theories.
- Pocket-friendly: Home Schooling is easy on the pocket, and exorbitant fees of educational institutes can be avoided. Homeschooling would only require you to spend on textbooks, courses, and tutors. No additional money has to be invested beyond what is reasonable and fair.
- Parent-student bonding: Homeschooling enforces parental authority. Parents and students will bond more over exciting new topics, building a strong relationship. Parents will collaborate with their children on projects, fun activities, and experiments that would foster their relationship which will go beyond the traditional parent-child dynamic, evolving into a teacher-student bond.
- Free from politics prevalent in the education system: Avoid the business of politics in the textbook system, and disciplinary measures. Schools are slow to update textbooks because of their relations with book vendors. You are not under any compulsion to buy a third-party curriculum. Parents, with the assistance of experienced tutors, can formulate a curriculum tailored to the child’s interests and needs.
For a detailed list of the pros and cons of Homeschooling be sure to check out our blog Why Homeschooling?
How does Homeschooling work?
‘Homeschooling’ is also known as ‘home educating’ or ‘elective home education’ (EHE). Homeschooling is a concept where the student is taught by their parent or tutor from the comfort of their home.
The child’s parent or the homeschooling tutor acts as the school teacher and is wholly responsible for educating the child and keeping them on track.
You are free to choose from a variety of homeschooling programs that would best fit your child’s needs and family values. It is a great option for parents who want to scrutinize their child’s education.
If you are considering homeschooling for your children, you need to do your research before you embark on this journey.
Familiarize yourself with the regulations around homeschooling in your state. Some states may impose few restrictions, so take a look at the minimum qualifications needed to homeschool a child, define your child’s learning goals, and get started.
Homeschooling requires the undivided attention of the parent. Homeschooling is a parent-tutor-directed education right from your home. In most cases, parents take the help of experienced tutors to create a curriculum and schedule regular lessons.
For a better understanding of the concept, join a local homeschooling group. Engage with fellow like-minded homeschooling families, learn about their experiences, and shortcomings, and exchange advice. Homeschooling is quite popular amongst young artists and actors as it provides learning flexibility.
In case, parents are unable to commit to a rigorous schedule they often go for homeschooling tutors. At Wiingy, tutors help you homeschool your children at affordable rates. Wiingy lessons start at 28$/hr and the tutors help in teaching math, coding, science, and 350+ other subjects.
Wiingy Tutors for Homeschooling
At times when parents are unable to commit to a rigorous schedule they often go for homeschooling tutors. At Wiingy, tutors help you homeschool your children at affordable rates.
For homeschooling, Wiingy has proved to be remarkably beneficial. Wiingy tutors are all experts in their respective subjects and have been trained to teach students according to the US education system.
At Wiingy, we help build crucial concepts and help prepare for standardized tests such as the Advanced Placement Exams, SAT, and ACT.
Wiingy’s personalized homeschool tutoring services are designed to offer a supportive learning space where students gain clarity and confidence in their studies.
Wiingy lessons start at 28$/hr and the tutors help in teaching math, coding, science, and 350+ other subjects.
Unlike tutor marketplaces, each tutor at Wiingy is vetted individually through an extensive assessment process including interviews, mock lessons, and coding tests.
Less than 3% of applicants qualify to be a tutor on the Wiingy platform.
Wiingys algorithm understands your child’s specific learning needs and matches you with the ideal tutor. If your tutor match isn’t perfect, our Perfect Match Guarantee program promises a replacement tutor at no additional cost.
Is homeschooling legal in the US?
Homeschooling is legal in all fifty states of the United States. As the constitution states “Parents have a fundamental right to establish a home and bring up children according to family values” Each state has its laws governing homeschooling and curriculum guidelines which must be followed stringently. In some states, parents need to hold a high school diploma or equivalent degree to homeschool their children. In some states, particular subjects are made mandatory to meet the state’s curriculum guidelines.
Looking for private tutors for homeschooling? Book a Free Trial Lesson with Wiingy today and match with expert tutors to achieve your academic goals!
Other Resources
Why Homeschooling? [Pros and Cons]
Online Tutoring for Homeschooling: Benefits and Strategies
FAQs on what is homeschooling?
How do I ensure my child is socialized?
You can schedule lessons according to you and your child’s availability. With so many different approaches to homeschooling, you are left with plenty of time for your child’s overall development. Bonding with fellow like-minded homeschooling families, field trip groups, and park dates will offer your child an opportunity to interact with people of his age. You search for such groups online and connect with them on Facebook. The website a2zhomeschooling.com helps you get involved locally with groups that fit your family.
Can homeschooled children attend college?
Yes, homeschooled kids can attend college just like any other school-going kid. Parents should create a detailed high school transcript that includes grades, credits, and GPA. The transcript would reflect the student’s depth of knowledge. Admission to colleges is entirely dependent on SAT and ACT. Students can take these standardized tests to provide an objective measure of their academic knowledge. Research the specific policies of colleges regarding homeschooled kids, and their requirements. The parent or tutor has to mold the curriculum according to that.
Are homeschooled kids behind compared with public school kids?
The home-educated students score 15 to 25 percentile points above public-school students on standardized academic achievement tests. The National Home Education Research Institute found that homeschooled students score above average on the SAT and ACTs which are considered for college admissions. The level of education imparted in homeschooling is unrelated to whether the parents were certified teachers. 78% of homeschooled children are believed to score significantly better than those enrolled in institutions.
Does the state fund any homeschool programs?
U.S. states spend an average of $13,201 to educate each pupil in the public system per year. There is no such thing as a state-approved or accredited homeschool curriculum. So if you choose to opt out of the conventional public school system you are also opting out from accessing public funds for your child’s education. However, programs like Education Savings Account (ESA), allow families to use public funds to pay for homeschool curriculum or online learning programs like Prisma.
What happens if the homeschooling parent is sick?
One of the key benefits of Homeschooling is flexibility. In case, the parent falls sick, the day’s activity can be pushed to another day. Those days can be compensated by indulging the child in reading, drawing, or hands-on projects. Parents can plan a set of emergency activities that will be useful during times of illness or absence. Even during recovery, parents can maintain communication with their children, to monitor progress and offer guidance.
