More than 3% of all kids who qualify for schooling were homeschooled in the US. Since 1999, the rate of homeschooled children raised from 7% to 15% across the country. With the US schools turning into a ground for bloodshed owing to increasing number of school shootings every year, it is no surprise that parents are now looking forward to help their child learn at home. Apart from providing a safety net for young kids, homeschooling also allows one-to-one learning and teaching, enables the parent and the teacher to understand the learning pace and adaptability of the child, and provide a fitting education as per the child’s needs. But parents are also turning increasingly worried about the right way to homeschool their child. For those who are just entering the world of homeschooling, here are 3 ways to accomplish homeschooling in the 21st century in the right manner.
Figure out the legalities
Homeschooling in the 21st century is tricky. So, assumptions about the same will only lead to a catastrophe. Before you begin to understand the right tools and techniques to homeschool your child, do some research about the legal laws regarding the same.
Homeschooling in the 21st century is legal in some US states, but not in every one of them. Check out what laws are in place when it comes to homeschooling your child. Understand the legal terms and conditions before you get started.
If you are unsure about the laws in your State regarding homeschooling, check with an advocate and then decide on the next step. There are also many local legal communities in place to provide legal insight and advice regarding the same.
Find the best approach for homeschooling in the 21st century
Homeschooling in the 21st century is only as effective as the approach you involve towards it. For that, you need to understand your child’s specific learning needs. As every child is different from the rest, you need to be aware about some homeschooling approaches that you can adopt to cater to your child’s educational requirements.
Some of these approaches are:
The school-at-home approach
This one uses the same curriculum which local or private schools use. The only difference is that instead of going to the school, the child learns the exact same thing at home. A parent can teach the child the curriculum for a short period of time or can enlist the help of a private tutor. This approach allows your child to learn at his/her own pace, but it is an expensive approach for those who have a limited budget.
The classical approach
This approach, as the name suggests, takes its inspiration from ancient educational institutes and practices which emanate from Rome and Greece. Education is imparted in a chronological manner, so that the child can grasp various ideas and concepts right from their inception to the present moment.
This is a systemized and organized method of homeschooling in the 21st century, but it limits itself quite highly when it comes to experimentation and interactive on the learning-teaching spectrum.
The unit study approach
The unit study approach singles out a particular subject and helps the child to learn about it in its entirety. It is a more research-based approach to homeschooling in the 21st century. This approach works best if your child shows prodigal talent towards one particular subject area.
However, the drawback is that this approach leaves wide gaps between two or more subjects and restricts the acquisition of general knowledge.
The unschooling approach
The unschooling approach is one of the most unconventional approaches to homeschooling in the 21st century. The teacher plays the role of facilitator. While the subjects are taught in a systematic manner, testing and evaluation do not form a part of the approach.
This approach embraces multi-dimensional learning and the individuality of the student at the same time. However, this approach lacks a comprehensive structure, leaves substantial knowledge gaps, and makes it difficult for the parents to access progress.
Eclectic or relaxed approach
This is one of the most popular homeschooling approaches today. This one doesn’t follow the curriculum, instead, it is more child-focused and highly resourceful.
It is also one of the most flexible approaches, which allows the parent and the teacher to identify and focus on the child’s strength and weakness when it comes to learning.
Join a community of homeschoolers
Homeschooling in the 21st century is a hard job. Anyway you are isolating yourself and your child from that school going community of students and their parents. However, you do not need to worry about doing homeschooling the right way if you are a part of the homschoolers’ community.
Find a local or an online group of hoeschooled students and their parents. Find time to interact with them at least once or twice a week. You can voice you query or concern, and even come to know about various novel techniques and methods for enhance the homeschool method.
Improve homeschooling with technology
Do not underestimate the power of technology when it comes to education. In the 21st century, when almost everything has become accessible online, it has also become easier to regulate the homeschooling conditions with the use of technology.
Download e-books for your homeschooled child to read and gather immense knowledge from. Make use of Google drive and Google Sheets or Calendar to keep a track of your child’s assignments and the resulting progress.
With the advent of E-courses, it is now more easy than ever to introduce your child to newer, unique concepts and ideas in tandem with his/her homeschooling approach/s.
Homeschooling isn’t a novel concept. However, with changing times, it needs an upgrade. If you are planning to homeschool your child this year, understand that you have to compensate for the child’s lack of socialization with other kids of the same age group.
However, if you think that the best place for your child to learn and grow is your own house, then homeschooling is the best choice for everyone. Just ensure that you do it right.
