It’s not uncommon for parents to think that homeschooling is a cheaper and more suitable option than regular school. If anything, many would most likely hire a private tutor to ensure their kids get high-quality knowledge and care.
So, for parents who consider homeschooling for their kids, this post dives deeper into the real pros and is a great reference for making a wise decision.
Keep reading to find out the educational benefits of homeschooling vs. regular schooling.
Excellent Teacher-Student Ratio
In a typical classroom, be it a private or public school, one teacher has to divide one’s attention among several learners. It’s hard for a student to receive a personalized approach all the time.
While in a homeschooling environment, the parent who usually takes up the role of a teacher offers undivided attention to the needs of the student. It’s a great setting that helps learners work on their problem areas, getting undivided attention to each task, be it some math calculations or a grad essay.
And, if parents decide to hire a private tutor, most will have one teacher cover all subjects. No matter the number of tutors, the teacher-student ratio, in any case, will remain the same – 1:1. This translates into the student having more time to participate in learning actively.
A Range of Excellent Resources
Depending on the financial capabilities of the family, homeschoolers can enjoy a broader range of resources as compared to students in public schools.
Apart from books and a laptop, some parents provide great outdoor experiences. Being in charge of one’s schedule, homeschoolers can enjoy swimming lessons, attend the gym, and have tons of trips while still getting an education.
In terms of field trips, parents can take their kids to the:
or any other place that will benefit getting further knowledge. Homeschooling is one of the ways a kid can explore new places and learn outside the classroom.
Since a homeschooled student spends much of one’s day indoors with a parent or tutor, it’s no surprise that most people assume that such kids have zero social life.
That should not be the case. Parents are to ensure their kids maintain a healthy interaction with peers.
This can be in the form of signing up for extra classes that will require them to leave home and meet new people.
The options can be dancing classes, creative master-classes, acting school, and whatnot.
Some kids prefer doing volunteer work as it offers many new opportunities and expands their social circle.
And, just because a kid studies from home does not mean that one loses the ability to become friends with other children, say, from the neighborhood.
Education That Suits One’s Approach to Studying
In a typical classroom, an educator is mostly obliged to make use of a specific teaching style that might appeal to a majority of the students. Yet, it might not suit everyone.
This situation leads to a certain number of learners struggling to keep track of their studies. It’s a frustrating experience that ultimately affects the performance of a student.
On the flip side, in a homeschooled environment, the teacher (who can also be a parent) does one’s best to understand the learning style of the student. So, whatever material one teaches and the way it is presented caters to the specific needs of the learner.
If the learner prefers visuals to a regular text, then the teacher will have to come up with a dedicated curriculum that ensures meeting one’s educational goals. The entire homeschooling program is tailored to suit the personality of a particular student.
Children Can Openly Discuss Controversial Topics
With today’s children’s exposure to social media and all sorts of materials from the Web, it’s not a surprise that kids know stuff that seems beyond their age.
In a homeschool environment, it’s easy to build a healthy relationship that allows learners to feel free and speak their minds openly.
Such a healthy setup makes it easy for children to ask questions on any topic, without the fear that their guardians might ignore or punish them.
Having an honest relationship with kids allows parents to instill in them good morals and principles.
Anyone who has been bullied or gone through an embarrassing situation in public knows the kind of impact it has on one’s mental and emotional state.
For those studying from home, they never have to worry about such experiences.
By studying in a safe environment, learners get to nurture their emotional state and learn to discuss issues they are unhappy with.
Having a parent around all the time means children can comfortably express their thoughts and openly show discomfort as compared to a school setting where they are expected to act differently.
The Focus Is on Learning, Not Grades
Children who study from home tend to concentrate more on understanding the ins and outs of every subject. Especially compared to kids in traditional schools who might focus more on grades.
In a class full of people, it’s normal that a student might feel the pressure to get high grades without caring much how well they understand the concepts.
Cheating is not unique in schools because it comes from a competition aspect. Many students feel they need to top the class to be considered intelligent by their peers, tutors, and parents.
In a homeschooled setting, kids don’t have the overbearing pressure that would make them regard grades as a sign of success.
Learners focus on grasping the context. It’s easier for them to achieve excellent results without having to deal with overwhelming expectations.
By making it to the end of this post, deciding on whether homeschooling is the right option should be easy.
For parents who fear that studying at home might ruin their kids’ chances of having a social life, it’s good to know that this is not necessarily the case.
In the end, the decision solely relies on each side’s views and expectations from learning.