Is home education – home school a good idea?

Deciding what school to attend is one of the most important decisions you will ever make, and what you learn there will affect the rest of your life. Too often, these are decisions you’ll make based on some non-educational influences, such as the presence (or absence) of your friends and how close the school is to your home. Public, private, faith-based …there are many options for you to explore.

Here’s one option you may not have considered: homeschooling.

Before I tell you what homeschooling is, let me tell you what it is not. Homeschooling is not the “easy option.” Homeschooling students, while they often feel a greater sense of freedom (and usually attend classes for a smaller portion of the day than traditional school students), generally are self-starters…they have a strong sense of discipline. They take the initiative and play a larger role in directing their own education.

Homeschooling is pretty much what it sounds like – you’ll follow an educational curriculum at home and a parent will act as your supervisor. You will be involved in choosing and directing your education. This requires a greater sense of responsibility, but the payoff is huge: imagine being able to focus your studies on your interests. For example, do you love earth science? With homeschooling, you can pursue your passions to a much greater degree than with traditional schooling and you aren’t limited to a local school curriculum or the activities it offers. Your options are limited only by your imagination. This is one of the reasons why homeschooling is a great option for super-creative students.

Another reason homeschooling may be right for you is the way you learn. Homeschooling allows students to find and adopt the methods of learning that work best for them, instead of relying on whatever method a teacher (or school curriculum) chooses. For instance, are you a visual learner? Do you do best when new concepts aren’t just read aloud or described by a teacher, but are explained in writing or through images? Perhaps you’re a hands-on learner who excels by doing. Imagine trying to learn to swim from a book. Homeschooling makes learning a lot less stressful and a lot more fun!

Many students worry that homeschooling means never seeing their friends again, but nothing could be further from the truth. Lots of students who homeschool keep their same friends. In addition, with so many additional activities available to them outside a traditional school setting, homeschool students are likely to meet and make more friends than many traditional school students. Homeschoolers have the best of all worlds… friends without the bullying or drama! If you are a social creature, homeschooling is not a problem!

When you are considering what school will be best for you, put homeschooling into the mix! With less peer pressure, shorter school days, more choices when it comes to activities & sports, and the ability to take advantage of your preferred learning style, homeschooling is a great way to complete your education!

What are the most important things to you when thinking about changing schools?