Things you need to think about when considering switching to home school.

Homeschooling sounds like a great life…you sleep in, you can go to school in your pajamas and eat during class, you get to avoid bullies and finish classes earlier in the day. It sounds great, right? But there are a number of things you need to think about when considering homeschooling.

1. Socialization
Friends are important…there’s no doubt about it. One of the biggest concerns parents have about letting their children homeschool is whether you will have enough interaction with others your age. While it’s largely a myth that you’ll be locked inside – forever – with only email or IM linking you to other human beings, homeschooling students need to take that extra step to make and keep new friends. You’ll need to get involved with outside activities in the community and sports programs.

2. Discipline
All those things we mentioned above – sleeping in, eating during class, finishing early – forget all of that. Whether you go to school or school comes to you, there’s plenty of work to be done. Instead of waiting for everyone in the classroom to understand the material, classes will move at your pace. That means once you understand the Pythagorean Theorem and the law of cosines it’s time to move on…you won’t get a chance to rest while you wait for the rest of class to catch up! The good news? You’ll never be bored, and you’ll get an amazing education!

3. Learning Style
Everyone learns differently, and everyone sees things differently. Some students learn best visually – seeing it on the blackboard, reading it in a book, looking at pictures or drawings. Others prefer auditory learning…listening to the teacher lecture, hearing them repeat the material over and over again. Many prefer tactile learning in which hands-on demonstrations – like labs – are the best way for them to learn new material. Unfortunately, schools – even the very best schools – have a limited amount of time to teach the curriculum to the students, which means you may not be taught in your preferred learning style. With a custom-tailored homeschool education, your learning style is identified and you get your education delivered in the best way for you.

4. A New Way of Learning
Sometimes, being able to see what you’ve been learning practiced in the real world can make a huge difference. It can also connect you to the material in a meaningful way, which makes learning more interesting. Maybe you don’t find reading about Picasso engrossing….but a trip to the local museum to actually see his work changes your perspective about his work and place in history. Live near Washington DC? The Smithsonian can be a huge resource! Studying history? Going to Valley Forge National Park (or Boston Harbor…or Donner Pass) brings the coursework to life in ways no classroom lecture can.

Homeschooling is all about receiving a top-notch education that best fits your needs. It requires a good deal of self-discipline, but it can be very rewarding. Most importantly, it is very flexible…since it’s all about you!

What is most important to you in choosing a school?