Online Homeschooling . Online homeschooling programs and resources can make learning accessible and engaging, but they may not be right for every learner. Many may cater to specific communities and philosophies. The following guide offers a crash course in homeschooling, including key demographics, educational methods, frequently asked questions and online learning resources. Online Homeschooling: An Introduction. The U. S. These families cite many reasons for opting out of classrooms, but as Dustin Woodard, maker of the documentary film “Class Dismissed,” told WIRED, the Internet helped drive the trend. Online homeschooling can make learning more accessible and engaging for students, giving them more control over what, how and when they learn. Woodward said that putting kids in touch with a world of information online is “incredibly empowering,” but few schools capitalize on it. The home learning market is. Online homeschooling resources and curricula are booming, as are online learning programs like Khan Academy, DIY. Codecademy. Even some public schools now offer online learning options. These programs can be used supplementally or exclusively in the home learning environment. Either way, they are diverse; many cater to certain learning styles and education philosophies. For families new to homeschooling, finding the right programs requires a little experimentation and a whole lot of research. The following sections of this guide offer a crash course in common homeschooling communities, pedagogies, resources and more. Who Homeschools: Key Demographics & Communities. The National Center for Education Statistics reports the number of U. Home Schooling and Computer Learning. You can find computers in almost every household. Explain that computer programs in home schooling can greatly help. Home Schooling - MS Code 37-13-91. To register your child for home school. Federal 21st Century Grants to Be Awarded to Eligible Programs. S. Some advocacy groups put this number closer to 2 or 3 million. These children come from all types of communities, races and incomes. The following chart highlights key homeschooling demographics for 2. NCES. Table: Key homeschooling demographics for children ages 5- 1.
Characteristic. Number. Percent of Homeschoolers. Homeschooling Rate. Total. 1,7. 70,0. Male. 87. 6,0. 00. Female. 89. 5,0. 00. Kindergarten- 2nd grade. City. 48. 9,0. 00. Suburbs. 60. 1,0. Towns. 13. 2,0. 00. Rural. 54. 8,0. 00. Source: National Center for Education Statistics. Common Homeschooling Communities. Homeschool families come from many different communities, cultures and belief systems, some of which impact their educational choices. The following are just some of the groups that comprise this much larger homeschooling community. Families with logistical challenges. Geography, travel and other lifestyle commitments make it difficult for some students to report to school or adhere to a conventional schedule, including rural or military families. The same is true for young artists or athletes with extensive training and travel demands. Homeschooling makes education accessible to children facing these types of logistical challenges. Some states with large rural populations even offer public online homeschooling programs. Children with special needs. Students with certain learning, mental, behavioral and physical challenges may not thrive in traditional special education programs. Some medical conditions also require special monitoring, equipment and therapies that make attending school difficult, if not dangerous. Online homeschooling programs allows parents to maximize individualized instruction and support, including adaptive technologies, while tending to other needs. Gifted & exceptional learners. Despite their talents, many gifted children fall behind in school–even when filtered into gifted programs. Some of these children need more freedom; others are just bored. Self- paced programs and online homeschooling resources for exceptional learners offer these families an alternative. Proponents of alternative learning methods. Desks and rote memorization do not work best for all children. Homeschooling programs can be customized to meet the needs of hands- on, kinesthetic, visual- spatial, and other such learning styles. Montessori, Waldorf, Reggio Emilia and other specialized online homeschooling resources are increasingly popular among parents not drawn to conventional learning methods. There are also more classical, but advanced programs ideal for parents looking for a more rigorous academic education. Cultural & Religious Groups. Faith is no longer the number one reason most families choose to homeschool, but it remains a popular one–at both ends of the belief spectrum. Just as Christian parents may want to offer their children more biblical education, secular parents can seek learning programs that emphasize their beliefs and values. Some online homeschooling programs offer direct religious instruction, but others ensure content in areas like science or history reflect families’ worldviews. The Most Important Reasons Families Give for Homeschooling. The perception that homeschooling is almost exclusively religious is old hat. According to the NCES, the number one most important reason families gave for homeschooling in 2. A 2. 01. 5 WIRED feature on tech- savvy homeschoolers suggests many of these families hope to instill innovative thinking and other practical skills they believe conventional education lack, which might explain why Sir Ken Robinson’s lecture, “How Schools Kill Creativity,” became is the most- viewed TED Talk ever. Alternative learning advocates still comprise only one segment of the general homeschooling population, and few families base education decisions on one factor alone. Here is a breakdown of the important and most important factors parents said drove their decision to homeschool in 2. Table: Reasons parents gave as important and the most important for homeschooling in 2. Reason. Important. Most important. A concern about the environment of other schools. A desire to provide moral instruction. Dissatisfaction with academic instruction at other schools. A desire to provide religious instruction. Desire to provide a nontraditional approach to learning. Child has special needs. Child has a physical or mental health problem. Other reasons. 37%2. Source: National Center for Education Statistics. Choose a Curriculum: Popular Homeschooling Philosophies. More than half of homeschooling families may prioritize nontraditional learning methods, but individual philosophies vary. One family may believe strongly in experiential learning while the next ascribes to a more classical approach. Online homeschooling resources and curricula are often designed with a certain educational theories in mind. New homeschooling parent should identifying which appeal to them most to minimize frustration. The following are some of the most common homeschooling philosophies and curricula. Classical or Socratic Education. Taught by Socrates and popularized by the bestselling homeschooling book “The Well- Trained Mind,” classical education emphasizes the passing of learning throughout various stages of development, often with a strong literary focus. Students often use textbooks and worksheets in additional to any online homeschooling programs. Classical education is the theory that drives most traditional classrooms, but some families recreate it in a homeschooling environment to provide more one- on- one instruction, bypass school barriers or meet other needs. Unschooling. The unschooling philosophy emphasizes how to learn over what to learn. Proponents believe children are naturally wired for learning and that conventional schooling undermines this ability. Contrary to popular perception, unschooling does not mean no schooling: unschooled children are self- directed learners whose parents often serve as facilitators. Unschooling was popularized by educator John Holt in the 1. Free to Learn” author Peter Gray. Biblical Education. Biblical curricula caters to Christian families who want to incorporate faith into learning. Some programs offer direct religious instruction while others offer more classical instruction, ensuring content in areas like science and history reflect families’ worldviews. Because religion was once the primary reason families chose to homeschool, biblical curricula like the Sonlight Christian and A Beka Book programs are prevalent. Charlotte Mason Education. Charlotte Mason homeschooling is founded on the ideals of British educator Charlotte Mason, whose methods impacted education in the early 1. Mason taught that children are individuals deserving of respect. Lessons should never exceed 2. Online homeschooling resources like Ambleside online help parents apply these philosophies to learning, often through original literary sources (called Living Books), narration, dictation and copy work. Waldorf Education. The Waldorf educational philosophy began in Germany when Austrian philosopher Rudolf Steiner was tasked with creating an educational program for employees at the famous Waldorf Astoria hotel. Steiner rejected excessive academics for young children and the concept of standardized, rote learning. Waldorf- inspired homeschooling programs like Live Education and Christopherus Homeschool emphasize play, imaginative thinking, nature, daily rhythm and gentle instruction. Reading instruction is not introduced until at least age 7. Montessori Education. Montessori schools are increasingly common the United States, but many homeschooling families apply the same philosophy in their own homes. Montessori education was pioneers by Italian educator Maria Montessori, like Mason and Steiner, believed children benefit from delayed reading instruction and rich, experiential learning methods, often using high quality materials. Montessori also promoted the idea that children learn best through imitation, so playing “house” is more beneficial than puppets or costumes. Montessori learning environments are multi- age, aesthetically simple and organized in a way that promotes independence. A number of online homeschooling blogs and resources, like DIY. Many schools and libraries have also added “makerspaces” or “tinker spaces” that promote maker education.
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