What Is Homeschooling? A Guide for educational psychology

Homeschooling (2)

Homeschooling has grown in popularity over the last decade, but it’s still not widely known by many people in the general population. Despite all of this, many parents are choosing to educate their children at home, and for good reason. But there are misconceptions about homeschooling; so before you make the choice, read up on everything you need to know about homeschooling. Here’s what you should know about homeschooling before making your decision to go this route.

Defining homeschooling

Homeschooling is an educational method in which students are not enrolled in a traditional school setting. They are instead educated at home by their parents or tutors. Homeschoolers can be of any age, but most homeschooled children are between the ages of 5-18 years old. While some children enroll in public or private schools during specific periods of their education, many home learners continue to educate themselves at home until they graduate high school and attend college.

Regulation for homeschooling 

Most homeschoolers use curricula created by one of two national organizations, The National Home Education Research Institute (NHERI) or the National Alliance for Optional Homeschooling (NAOH). These curricula provide textbooks and online courses, so there’s little cost involved with teaching your child at home.  One might ask how it’s possible to teach children who have different learning styles and skills. The answer is quite simple: It all depends on the family dynamic.

The homeschooling methodc

Some families choose to homeschool their children to provide them with a more customized education. Sometimes called unschooling, this method is often an individualized and holistic approach to learning, where the child’s interests, needs, skills, and goals determine what they study. Homeschooled children are usually not held to the same standards as their public school counterparts, which can lead some people to believe that homeschooled students are not getting the same quality of education as those who go to public school.

One issue here is that there isn’t any kind of consensus about what constitutes quality or successful educational outcomes. There have been no studies showing that public schoolers fare better than homeschoolers on standardized tests like the SAT or ACT, even though you would think there would be at least one major difference between these two groups.

The benefits of homeschooling 

Providing a good education is the backbone of any successful society. This is no less true when it comes to homeschooling. Research on homeschoolers has found that they do better in areas such as reading comprehension and math skills than their peers who attend traditional schools, even after controlling for socioeconomic status. Homeschoolers are also more likely to have engaged parents who teach them about things outside the classroom, such as music and art.

Example 

But research does show that some issues need addressing. For example, there’s evidence that many homeschooled children lack an opportunity for interaction with peers; thus schools should make an effort to include these students in extracurricular activities where possible. In addition, according to the same study, homeschoolers may not be getting enough exposure to certain academic subjects, such as science and social studies.

To counter this issue teachers may want to suggest projects or other methods of learning where kids can work together without actually meeting each other (e.g., by using Skype). Homeschooling can provide excellent opportunities if properly planned – but it will take extra time and energy from both teachers and parents alike.

The drawbacks of homeschooling

There are many disadvantages of homeschooling, but the most prominent is that children who are not socialized enough will not be able to function in the real world. In addition, parents should have a proper understanding of how to teach their children and if they do not know what they are doing this can lead to an interruption in a child’s education. Furthermore, there is no opportunity for a child to learn how to work as part of a team which is something that comes up often in the workforce. Finally, children will have fewer opportunities for learning about certain cultures because these cannot be accessed outside the home.

The impact of homeschooling on children’s social development

Socializing with other children is an important aspect of a child’s social and psychological development. Homeschooled children may miss out on this experience, which can lead to feelings of loneliness and isolation. However, homeschoolers are more likely to have strong relationships with their parents and siblings, as opposed to kids who attend public school. Homeschoolers also have the opportunity to socialize with adults in their community through activities like church groups or volunteering.

These opportunities help them develop connections outside of their families. With the right support, homeschoolers can develop meaningful friendships with kids from different backgrounds. Some studies suggest that there are fewer behavioral problems among home-schooled children than those who go to traditional schools. One reason could be that these children tend to get along better with others without fighting over things like seats in class or places in line.

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