Home education is an option to learn and gain more knowledge based on the choices one makes and the choices one makes are controlled by the people around you. Home education has been around for a long time, but it was not until the past decade that the public began to take an interest in it, with this newfound interest in home education.
Parents see that their children are not learning well in traditional school settings and are choosing to homeschool their children.
In the past, home education was considered backward and ignorant. However, home education is a choice parents make to better their children’s education.
In this article, we will explore the history of home education, the benefits of home education, and the choices available to you as a parent.
We live in a time when many people feel lost in their education. We hear stories of kids going to school and then dropping out before finishing high school. We see adults taking classes at community colleges. They are learning basic skills that might help them later in life, but they cannot finish their college degree because they find it too stressful, and the stress is preventing them from learning effectively. It is also possible to get a good job with a poor education or the opposite if you have a well-rounded, strong academic foundation. So what’s the problem? Is it the material being taught in schools or the people training?
How do we know our kids are well-educated?
In the past, it was the job of teachers and schools to educate children. Now, it’s the job of parents to teach their children.
Parents are taking a more active role in their children’s education, and their children are learning much more than in the past.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, only 1% of students in public schools were homeschooled in the 1970s. By 2014, that number jumped to 12.6%.
Why is this important? It’s important because, today, most of us are educated in the digital age.
While it is true that children are learning how to code, write, and build computers, that doesn’t mean they are getting the full picture. They are learning how to code and build computers, but they do not know how to live life.
I’m not saying we should force our children to go to school and learn all they need. However, we must be aware of their learning and how they are being taught.
How much should we spend?
Home education is not cheap. Many expenses must be taken into account. These include:
- A place to educate the child
- Materials needed
- School supplies
- Additional training for teachers
- Childcare costs
- Health care costs
- Additional tutoring, if needed
- Extracurricular activities
There is no easy answer to this question. Each family is different and has their own set of circumstances. I recommend that parents do some research before spending a lot of money on home education.
Where should we put the money?
The cost of sending a child to a traditional school can be expensive. In the United States, a private school can cost anywhere from $20,000-$50,000 per year.
The most obvious solution to save money is to homeschool your children. But that doesn’t always work, especially if you expect to raise a large family.
You might also consider sending your child to a charter or private school. These schools often offer excellent educational opportunities for less than the cost of a traditional school.
However, you must be careful when choosing a charter school. Some charter schools are just regular public schools with a new name. Others are for-profit businesses that do not provide a high-quality education.
Another option is to choose a school that offers scholarships. The Scholarship Search section on the Department of Education’s website is a good resource for this.
Which curriculums are best?
There are many different curriculums available to choose from when it comes to homeschooling. The only problem is that they all offer other things.
One curriculum may be designed to teach students how to read, while another may teach students how to speak multiple languages.
Homeschooling is a very personal thing. Different curriculums are best for other families.
Here are some examples of what to look for when choosing a curriculum.
- Academic standards and requirements
- Multiple learning styles and learning preferences
- Curriculum Focus
- Learning techniques
- Content
- Student Activities
- Parent involvement
- Teacher involvement
- Cost
- Recommendations
- Reviews
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The trick is to make a valuable but controversial post on a topic the community cares about. The controversy will drive extra engagement while the value keeps the overwhelming power of the most positive.
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The result was over 250 engagements and over 100 comments! Many beginners posted to thank me or tag their friends, and many intermediate and advanced SEOs chipped in with their agreement or disagreement.
Frequently asked questions about Home Education.
Q: How did you come up with the idea of home-educating your kids?
A: I have always been interested in homeschooling. I am a natural momma, and always thought it would be wonderful if I could also home-educate my children.
Q: What made you want to start home educating your kids?
A: I love my kids, and I feel like they are better off in their environment than in a public school.
Q: Did you do research or get help from anyone before starting your home education journey?
A: I did not. I just went with the flow.
Q: What was the first thing you did when you decided to start home educating?
A: I removed the old curriculum I had been using and started fresh.
Top myths about Home Education
- Homeschooling children is too hard.
- Homeschoolers are not good at learning.
- Homeschoolers don’t understand school.
- Homeschoolers are extremists.
Conclusion
With the rising cost of living, many parents choose to home-educate their children. While this may seem daunting, it is quite easy once you have the right resources. There are plenty of home education materials available for sale on Amazon.
The best place to start is to choose a curriculum that you think your child will enjoy. Choose a topic you’re confident you can teach, and select a few books to help them learn.
Once you have decided on your curriculum, you can purchase the books and set yourself up to start teaching. You don’t have to purchase everything at once. Start small by buying just one or two books.