Outlooks & Setbacks Saturdays

“Homeschool may have earned you the disapproval of others. But you don't have to show up to every argument you're invited to.” ― Jamie Erickson

As a teacher, I am often asked about homeschooling and how it compares to traditional schooling. While both options have their advantages and disadvantages, it's important to have a clear understanding of the facts before making a decision. In this blog post, I will share 10 must-know facts about homeschooling versus traditional schooling. Please take into account this is my view, and while I am trying to be as objective as possible, what might be right for one family might not work for the next.

Homeschooling offers more flexibility in terms of scheduling, allowing students to learn at their own pace and on their own schedule.

1. Traditional schooling provides opportunities for socialization with students of the same age. This is not a common scenario in real life, how many times in your life (other than school) have you found yourself surrounded by a large group of people of your same age? This can lead to peer-to-peer learning which opens up a new set of advantages and disadvantages.

2. Homeschoolers will still provide socialization for their children, but this varies from one family to the next. My Homeschooled children are extremely social and confident in themselves due to the fact that we have a small community/pod.When Homeschooling it is important to connect with your community.

3.  In a school students have easy access to extracurricular activities.

4. Homeschoolers will need to do research on their own to find extracurricular opportunities for their children to join. In some provinces and States homeschooled students may be allowed to join sports and extracurriculars provided by a school in their district.

5. Homeschooled students can focus on their interests and develop unique talents, while traditional schooling typically has a set curriculum that all students follow.

6. Homeschooling can be more cost-effective, as there are no costs associated with transportation, uniforms, or other school-related expenses.

7. Traditional schooling provides access to a wider variety of resources and facilities, such as libraries, science labs, and sports facilities. This is more impactful for children who are in middle school and high school with special interest in sciences and sports.

8. For younger children (preschool and elementary), being outnumbered by peers can create tension within, and increase social anxiety since the child is not being constantly reassured, as they figure themselves out throughout their tender years.

9. Homeschooling allows parents to have more control over what their child learns and how they learn it in order to adjust to their needs as well as to prioritize their values.

10. Traditional schooling has a standardized curriculum, which can be helpful in ensuring that all students have a consistent educational experience.

11. Homeschooled students can receive one-on-one attention from their parents, which can lead to more confidence.

12. Traditional schooling provides students with opportunities to learn from a diverse group of teachers with different teaching styles and approaches and have different role models other than their parents in their life.

13. Homeschooling can be challenging for parents who do not have a background in education, while traditional schooling provides professional educators who are sometimes passionate about teaching children of different ages and abilities.

14. On the other hand, teaching can be exhausting when the teacher is outnumbered by students. This creates an advantage in patience and emotional regulations for parents vs teachers. 

In conclusion, both homeschooling and traditional schooling have their advantages and disadvantages. Homeschooling offers more flexibility, the ability to focus on interests, and cost-effectiveness, improved self esteem, while traditional schooling offers a standardized curriculum, and access to a wider variety of resources and facilities. 

As a teacher, I encourage parents to carefully consider these 15 must-know facts, as well as the needs and the ages of their children before making a decision about which educational option is best for their child and ultimately for the whole family.

Determination & Achievement

What is a daily task that takes a lot of determination for you to accomplish?