Homeschooling has a straightforward name, as it is done in the home. However, homeschooling is often confused with online schooling under the assumption that they use the same education strategy. The truth is that there is a significant difference between homeschooling and online schooling programs.
Homeschooling is parent-facilitated and done to suit the beliefs of the parents. Famous homeschooling cases include Dr. Arthur Robinson, who started homeschooling his children after the death of his wife (read more here at Dr. Robin’s website on the Robinson Self-Teaching Curriculum). Homeschooling curriculum may coincide with existing public school system grade levels or may be set at a specific pace for each child, or a combination of both.
The parents do not pace online schooling. Online school can be completed at home, but an outside entity still paces it. Some homeschooled children may take online classes to boost their aptitude in a particular area, however.
Benefits of Homeschooling
Homeschooling can be a lot more personal for families and fit needs that public schooling could not adequately address. Sometimes, a child is excelling in a particular area but falling behind in another. Other times, parents want to have more control over their child’s learning. What’s important is that you learn well. Homeschooling also allows you to focus on skills that might better serve them in college, technical schools, or in workforce skills. For highly technical subjects you might consider CTE Online Programs to supplement your lesson plans.
Homeschooling allows for a lot more freedom in education. Homeschooled children often must pace themselves in school, which helps them learn exceptional time management skills. Parents can also socialize their children with various people, and help build skills of empathy and understanding diversity at a young age, rather than having their children only interact with other children around their age.
Making Sure Your Grades Count
It is essential to document education when homeschooling. Each state within the U.S. has its own rules for how homeschooling is to be legally conducted, and there are some federal laws as well. Research your options and follow the rules for your state to make sure you do not run into issues later. You might keep a detailed spreadsheet or binder of grades and courses, consider what courses your material is comparable to in your school district, and grade works according to a 4.0 GPA scale to ease application to universities. Take the initiative and stay organized from the start. A little pre-college planning and research can go a long way towards helping homeschooled students reach their goals.
Marketing Yourself to Universities
Know your strengths. Keep track of what classes make students competitive. Make sure you take the test used in your area (SAT/ACT) in enough time — they are often done only once a year! Be prepared to prove yourself, and rise to the challenge every time by taking plenty of extracurriculars. Currently, Boise has a great business-friendly community where you can see if you can snag internships and apprenticeships to make yourself a competitive college applicant.