Contents
- 1 What Is a Homeschool Curriculum and How Does It Work?
- 2 What Are the Benefits of Homeschooling Compared to Traditional School?
- 3 How Can I Create an Effective Homeschool Program for My Child?
- 4 What Curriculum Formats Are Popular Among Homeschooling Families?
- 5 How Do Homeschool Students Obtain a High School Diploma?
6% of children in the United States (the U.S.) are homeschooled in the 2021-2022 school year, according to the National Home Education Research Institute (NHERI). The popularity of homeschooling continues to grow.
Homeschooling is a way for students to get knowledge from home. Students complete their education with support from their parents. This approach gives students more control over their learning. We’ll go over homeschooling in the U.S.
What Is a Homeschool Curriculum and How Does It Work?
Let’s see how homeschoolers can choose the right curriculum and what online resources are available to them.
Understanding the Basics of Homeschooling
Homeschooling allows families to personalize the curriculum, pace, and environment to meet their child’s unique needs and learning style. Homeschooling is legal in all 50 U.S. states, but regulations and requirements vary for each state.
Homeschooling has different formats, such as structured approach, student’s directed methods, online homeschooling, and unit studies. Some parents create homeschooling curriculum from scratch, some use curriculum providers like online schools, some use a mixed approach, allowing them to customize materials.
Research by the NHERI shows a variety of homeschooling families. There are families with high and low incomes, atheists and Christians, parents with no diplomas or Ph.D.s. Every family can find their own option to homeschool.
Types of Homeschool Curriculum Available
Homeschool curriculums have different formats. These formats include traditional, online, customized curriculum, and unit studies.
A traditional curriculum uses textbooks and workbooks. This curriculum is an option for families to have a structured approach to learning. This option is ideal for families seeking a learning style similar to a classic school.
An online curriculum brings a lot of interactive lessons and different resources. Such a curriculum helps parents and students deal with any problems. Kids absorb the knowledge better and achieve their best results.
Unit studies are a way to become an expert in a specific field. This approach to learning simplifies education by focusing different subjects around one topic. Students understand the material better and feel more motivated to learn.
A customized curriculum lets parents mix resources to personalize education for their kids. Personalized learning allows students to set their own pace, focus on areas of interest, and explore subjects in depth. This approach helps kids be prepared for the future.
How to Choose the Right Homeschool Program?
Successful homeschooling happens when parents choose the right curriculum and follow specific standards. We explained how to work with standards, helping choose the correct subjects and programs in this article.
The good curriculum includes core subjects and offers different electives for a comprehensive education. Many schools provide personalized learning and support services. The best option is when schools mix this with a solid curriculum. Accreditation guarantees the program and curriculum are recognized by colleges and employers. Learn more here.
What Are the Benefits of Homeschooling Compared to Traditional School?
Let’s take a look at the benefits homeschoolers have.
Flexibility in Learning and Scheduling
Homeschooling doesn’t have a rigid time schedule like traditional school. This allows parents to adjust the teaching timetable for vacations, extracurricular activities, and necessary breaks. Parents go into depth where the child feels adverse difficulty and go slow where more time is required.
Personalized Education for Different Learning Styles
Lessons are adapted to the child’s needs in homeschooling. This becomes even more relevant with children who have some kind of disability and need more personalization. Visual learners study better when information is incorporated into pictures, diagrams, and videos. Auditory learners study well when performing activities to keep them listening and holding verbal conversations. Kinesthetic learners prefer learning via hands-on approaches and movements.
Opportunities for Family Bonding and Learning Together
Parents build an academic environment which allows families to unite and spend quality time together. Parents observe their children grow day by day, and go through important milestones.
How Can I Create an Effective Homeschool Program for My Child?
Parents of homeschoolers have the right to independently decide what the homeschooling curriculum will be. Parents understand each child is different, and customizing their learning experience is the key. Here are some things to keep in mind when creating or choosing a homeschooling program for your child.
Setting Goals and Objectives for Home Education
Staying motivated can be tough for students in home education, setting goals helps keep focus. Managing time is crucial for children, so creating a daily schedule prevents procrastination. Students have many tools to help them set and achieve goals. These tools include planning apps, which are provided separately or directly on the learning platform.
Incorporating Electives and Special Interests
Homeschooling allows families to add courses such as art, music, or foreign languages. Electives give opportunities for learning based on a child’s strengths. Special interests have a best fit with homeschooling. Flexible schedules allow young athletes to attend practices and tournaments. Future musicians or dancers can focus on rehearsals and performances. Parents often include electives and special interest’s achievements in the student’s academic record to improve college applications.
Utilizing Online Homeschool Resources
Homeschooling curriculum works best with additional resources or support materials. Many schools providing homeschool curriculum contribute to the creation of a great learning process with the help of online communities, interactive tools, or extra materials. These resources simplify the learning process.
What Curriculum Formats Are Popular Among Homeschooling Families?
Homeschooling families use different homeschooling curriculum formats to personalize their child’s education and meet their learning goals. Let’s take a look at some popular homeschooling curriculum formats.
Charlotte Mason Method and Its Approach
The Charlotte Mason method focuses on the creating love of studying in children. Lessons are short and concentrated. This approach uses quality literature, called “living books”, nature studies and art to help students explore emotional and academic growth. Lessons designed to keep children entertained and avoid overwhelming. This method includes field trips, nature observations, and walks, providing real life learning experience.
Traditional vs. Unschooling Methods
Traditional homeschooling repeats the public school’s method with schedules, standardized curriculum, and goals for each grade level. This method provides a structured approach, ideal for families who prefer consistency and measurable progress. Unschooling is a relaxed students-led method. Learning is guided by student’s interests and doesn’t have a strict curriculum. Unschooling focuses on a student’s motivation, allowing them to go deep in the studies of interest. Unschooling works best with families seeking flexibility and creativity in education. Each method is successful depending upon the child’s learning style and family dynamics.
Using Dakota Online Curriculum for Homeschooling
The Dakota Online Curriculum is a technology driven program for a structured and flexible education at home. Dakota Online Curriculum has interactive modules, the tracking of progress, and access to certified instructors. The program is state and nationally accredited, making sure students are meeting all the academic requirements at their own pace. Its adaptability makes Dakota Online Curriculum a popular option for families with diverse learning needs.
Legacy Online Homeschooling Curriculum
Legacy Online School provides an accredited Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM)-focused curriculum preparing students for future careers. The program focuses on critical thinking, problem-solving, and hands-on learning. Legacy Online School uses virtual labs, simulations, and collaborative projects to give students hands-on experience in STEM disciplines. This interactive approach helps students understand theoretical concepts and apply them in real-life situations.
Legacy Online School’s curriculum won “The Best Homeschool Curriculum, Products & Resources!” award. This win shows the school’s strong focus on quality, innovation, and helping students succeed.
How Do Homeschool Students Obtain a High School Diploma?
22% of students were homeschooled in grades 9-12 in 2019, according to Babwell. Let’s take a look at homeschooling during high school and graduation.
Accreditation Options for Homeschool Programs
Accreditation is a guarantee of quality education meeting high educational standards. Parents check whether a school holds accredited status before enrolling their children. Accreditation ensures the homeschool program fulfills all requirements of law and provides necessary core subjects for homeschooling students. Special organizations conduct inspections of such programs from time to time to check if they continue to meet the latest standards.Look for accreditation from agencies like the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), or the U.S. Department of Education.
Legacy Online School is accredited by the WASC. The diploma from Legacy Online School is widely accepted.
Legacy Online School offers an accredited curriculum for homeschooling. Legacy Online School’s curriculum covers core subjects. These subjects include Language Arts, Math, Science, and Social Studies. Students choose electives like Spanish and Art. This curriculum includes live teaching in small groups for personalized attention.
Meeting State Requirements for Graduation
Students must meet certain requirements to graduate from online school successfully. We explained these requirements here. Parents can check the state’s requirement for graduation at the Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) website. Many states require homeschooled students to complete a specific number of instructional days or hours. Parents maintain a schedule meeting these requirements. Checking local laws helps keep the child’s attendance in line with regional standards.
Not all students who are homeschooled graduate with a standard high school diploma. Parents issue a homeschool diploma upon completion of the courses which they determine necessary. Students can also receive a diploma by enrolling in an accredited program online or by taking and passing the GED (General Educational Development) test.
Homeschooling and College Admissions: What You Need to Know?
Advanced preparation for college and career goals often start during the high school years in homeschooling. Students concentrate on subjects related to their interests, such as STEM fields, arts, or business. Many homeschooling programs offer dual-enrollment classes where students earn college credits during high school.
