5 Benefits of Online At-Home Schooling
byEmily Ewen
4 min to read
For centuries, parents have been taking matters of their children’s education into their own hands by educating them from home. But what was once seen as an alternative education option is now approaching “mainstream” in the United States.
Parents report many reasons and motivations behind at-home education. Some of the most popular include the ability to customize the curriculum and learning environment and the capacity to accomplish more academically than in a traditional school.
As the benefits of at-home schooling become more widely appreciated, many families are also turning to other ways to educate their kids from home. Although different from traditional homeschooling, online homeschooling (using an online school) provides similar advantages.
When using an online school as a homeschool alternative, the role parents play can be less demanding. Online public-school programs also offer free learning resources, online tools, and access to professional teachers who help ensure that students reach important benchmarks in their education.
Homeschooling vs. Online School
Let’s look at some of the differences between homeschooling and online school. Homeschool parents are entirely responsible for their child’s learning environment, schedule, curriculum, extracurricular activities—and this can be a lot to manage.
When weighing the pros and cons of homeschool, many families turn to a K–12 online school like Connections Academy®. This education option provides access to qualified teachers and counselors—and students will graduate and receive a high school diploma from an accredited public-school program. Using the power of technology, an online classroom allows students to learn and build the life skills they need to succeed.
So, why is homeschooling not effective for some families? Well, for one it can be challenging for both parents and their students. It requires commitment and immense responsibility to ensure your child receives a complete education with skill-building opportunities. An online school can offer a smoother, assisted experience.
5 Key Benefits of Online At-Home Schooling
Online school can be a good alternative to homeschooling and brick-and-mortar schools, offering a few distinct advantages for students and families.
1. Personalized Education
The educational structure of online schooling at home enables teachers and Learning Coaches to work together to tailor learning to the student. Unlike traditional classrooms where the ratio is often dozens of students to one teacher, at-home schooling creates an individualized, one-on-one learning environment. In fact, parents say that the relationship a student forms with an online instructor can be closer thanks to the opportunities for one-on-one interaction.
Facilitating school at home also affords parents and Learning Coaches the flexibility to change their approach or adjust teaching methods if something isn’t working for the student. In this sense, students won’t be left behind if a particular lesson plan or activity isn’t clicking for them.
2. College Preparation
Online school may help students better prepare for college by teaching them the importance of taking responsibility for their own learning. Leading colleges and universities readily accept online school students, and many studies and professional educators have found evidence that home-educated students have as much college success—if not more—as their peers.
Students may also show more self-motivation because online schooling encourages students to take personal responsibility and maintain accountability for their work.
3. Schedule Flexibility
Like homeschooling, an online learning environment doesn’t revolve around when the bell rings, what time lunch happens, or how long recess is. Instead, students can take advantage of the flexible learning schedule by doing the work that needs to get done when it best suits them.
Online school students work according to a daily routine that satisfies both the needs of their education and their personal freedom. While they must meet the required hours of attendance for their state, the demanding schedules needed for medical appointments or extracurricular pursuits such as traveling for competitive sports or performing arts can be better accommodated.
4. Take Classes Anywhere
While online schools do follow a conventional school calendar, and some courses have fixed schedules, classes can be taken anywhere and at any time as long as students and their Learning Coaches stay on track and communicate with their instructors. Taking the family on a month-long trip across the country? Extending your holiday vacation by a few days? You don’t have to worry about falling behind, because like a homeschool curriculum, an online school can be taken with you anywhere you go.
Online schooling is even more convenient with 24/7 Internet access to K–12 curriculum, whether your student is taking a supplemental online course or full-time studies.
5. Self-Discipline
Students educated from home get a head start on life and career skills such as time management, self-motivation, and taking charge of their own education. Rather than focusing only on grades, online schooling programs encourage students to take accountability for their actions and discover the joy of learning.
The benefits of at-home schooling are no secret, and using helpful tools like online schooling courses, either as enrichment for students attending traditional, hybrid schools, or as permanent, full-time means of education, your student can enjoy a form of education that works for your whole family. Learn more about the benefits of online schooling today.
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