Homeschool (Pros and Cons)
Pros- Avoids negative influences on behavior, more one to one interaction among educator and student, and familiar learning environment.
Cons- Lack of social interaction with peers, lack of access to interactive materials (SmartBoard, Airliner, etc), and lack of professional development.
Is homeschool the right choice for some students? I think the answer must be made based on the individuals circumstances. Socially, one needs that interaction with peers in able to interact appropriate when circumstances arise. However, from the learning standpoint, homeschool is at times the best choice for students that cannot function in a normal school environment. There should be guidelines for homeschool. Parents (or teacher) should be well educated and equipped with the professional development needed to get the job done. I see many students come into my classroom that have been homeschooled that are not on the academic level of their peers due to lack of education of the educator (which should be a criteria for homeschool).
elizabeth628 said,
March 29, 2009 at 1:00 am
One of the websites that I read about talked about one of the pros of homeschooling being that students could learn content when they are ready. I think that often parents think that homeschooling sounds like a great idea, but then they get tired of it or realize that it is not as easy as it sounds and then they put the kids back in the school system totally unprepared for what they are about to face. I agree there should be guidelines. I have seen students that are not ready in first grade to read, but I try my very best to get them ready. I know someone who homeschooled her son for about three years and he hated reading so she decided he was not ready. He was put back into the elementary school at 4th grade and he could read at a first grade level. It had nothing to do with his inability to read. He didn’t want to and she didn’t make him.
Diana said,
March 29, 2009 at 1:25 am
I’ve also had that experience with homeschooled children (not all). I had one student that struggled with behavior; therefore, mom withdrew him from the school setting. What a mistake! That child will also need mom to bell him out when things get though. I had a friend that homeschooled her children during the primary years and they’re wonderful readers (very intelligent). However, my friend also had a masters degree. Great example of why guidelines are so important. I’m not saying you must have a degree to homeschool your children. Some are very gifted and are teachers at heart; however, there are some that couldn’t teach a duck to quack (if that makes sense