Homeschooling isn’t new, but the number of parents deciding to ditch so called traditional learning and replace it with homeschooling is on the rise. When the COVID-19 pandemic first hit and being quarantined was the new reality across the globe, the mere thought of virtual learning brought uncertainty and anxiety to parents, teachers, administrators, and students. It went against the norm as the homeschool route was uncharted territory for many and, to some, very intimidating. Society has been conditioned to have structured education following one set of guidelines, with curriculum being set by age and state requirements. The thought of venturing off and taking your child’s education into your hands was frightening to many parents. And switching lessons from in-person instruction to virtual learning presented unwanted challenges for some teachers. That meant “tradition” was changing and as the old saying goes that many like to reference: “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!” Change isn’t always welcomed, and often avoided due to fear of the unknown.

Being quarantined coupled with mandated virtual learning showed the endless possibilities in education and the way it could be conveyed. What was first met with hesitancy, trial and error, turned to being a preference for some students and parents. While it was still a tough transition and daunting task for some, a great deal of children thrived in the non-traditional school environment. Some even performed better virtually than they did when attending school. Months into the new transition and the conversation surrounding homeschool changed for many; they changed their view on what’s considered non-traditional style of learning when they noticed how their children thrived more in a home setting.

As COVID-19 restrictions eased, school districts returned to in-person learning. Many parents were on the fence about returning their children to in-school instruction. Some had health and safety concerns, and others saw better academic progress from their children in a virtual setting. This prompted the rise in parents withdrawing their children from school. Homeschool showed there doesn’t have to be a one size fits all approach to education. Freedom and structure can co-exist. Parents should do what works best for their family. If school offers the best results, then that is great. But, if you think homeschool would be a better fit for your child, take that plunge and explore the option. The possibilities are endless, and there is support available to be of aid throughout the process.

Here’s some useful sites & tips to get you started in the right direction:

• Find out the homeschool requirements in place for your state via the HSLDA website.
• Get useful information on the homeschool process, online curriculum recommendations and support group access on Homeschool.com.
• Join local and national homeschool groups on Facebook by typing “homeschool” in the search bar on Facebook.
• Check out Outschool and Rounded Schoolhouse for low cost virtual courses. 

Check out the Podcast- Homeschool 411, every 3rd Wednesday on Fashion Life & Tea Radio airing May 2022.