School at Home or Home Schooling
What a start to the school year for 2022 and term one is now behind us! There have been lots of changes and adjustments needed by teachers, parents and schools in order to manage the ever changing environment that we now live in.
Many parents have asked the question, should I keep my child at home to ‘home school’ now, considering that we have been spending a lot of time at home doing what was previously done in the classroom? For many children, the transition back to the classroom has not been an easy one. Some children have actually been thriving while learning in the home environment.
With the current state of the education system, it is easy to understand why many parents are apprehensive about continuing their child’s education in the classroom, particularly when their child has a learning difficulty.
There are several things to consider when making this decision and I would encourage all families to consider the following;
Who will be the primary supervisor of the learning? There will need to be consistency and time management to ensure regular and supervised learning is in place.
Where will the learning take place? The physical environment is important so that distractions and interruptions are limited, particularly when there are other siblings around who may not have the same difficulties.
How will the learning be structured? Time must be allowed for the curriculum to be covered. This is a fantastic opportunity to schedule in some one on one explicit instruction, following an intensive literacy program such as the Learnersaurus literacy program, 26 Letters or Discover Literacy.
Are there opportunities for social development with their peers along with involvement in extracurricular activities, including sport, music and other interest areas.
What are your goals? Be clear on what you want this to look like and where you would like to see your child in 6 months/12 months.
Ultimately, this is a very personal and private decision that must include both the child and their family.
Many children with dyslexia and learning disabilities have excelled through homeschooling, with limited barriers and more time to focus on the intensive methods for learning that are necessary for their success.