Taking the Stress Out of Homeschooling During Crisis

With the worldwide pandemic in the not-too-distant past, many parents are more concerned than ever about their children’s health and welfare while attending school in person. Enlightium Academy, a private Christian online school, has gained valuable experience in teaching online courses since 2003 and was able to seamlessly support many students during the pandemic and other crises. Partnering with Enlightium in educating your student can be easier than you think!

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False Assumptions about Homeschooling 

If you are new to homeschooling, you may be worried about backlash from family members and neighbors who may feel you are doing your children an injustice. For decades, homeschooling has represented the ultimate expression of parental authority in a child’s education. Evidence shows that the homeschooling population continues to grow and now includes about 4.3 million students. 

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Homeschooling is Easier than Ever 

Today, all 50 states permit homeschooling, as stated by the Homeschool Legal Defense Association. Homeschooling parents who live in a state where homeschool regulations are strict can utilize online education from home to minimize the burden of record-keeping. Online homeschooling is a simpler, easier option for new homeschoolers to fulfill homeschool state requirements.

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Online Program as a Homeschool Option

K-12 online learning has evolved from the long history of distance education, and now it is one of the fastest-growing options for education in America. In 2010, there were 1,816,400 enrollments in distance education. In 2020, there were more than 3,760,000 full-time online K-12 students. The numbers continue to grow beyond 10% of the total K-12 student population. Online learning has also gained popularity among advanced learners, students at risk, and minority students.

One of the main benefits of online learning is that students can still take advantage of unique course offerings such as specialized programs, world languages courses, honors courses, Advanced Placement (AP) courses, and NCAA courses for athletes.

Similar to a traditional school, online students are assigned to certified teachers who are responsible for reporting academic achievement, providing supplemental instruction, conducting assessments, and evaluating the students work and progress. This helps relieve the burden of teaching and recordkeeping for parents and allows them to act as learning coaches. Parental support includes helping define educational aspirations, implementing future plans for their children, making educational decisions, providing support with school work, and participating in school activities. 

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Teacher-Student Interactions in an Online Setting 

Online teachers use technology in creative ways to replace brick-and-mortar school settings, such as instant messaging, discussion boards, blogs, and video conferencing platforms. The most commonly known online school benefits are:

1. Enhanced communication. Students feel more empowered to share their ideas and are less afraid to pose questions to teachers. They interact with others with fewer concerns about personal differences.
2. Accommodations of different learning styles. Materials can be presented in different ways that benefit students with attention deficit disorder or students who suffer from anxiety. Students may get more one-on-one attention than in a classroom setting.
3. Unlimited access to curriculum and instruction. Accessibility of curriculum and instruction at any place and time of day gives students freedoms that are unavailable in a brick-and-mortar school.
4. Frequent assessment. Immediate feedback allows instructors to change their delivery of content, as well as highlight the weaknesses and strengths of students.
5. Access to teachers. Online learning allows a student anywhere in the world to connect with their instructors.

A study by Ray (2017) reported that students who were homeschooled for one year or less scored, on average, in the 59^th percentile, and students who were homeschooled for two or more years scored, on average, between the 86^th and 92^nd percentile in academic achievement. There are also opportunities for students to grow socially and emotionally while learning online. Regardless of which school a parent selects for their child, parental support in the form of involvement is an integral part of any conducive learning environment. 

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Support for Social and Emotional Learning in an Online Setting

The critics of homeschooling argue that homeschooled students are socially delayed. However, modern-day online homeschooling allows students to socialize face-to-face via group video sessions. Researchers identified nine constructs that relate to students’ well-being and academic success with their connection with the online school: (1) academic engagement, (2) belonging, (3) discipline/fairness, (4) extracurricular activities, (5) school enjoyment, (6) student's voice, (7) peer relations, (8) safety, and (9) teacher-support. By implementing these tools, online students are provided with opportunities to practice and grow their social and emotional learning. 

Furthermore, online homeschooling returns control to parents to make intentional decisions about the communities and social spheres with which their child will interact. The flexibility of a virtual, asynchronous program makes it possible for the student to participate in community groups such as their local church, 4-H, or Boy Scouts of America, as well as take part in the arts, sports, and community service. Contrary to the belief of homeschooling critics, research shows that homeschool students often engage with a more diverse social sphere than their peers in brick-and-mortar schools, leading to a more well-rounded social development.

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How Enlightium Academy Can Assist You with Homeschooling Your Child 

Enrolling your student at Enlightium Academy can provide you, as a parent, the opportunity to support your student alongside professional teachers, guidance counselors, and support specialists. Parents and guardians can access Enlightium Academy’s Parent Orientation shortly after enrolling. The Parent Orientation includes the open house video, teacher, parent, and student expectations, and the school calendar. Parents are also provided access to a mobile application available on iOS and Android, which provides an opportunity to connect with staff and other parents with students enrolled, as well as to receive updates on academic dates, social and spiritual offerings, and more.

To assist students with onboarding, the Enlightium team developed the Student Orientation which allows them to navigate being a homeschool or online student. The Student Orientation is assigned shortly before starting courses.

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‍Since 2003, Enlightium faculty and staff have served partner schools, online, and homeschool K-12 students. With parental support, excellent instruction, and a personalized approach to learning, Enlightium equips students with the academic, spiritual, physical, social, and emotional skills they need to succeed in life. For any other questions about Enlightium, please call (509) 319-2288 or visit EnlightiumAcademy.com.

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References:

Brian, D. (April, 2018). Homeschooling Growing: Multiple Data Points Show Increase 2012 to 2016 and Later. National Home Education 

Research Institute. Retrieved from https://www.nheri.org/homeschool-population-size-growing

Homeschool Legal Defense Association (HSLDA), State Homeschooling laws. Retrieved from http://hslds.org/laws/default.asp

Bausell, S. (2016). From the editorial board: Virtual charter schools: Where did all the children go? The High School Journal, 99(2), 109-112.

Curtis, H. & Werth, L. (2015). Fostering student success and engagement in a K-12 Online School. Journal of Online Learning Research, 1(2), 

163-190.

Nolan, A. W. (2016). The social and emotional learning and character education of K-12 online students: Teacher perspective. (Doctoral 

dissertation). ProQuest 10144133.

Hassel, B. C., & Terrell, M. G. (2009). How can virtual schools be a vibrant part of meeting the choice provisions of the No Child Left Behind 

Act? Retrieved from http://www.doe.virginia.gov/federal_programs/esea/title1/part_a/archive/how_can_virtual_schools.

Ray, B. (2017). A review of research on homeschooling and what might educators learn? Pro-Posições, 28(2), 85-103.

Davis, A. (2011). Evolution of homeschooling. Distance Learning, 8(2), 29-35.

Libbey, H. (2004). Measuring student relationships to school: Attachment, bonding, connectedness, and engagement. The Journal of School 

Health, 74(7), 274-83. \

Medlin, R. (2000). Home Schooling and the Question of Socialization. Journal of Education, 75(1/2), 107-123. Retrieved from 

www.jstor.org/stable/1493091