There are many parents that would like to homeschool their children, but for one reason or another they are not able to. In these cases, there is an option that can still provide a way for parents to be a part of their child’s education. It is called supplemental homeschooling or afterschooling.
What is supplemental homeschooling?
Supplemental homeschooling combines traditional schooling with homeschooling. It is a way to provide a well-rounded education. It involves parents taking an active role in their child’s education by providing learning opportunities outside of the traditional classroom setting. For many, supplemental homeschooling is also a good stepping stone before going to full homeschooling.
The great thing is that supplemental homeschooling does not require you to report anything to your state, after all, they are being instructed in state standards during their traditional schooling time. That means the afterschooling or supplemental homeschooling time can be spent concentrating on a child’s passions, creating more confidence in an area the child is struggling in or learning a new skill or subject that is not taught in traditional school. Some use this time to help a child “catch up” or move ahead. It is all up to the family in how they want to design their supplemental homeschooling.
Who should consider supplemental homeschooling?
So what types of families would do well to consider supplemental homeschooling? Here are a few situations that might warrant supplemental homeschooling:
- Job Restrictions: Perhaps it is not possible for a parent to quit their job in order to homeschool full time.
- Health Concerns: Maybe there is a health concern for a family member that doesn’t allow a parent to concentrate fully on homeschooling at this time.
- Child needs: Or maybe the child is more suited to the structure of a traditional classroom. Yes, I realize to even mention that some kids do better in a traditional classroom is blasphemy in many homeschool circles. I said what I said. What types of kids might need a traditional classroom?
- Social Learners: Some kids are social learners and thrive in an environment where they can collaborate with other students. Some would say, well then get them into a co-op. That is not always a possibility. In some areas co-ops are incredibly difficult to get into. They have rigorous interview processes and spots only open up every couple of years. That is a long time for a social learner child to wait to have connections with other learners.
- Routine Seekers: Most kids do well with structure and routine. Some even crave it. While many parents are able to create the needed structure and routine at home during homeschooling, others may have difficulty doing so due to a variety of factors such as personal mental health or other children that require flexibility in when, where or how homeschooling is done. (Many children with special needs might fall into this category. If they are having a high needs day that can cause the learning environment for a sibling to be compromised).
- Athletes: There are some schools that allow homeschoolers to compete in school sponsored athletic teams. However, there are also many that do not. If you have a child that is passionate about sports and your local schools do not allow homeschoolers to play on their teams, supplemental homeschooling might be a good fit.
- Special Needs: While many families flee the local public school systems due to an inability to provide the needed support for their child with special needs, there are others that have to choose public school because they cannot access needed support systems on their own. In our area, there are very long waiting lists for testing and resources for those with special needs and priority is given to public school students.
How can I do supplemental homeschooling?
Do you think that afterschooling or supplemental homeschooling might be a good fit for your family? It isn’t difficult to get started. Here are a few steps:
- You can start by carving out time in your family to schedule to make sure there is dedicated time to work with your student.
- Next, sit down with your child and work on a list together of what you both would like for them to learn. If you happen to have a student like mine that has a long list of what they want to learn, I suggest choosing just a couple to begin with then rotate through as able.
- Decide on what type of curriculum or resources you will be using to learn if applicable. There is a plethora of homeschooling curriculum out there. Remember, you are not restricted by what the state standards are for your area in supplemental homeschooling. So choose the resources that fit you and your child the best.
- Have fun. Parents that do supplemental homeschooling sometimes report that they feel less pressure than full homeschooling families. Since they are not responsible for the entirety of a child’s education they are free to simply enjoy the process of helping a child discover the joy of learning. You could try a gameschooling approach to keep it light.
Remember, if you are unable to do full homeschooling or even if you really don’t want to do full homeschooling, it is okay. Not everyone loves homeschooling. Every family is different. Every child within a family is different. While there are those in the homeschool community that will look down on those that put their child in public school, you will not find that here. At Local Homeschool Hub we believe in meeting teaching parents where they are, not judging them for not educating in the same way we do. You know what is best for your child. We are here to help and support in any way we can.
