The world looks a lot different since ‘COVID-19’ became part of the global lexicon, specifically in terms of education. Over the past year, educators have been forced to adapt to evolving CDC and local guidelines, the resulting effect was a sudden and dramatic departure toward homeschool learning environments.

One of the unforeseen effects of the pandemic was just how much it would ultimately reveal about the shortcomings associated with classical American school infrastructure. As an estimated 1.2 billion students were forced out of the traditional classroom, it became painfully obvious how reliant we’d collectively become upon in-person learning.

Ultimately, lecturing a group of students and expecting them to do the work independently proved especially inadequate in a post-COVID world. Using busy work as a means to teach and entertain did little to produce successful students. Attempts to transpose traditional in-person learning styles to an entirely digital medium were the metaphorical equivalent of trying to fit a square peg into a round hole. It was time for a big change and few educators were as well positioned to address the challenge head-on than Novel Education’s homeschool services.

The Benefits of Homeschooling

As the homeschool sector continues to diversify, more students and parents are experiencing its broad range of benefits. In addition to providing a personalized approach to education, homeschool students potentially have more time to devote to their interests, experience enhanced productivity, and enjoy the flexibility of learning at their own pace. Remote learning incorporates common sense learning, a child-centered approach that empowers them to learn on their own terms—even focus in areas of academic interest.

For many students, the traditional approach to education imposed a formulaic approach all students must adhere to or risk falling behind. Conversely, online homeschool reversed this approach—at Novel Education, we asked, “What if education adapted to the individual student?”

The results have been nothing short of amazing.

Homeschooling vs Public School Re-examined

Despite growing pains of moving to a more virtual and homeschool learning environment, this seismic shift had a notable benefit: people began to look at homeschooling with new eyes. Historically, traditional in-person learning had been regarded as a rite of passage whereas homeschool was often maligned as a lesser alternative. In effect, the forced exodus from in-person learning caused by COVID-19 brought homeschool mainstream—almost overnight, it became a socially acceptable and necessary approach to education.

One major misconception about homeschooling is that students are anti-social. From an educator standpoint, homeschooling generally has a positive impact on social skills because it allows students the freedom to engage on a deeper level. Students have routinely expressed how homeschool education provides a richer sense of community than they would otherwise experience in the confines of conventional public and private schools.

Naturally, you may be wondering how that’s possible—the reason is many homeschooled children are used to being around kids and adults of different ages and abilities. They are involved in their communities, interacting with merchants, the elderly, younger children, their peers, their relatives, and people from all walks of life!

Addressing Homeschool Stereotypes

“There is no social element or sense of community”

Parents are sometimes hesitant about homeschooling their children because they worry they’ll miss out on social experience. At Novel Education, we recognize the importance of interpersonal relationships and their role in supporting lifetime learning.

The good news: Homeschooled students still have plenty of opportunities to connect to their peers in some fun and creative ways. Here are a few ways you can help practice socializing together from afar:

1. Get outside together and go on a hike or walk.
2. Groove out to your favorite songs or make up a dance to send to your friends so they can try learning it too.
3. Spend time connecting in a way that builds communication such as cooking together.
4. Take a virtual field trip at the San Diego Zoom or Natural History Museum.
5. Design and maintain a routine that involves interactive activities such as nightly puzzles or podcasts to help keep kids stay connected and feel supported.
6. Start a book club or join one of Novel Education Group’s reading camps to maintain communication and build reading skills with friends.
7. Take time for your kid to rest or connect to themselves. This can take the form of yoga, meditation, napping, or even watching a movie.

How to Start Homeschooling with Novel Education

While the pandemic has certainly created more reasons for families to seek out homeschooling, one overall reason to make the switch remains constant: a desire to leave the traditional school system which can only offer students in some areas a rather one-dimensional approach to their education.

Novel Education homeschooling elevates a student’s learning experience because it is more flexible, creative, and adaptable for each student. Instead of being in school for seven hours in a class with 20 other students and one teacher, our students are learning with their own teacher for only roughly three hours a day. After two Zoom meetings in a day, even adults feel fatigued. Tack on endless lectures, busy work, and technological distractions and suddenly you have a recipe for an unhealthy, chaotic learning environment.

With homeschool services from Novel Education, you have the ability to learn whenever, however, and whenever you want—we work with you to accomplish your educational goals. The bottom line: Whatever you’re looking for, we can curate it.

Here are a few of the main benefits of homeschool with Novel Education:

• We make enrolling easy. If your student is already attending a traditional school, we work with your district to provide you with a teacher to oversee all aspects of your school’s curriculum to get your student off of Zoom.
• We handle the administrative duties. All full time students will have an accredited school of record and there is no need to file a plan with your school district.
• We tailor the learning experience. Get more out of education with a learning experience tailored to your student’s individual needs and interests. Go at your own pace and receive concentrated instruction in where they need it most.
• Parents aren’t teaching. Not only do we provide you with a personalized curriculum, but we also provide a professional teacher to individually work with you or your student! Unlike traditional forms of homeschool, parents aren’t responsible for teaching their children with Novel Education. Whether you’re a parent who has to work or doesn’t know how to teach, we take that burden off your plate. And unlike standard online classes, your student is not on their own to sink or swim. Any situation, Novel is here and excited to help you make learning as seamless and proactive as possible.

Schedule your FREE consultation today!