Your Guide to Homeschool Success

Homeschooling—or teaching your child at home instead of sending them to an in-person public or private school—is one school choice that’s steadily on the rise. According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), 6.8 percent of children were homeschooled in 2020-2021, which is a 4 percent increase from 2019. While COVID-19 played a role in this change, research shows that the upward trend of homeschooling has been happening for decades. And now, more parents are continuing to choose this option for many reasons—particularly with the increasing popularity of the school choice movement, which emphasizes the benefits of finding the best-fitting option for each child’s individual learning needs.

If you’re one of the millions of parents across the U.S. considering homeschool for your child, you may be wondering how to get started. From structuring their academic journey to finding ways to make learning fun and engaging, you’ll need access to high-quality resources to help you tailor your child’s schooling. Here are a few tips that many homeschooling families find helpful:

• Join a local homeschooling group: You’ll be a part of a community of families who choose to teach their kids at home, giving you a place to get support, encouragement, and advice.
  
• Check out library resources: Explore a treasure trove of learning materials, books, and online resources from your local library.
  
• Try an online educational platform: Online public and private schools, such as K12-powered schools offer the support of a traditional school and a stellar curriculum, all while having the flexibility and personalization that you get with homeschooling.
  
• Use educational apps: Duolingo, Quizlet, and Mathletics are just a few apps that can help make learning different topics fun and effective.
  
• Take a look at educational research: Trends and studies can provide helpful insight into homeschooling. Stay up to date by reading blogs, books, and academic journals.

Another emerging resource that homeschooling families can benefit from is the Learning Hub. This free pilot program features an extensive online library with lessons, activities, and assessments across all major K-12 subjects that can be used for homeschooling as well as in-person or online classes. Personalize your child’s learning by choosing from a large collection of engaging five-to-10-minute lessons that range from expert-guided videos to hands-on exercises—all of which are designed to align with educational standards.

Plus, shorter lessons—like the Learning Hub lessons—are scientifically proven to improve retention, increase motivation, and boost confidence. This means you’re helping your child meet their academic goals all while having fun. And each lesson ends with an assessment, so you can easily track their progress.

With so many amazing resources available for homeschooling families, you can begin their academic journey from home with confidence. Every child should be supported in a learning environment that works best for their individual needs, and the tools and resources are available for you as your family embarks on this exciting journey.