School at home has a way to go before it is mainstream. However, it is certainly moving in the right direction. High-profile teenage students like Kylie and Kendall Jenner, withdrew from high school to attend online school to focus on their budding careers. Demi Lovato, like many other students in regular school, was a victim of severe bullying. Parents, Jada and Angelina, believe 100 year old school systems are technologically outdated.
Most student athletes and performers are unable to attend private/public brick and mortar (BAM) schools. The demands on their time, due to traveling and performing, makes it difficult for them to meet attendance requirements. As a result, parents choose to home-school for the same reasons as millions of other American families: flexibility, enrichment, bullying, school safety, religion, and learning difficulties.
Hear what these students and parents have to say about their school at home experiences:
“My 3rd grade year was my first year of being home-schooled…” Cori Gauff, tennis player. Cori was home-schooled by her mother, a 15 year veteran teacher.
“Growing up, I had been bullied in school. And I felt like an outsider, I felt like an outcast,” Demi Lovato, musician. Lovato began homeschooling due to the unhealthy school environment.
“I was home-schooled for a year. It was challenging…and fun, especially science. I was able to work at a grade level 2 years above my age. When I went back to regular school, I got bored because the classes were too slow and the class was so noisy. I couldn’t focus. So I goofed off and got into a little trouble. I’m home-schooled to take honors and AP classes on my own time, and I’m in regular school too. I might home-school again. But I’ll wait and see because I’m in high school now.” Andrew, youth hockey player.
“I was home-schooled, third grade all the way to my senior year…my typical school day would be like, two to four hours a day, and then gymnastics the rest of the day. It’s just very different” Gabby Douglas, gymnast.
“The school system in this country public and private is designed for the industrial age. We’re in a technological age. We don’t want our kids to memorize. We want them to learn,” Jada Pinket-Smith on homeschooling her kids.
“I do think we live in a different age and the education system hasn’t caught up with our children and our way of life,” Angelina Jolie on homeschooling her 6 kids.
“A lot of times people have this stereotype of home-schoolers as not very athletic…the amazing thing about homeschooling is that you get to love on your kids, you get to embrace them, you get to believe in them, you get to share that with them over, and over, and over and over again, and the chances of them believing it are so much higher, and that’s what we want our kids to be … not be afraid of the world.” Tim Tebow, football/baseball player
” I thought my children were doing good because they were getting As and Bs in school. But their annual AZM scores revealed all of them were partially proficient in ELA, Math, and Science. I remember receiving a letter earlier in the year about my twins teacher working toward certification, thinking not a big deal. Now I realize my children were doing all the work to get the good grades, but not learning or understanding the concepts. My children have been home schooled for 2 years now. This year their NAEP scores were proficient which demonstrates a solid academic performance and competency over challenging subject matter.” Laura, SPED teacher
There is a growing trend toward School-At-Home programs. Which program should you choose? It depends on what is best for your child:
Home-school requires money, time, and is flexible: parents teach using supplemental materials, textbooks, curriculum, etc. Some states require parents to meet certain qualifications before home-schooling their student.
Un-schooling requires the most time and planning: doesn’t follow a curriculum or use textbooks, applies less strict rules and principles, parents allow children to learn from their natural curiosities, interest, and the environment in their own way. See parents to meet certain qualifications for home school.
Public Online Schools are tuition free and static: usually taught by licensed and emergency public school teachers, aligned to the normal public school day-time-year, difficult to move ahead of the class, impossible to move up a grade level within a year, must adhere to rigid daily attendance, and other requirements including immunizations.
Private Online Schools are tuition based including scholarships: allows for the most flexibility, taught by certified Teachers, flexible time schedule allows learning to fit with performances, practice and tournament schedules, ideal for students who pursue entertainment, travel sports or Olympic training, easy to move ahead or move up a grade level, allows for early entry into high school or college.
Choose Almentia Academy for your students’ educational needs! We are a private online school with an accredited STEM K-12 and beyond curriculum delivered by certified and highly qualified teachers. Our teachers and academic advisors have advanced degrees, are Nationally board certified in multiple and single subjects, and hold SEd, ECE, and ESL specialist endorsements.
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