Some time ago, I explained that the best label for our family in the homeschooling realm is hybrid homeschooling. Hybrid homeschoolers work in the middle ground between school and home. While the majority of us do not utilize public school resources, we do find other resources to help homeschool our kids. There will be co-op classes, tutors, and even programs that mimic school very closely, though it will very likely be for less than 5 days a week.
I have noticed a large influx of hybrid homeschool programs in my area. The latest has fully loaded days, just like in a school, with classes on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. It much more closely resembles private school (with the tuition to match) than a homeschool.
While I find this type of homeschooling very fitting for my family, especially as my kids get older, I still worry about the increase in these programs that seem more intent being a school than providing a unique learning experience for each child. As these programs grow and more kids join, they are more and more forced into trying the meet the needs of all families involved and less for the individual child.
For my family, I feel that there is definitely a place and a season for such a program in homeschooling. I am realizing however, that I cannot trust my children’s entire education to such programs because if I do, I cease to be a homeschooling parent, and become a sheep of an educational program. I think I finally understand why some homeschooling parents change their children’s program from year to year. I realize that you have to constantly evaluate how much your child is thriving and in what areas he or she is not. You have to constantly weigh the pros and cons of any program you are using and be sure to advocate to make sure that your child is still getting an individualized program. At the point where that is possible, then you need to make changes.
With that said, I will remind you that there are dozens of programs that you can find to help you with homeschooling your child, especially when you may feel that you need some help with certain subjects. Make use of them. They can take a lot of weight off your shoulders as well as free up a good deal of your time. At the same time, only do as much hybrid homeschooling as best for your individual time.
Other types of Ecclectic Homeschooling
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