Homeschooling or standard in-school teaching?

Question

I am extremely interested in being home schooled, and I always have. I will be ending eighth grade and entering ninth grade soon, and I am looking into taking my highschool classes online. I know many people say "well, you loose social interaction", but I am not concerned about that. I have been attending public schooling all my life, and I do have a bunch of friends that live around me and in my area.

But I'm just wondering, do you prefer home school or actually going to a real school? [like, one in a building. lol] I'm just wondering so I know whether or not I should do schooling online. I'm extremely interested in virtual schooling, and I want to know whether you prefer it or not and why.

Answer 1

Well I went to public school up until a few months into 9th grade, and I returned in 10th grade for a few weeks to see if it would be better at a different school, but in all honesty, I prefer homeschooling. You just get so much more freedom, and the quality of education, social experiences, and real world experience is just so much higher. Granted, I don't do online school. We use a combination of textbooks, videos, real books (novels and non-fiction books from the library), computer software, educational games and experiment kits (robotics kits, hydroponics kits, chemistry lab kits, whatever I need, am interested in, and can afford fo borrow from somewhere) and web resources (research materials and free educational websites.) I also do a lot in the community such as guitar lessons, a small 60's rock band with my boyfriend and friends, camps a nd weekend programs at colleges (challening and really fun), volunteering at fun places like the Special Equestrians program (helping disabled people learn to ride horses), the animal shelter, Manatee Park (a wildlife refuge), and various museums. I also get to work as a volunteer teachers assistant at the local elementary school a few days a week. I take fencing lessons, braille lessons, environmental science (I take Chemistry at home, but do ES at a local museum for fun), and I'm in a bunch of clubs throughout the year. I've even traveled to Europe witht he People to People Student Ambassador program, and I'm over a year ahead of my public school peers in most subjects. School is fun too. I get to do a lot of fun creative projects and hands-on activities and experiments, often on topics of interest, but also on the stuff that would otherwise be rather dull (like math and french. yuck). I get to travel a lot too. Right now, my boyfriend (not homeschooled, but an early graduate) are spending several weeks together traveling around the state visiting universities we're interested in attending.as well as just having some fun with friends who recently left for college. I'm away from home, away from mom, but I can bring school with me without worrying about falling behind. It's great.

Answer 2

I used to be home schooled. It has its pros and cons. If I were you I wouldn't home school just because I enjoy being with people all day plus its hard when all your friends start talking about stuff that happened at school it's really hard because you'll feel left out. But if you think it doesn't matter then doing courses online is fine. You will learn a lot more. Thats for sure

Answer 3

I love home schooling! I hate public schooling! Social interaction is actually better when you are home schooled.

Answer 4

I prefer regular schoolz becuz i can interact more socially and i am exposed to more diversity

Answer 5

i used to be homeschooled but when we moved to a better town i went to public school. i hate it.  i miss homeschooling so much.  at least give it a try.

Answer 6

It really depends on you.  Classrooms have pros and cons for different people, and homeschooling has pros and cons for different people.

My son learns very quickly in an independent environment, but he's easily distracted and frustrated in a classroom.  He's a kid that learns at a different rate than most kids his age - usually much faster, but slower in a couple of subject areas - and he often thinks through things on a different level.  Therefore, having to track with a set lesson plan is very frustrating, and even confusing, to him.  He thrives with homeschooling though, and is very motivated to learn if I just give him the opportunity to do so in a way that makes sense to him.  So, homeschooling works very well for him.

I know other kids who really need the structure, competition, and teaching style of a classroom, so homeschooling isn't the best choice for them.

The choice of whether or not to homeschool is very much an individual one, and it is predicated upon your needs, learning style, and motivation.  If you would like to be able to learn in a more relaxed atmosphere, go at your own pace, and study according to your interests, then homeschooling may be a good choice for you.

Online schools are good for some, not so good for others.  My son would go nuts with an online school because he really enjoys being able to have control over his studies and his lesson plans.  I do integrate some shorter online courses into his units, but that's about it.  But, if you enjoy that structure and work well on the computer, then it may be a great option for you.

If you can tell us which state you live in, we would be happy to point you toward some various options that may be open to you.

Good luck!

Answer 7

I'm an unschooling parent, but my kids never bother with this forum, so I'll give you my 2 cents.  

You may loose social interaction in the school setting, but you gain social interaction at home, in the neighborhood and all over the rest of the world.  

The beauty of homeschooling is that you can make of it what you want.  You can find groups to join, study what you want and when you want.  It allows you to choose your own schedule in your own way to control your destiny.  There are more opportunities available outside of the classroom.  

My kids do enjoy homeschooling, but they have nothing to compare.  Their friends who do go to public/private schools have convinced them that homeschooling rocks!  

If you decide you don't like homeschooling, you can always go back.  It's not a permanent decision.

And read "The Teenage Liberation Handbook" by Grace Llewelyn.  It may give you a whole new perspective.

Good luck :D

Answer 8

Hi--great question! I do online school. I was in public school all the way up until the second semester of 9th grade. I do Keystone National High School. I absolutely love it!! It is a great accredited school that you can do online which I like or you can do correspondence (through the mail). I love homeschooling b/c I have social anxiety disorder & depression. With homeschooling w/ Keystone, I no longer feel suicidal every morning & every night. I can wake up when I want & do my assignments when I want. It is SOOOO much better than going to school. I don't have to worry about getting picked-on in the crowded preppy hallways, nor do I have to worry about a backache on the account of carrying 50ibs worth of books. Keystone has saved my life!! For more information, go to www.keystonehighschool.com

Best of Luck to you!! Take Care!

Answer 9

Whether it will be a good choice for you or not will not depend on how others experienced it but on your own personality.

I know a number of homeschooled teens who do not have any desire to be in school; many of them have previously been in school. They are very happy homeschooling. I've met a couple for whom homeschooling just wasn't their cup of tea. A lot of what seems to determine happiness in homeschooling is being able to get out of the house enough (or have people over enough) and having a variety of things to do. If you will have the means to get out during the day, or you are the type that doesn't mind at all being at home lots, then it might suit you well.

Answer 10

My daughter is not your age, but she likes homeschool better than she liked public school.

I went to public school and was not exactly wowed by it.

You know, other people will have different answers. It is all about what works best for you in your given situation.

I'd try homeschool if I were you, but I'm not. ;)

Answer 11

Considering you won't mind "social interaction" online schooling won't be to bad, one of my friends is in a gifted program online. The only bad thing about the online program is if you want to join some after school program or sport you'll still have to go to school or wherever the sport/program is. Not only that but the program (depending what program) will lack the help you would get from teachers.

Either way the program is a very productive way to go through school and I highly recommend it.

Answer 12

hey i was in the exact situation as you.

here's the thing

its nice to be home schooled and stuff BUT WHATEVER YOU DO DO NOTTTT DO ONLINE SCHOOLING. you should find a correspondence course that sends you all the stuff and its more hands on. i did k12 online schooling last year it was the worst experience of my life. the only reason i am answering this and i signed up for yahoo is to tell you this. try Oklahoma university correspondence. that's where I'm doing it and its the same price some classes are cheaper. i mean it please dont do online school. another thing is that you might want to get a tutor for just math...its always nice to have someone there in person to explain it to you. just explain what you are doing to him/her and they can help you perfectly. please send me an email if you have any questions!

Answer 13

just try it and if you don't like go to a real school