by Lyn Lomasi, Write W.A.V.E. Media Staff

As homeschool becomes more popular and widespread, there are many questions that people ask. As a mom who has educated her children at home, as well as enrolled them in traditional school, I have been asked a fair share of questions regarding educational methods at home. With more people homeschooling, some may wonder if groups of homeschoolers should buy school buildings together. In fact, when a group of readers were asked for back to school concerns, theBarefoot asked me this very question. So, why don't homeschool parents form a school together? There are many reasons and answers to that seemingly simple question.

Social Interaction With the Outside World

Contrary to what some may believe, social interaction is very important to most parents of children who attend school at home. The ability for kids to interact with the outside world during the day, rather than being restricted to a building is one reason using a traditional school building may not appeal to some homeschooling families. Learning in the outside world can provide a great opportunity for children to socially interact with kids their age, as well as a variety of age groups. This type of interaction could be a great preparation for when kids graduate and get out into the "real world."

Differences in Curriculum and Learning Styles

One of the main benefits to homeschool is the ability to choose or develop a custom curriculum plan for each child, based on his or her needs. Not all homeschooled kids will be using the same curriculum. For this reason, it may be more difficult to hold school in a building in a traditional class setting. Since everyone may not be using the same plan or methods, parents and other teachers might all be talking at once. This could be a very distracting and confusing learning environment that may even hinder the educational process.

Flexible Learning Environment

Some homeschool parents choose this form of education because of the flexibility it provides. Children in a homeschool environment have the unique opportunity of being able to learn everywhere. Class does not necessarily have to be held behind four walls, sitting at a desk. Math and nutrition might be taught in a combination lesson at the local farmer's market, for instance. Of course, some learning will still be completed with paper, pencils, and books, but there is often more flexibility in a “home” learning environment. This flexibility could possibly be one reason some homeschool parents would choose not to hold school in a traditional school building.

What About Homeschool Co-Ops?

There actually are some homeschoolers who choose to learn together. This type of arrangement is often called a homeschool co-op. Usually in these arrangements, the classes are offered as a supplement to what the kids are already learning in homeschool. The classes are usually held only on certain days, still leaving room for the flexible learning environment that home school can provide. There also are homeschool co-ops in which a group of parents work together to form a teaching plan. In these type of arrangements, a parents who specializes in a certain area may have the opportunity to aid other students in that area.

Which Method is Best?

When deciding between public, private, or home school (or various homeschool options), the answer will differ for everyone. That's often why parents choose to homeschool, whether that occurs in a a school building or not. They likely have come to the conclusion that not all children have the same educational needs. What works for one child may not work for another. Education is about providing a child with the best learning opportunities possible. For the most information to be gained during learning, a child's individual needs, as well as the available options, should be taken into consideration.

Note: A special thanks to theBarefoot for asking this question. He's a freelance writer and IT expert who writes about a wide range of topics. His content subjects include politics, writing, news, relationships, and many more. Expect his work to be entertaining, informative, and engaging.


*I originally published a version of this via Yahoo Contributor Network

High school is an important transition in a teen's life. Not only will there be many changes a teenager goes through in these years, but it's also when preparations for adult life should be started. As a home school teacher, I have researched many sources on this topic. So, why is school choice important in high school, and what does it have to do with transitions?

College Preparation

Not all high schools offer the same classes and programs. Making the wrong school choice could limit the potential for college preparation and for earning some college credits early. High school is meant to be a place where students prepare for transitioning into college and eventually into a career. Without the classes and programs geared toward your teen's college, life, and career aspirations, it will severely be lacking in that department. Whether you go with public school, private school, an online high school, a home school tutor, homeschooling yourself, local community college courses, or any other choices, you need to keep college prep in mind during high school.

Career Preparation

Not only should high school be a building block to college prep, but it also should be a great career prep resource. This is the time where students need to decide which career choices they are interested in. That is plural for the simple fact that not all career choices will work out or hold a person's interest. Students should take their high school classes geared toward all their possible career choices. The issue with doing this is that not all schools will have everything a student may need. This is where school choice comes into play.

Social Life

Consider whether your teen's friends go to the same school or one nearby when making a school choice. Having friends within easy access can be beneficial toward a teen's positive attitude about school. The same holds true whether your teenager will attend public, private or home school. Friends should not be too far away, if at all possible.

Transportation

School choice also involves transportation at times. You may need to avoid schools that would require a questionable transportation plan. If you cannot figure out how your teen will get to school each day, chances are the school is too difficult to maintain a regular schedule with all year. Pick the school most suited to your child's needs and one that allows for a reliable and readily-accessible transportation plan.

Learning Styles

Not everyone learns in the same way. In a perfect world, all schools would accommodate for these different styles and teach accordingly. However, that is not how things work. This is yet another reason why school choice is so important. If you know that a school or teacher uses certain teaching methods that your teenager would benefit from, that school should be on your list of candidates.