Homeschooling
Have you homeschooled or considered homeschooling your child / children? I have.
Soon after we found out my wife was pregnant with our first child, I mentioned to her the idea of homeschooling. She was immediately put off by the idea. As graduates of public schools, we had never discussed the idea of homeschooling. But I wanted us to consider it because I saw major benefits from the idea:
Personalized learning
Students can pursue their own interests
No bullying or any of the other effects of a toxic school environment
Ability to incorporate real-world projects into the curriculum
Studies suggest homeschooling children tend to do better on standardized tests
I was excited about the possibility and saw a lot of potential in the approach, especially since education software had come a long way in the past 10 years. From my work on Knowmedge and tutoring SAT students, I knew education software had come a long way. From comprehensive, adaptive, video-based platforms like Khan Academy, Coursera, and Udemy to interactive exam prep software, the ability to learn everything online was certainly available.
There are, of course, downsides to homeschooling:
Requires full-time commitment from a parent
Lack of easily available opportunities to build social skills and collaborate with classmates
Even in the digital age we live in, there are still a lot of benefits from working alongside classmates and colleagues. And we know communication and collaboration skills are two of the most critical skills to develop for students in the 21st century, according to the National Education Association (NEA).
So can you get the benefits of homeschooling without the disadvantages of it? That is where my search for a better approach to education started.
It led me straight to Acton Academy.
Jeff Sandefer's Ted Talk was the Aha moment for me personally. It led me to read Courage to Grow by Laura Sandefer and set me on the path to Austin, TX, where original Acton Academy is headquartered. The fundamental premise of Acton is that every child is a genius. It is the mission of Acton to help each child find their personal calling that will change the world. Learners at Acton must master core skills and gain real world experience. At the same time, Acton students have the flexibility to pursue their own passion and interests during and after school (no homework or tests). The one-room schoolhouse approach allows for a tight knit community where students can collaborate and build essential communication and social skills.
I was blown away at how much the students were learning and how much fun they were having doing it.
Acton is a revolution in education. With the internet and advancements in education software, it is now possible to pursue a comprehensive, personalized blended learning approach in a way that wasn't possible even 20 years ago. It is possible to have the benefits and flexibility of homeschooling without the disadvantages of it. Acton makes it possible and I can't wait for my daughter to get started on her personal hero's journey!