Over the years homeschooling websites have come and gone. These are some of the best that we have found — not all of them have fancy designs, but the resources are excellent and encouraging. As Home schooling in South Africa continues to grow in strength, we hope you value the resources included in this wonderful website.
The purpose of this website is to provide information on homeschooling to a South African audience.
A child can be taught by their parent, guardian or a tutor, regardless of the tutor’s qualifications. You do not need to be a qualified teacher to educate your child at home, and there are no home school qualifications you must receive. The success of home schooling depends on your child and how they best learn.
Homeschooling also allows you to choose whether to incorporate religion or not. Homeschool might offer more specialized educational attention for special needs children. Parents may have different educational philosophies than public school administrators and teachers. … The school day can actually be shortened for children.
What Is Homeschooling? A Guide for South Afrrican Parents and Students
More parents are now choosing to Homeschool instead of sending their children to public or private schools. Learn more about the homeschooling movement and what’s involved when parents educate their kids at home.
Homeschooling is a progressive movement around the country and the world, in which parents educate their children at home instead of sending them to a traditional public or private school. Families choose to homeschool for a variety of reasons, including dissatisfaction with the educational options available, different religious or educational philosophies, and the belief that children are not progressing within the traditional school structure. The recent COVID19 outbreak has caused a further push towards home based education.
What are the Requirements for Homeschooling Your Kids?
Legal requirements for homeschooling in the can be found here
How Do You Get Started with Homeschooling?
In almost all areas of the country, parents do not need an education degree to homeschool. Those with young children who have never attended a traditional classroom can begin a home education program when their child turns school age or even earlier, called grade RR. At that time they will start adhering to the requirements prescribed by the South African department of Education.
The process is slightly different for parents who have kids in school already and then decide to homeschool. They must first write a letter of withdrawal to the school principal or local superintendent. The letter should describe the parents’ intent to remove a child from school to begin homeschooling. After the notification, parents continue to follow their district’s specific guidelines.
Homeschoolers organize their days in whatever way works best for them. Many begin their schooling early in the morning, as in a traditional school, but some opt to make less distinction between “school” and “home.” If a child gets excited about a science experiment before bed, some parents follow the child’s enthusiasm to see where it leads; this becomes part of the school day as well.
The educational philosophy a homeschooling family chooses will significantly influence the structure of their days. Most of us are familiar with only one style of education—the traditional system of textbooks, desks in rows, and standardized testing—but a wide array of educational philosophies exists. These methods include Waldorf, Montessori, Charlotte Mason, classical, leadership education, interest-led learning, unit study, and more. Homeschoolers have the freedom to blend ideas that best meet their children’s needs.
Tips for Making a Homeschool Schedule
Homeschoolers organize their days in whatever way works best for them. Many begin their schooling early in the morning, as in a traditional school, but some opt to make less distinction between “school” and “home.” If a child gets excited about a science experiment before bed, some parents follow the child’s enthusiasm to see where it leads; this becomes part of the school day as well.
The educational philosophy a homeschooling family chooses will significantly influence the structure of their days. Most of us are familiar with only one style of education—the traditional system of textbooks, desks in rows, and standardized testing—but a wide array of educational philosophies exists. These methods include Waldorf, Montessori, Charlotte Mason, classical, leadership education, interest-led learning, unit study, and more. Homeschoolers have the freedom to blend ideas that best meet their children’s needs.
You might also be wondering if homeschoolers follow the public school calendar year. In fact, homeschoolers have complete freedom over the structure of their school year. Many follow the traditional school calendar, some school year-round, and others take off during specific weeks when they need breaks.
Planning a Curriculum for Homeschooling
The rapid increase in the number of homeschoolers has resulted in a wide variety of available curricula and resources. Catalogues are filled with a plethora of options based on different educational philosophies, learning approaches, the amount of time a homeschool teacher should devote to daily instruction, and so on. A Great homeschooling curriculum to look at is Syllabis Learning at homeschooling.syllabis.co.za
Families that homeschool often combine certain subjects that are not necessarily grade- or age-specific, such as history, literature, and the arts. For example, children of various ages might study the same historical time period together, and then be given assignments that reflect specific age and ability. For studies in other subjects, such as math and reading, a homeschooling parent might tutor each child one-on-one to meet the student’s individual needs. Meanwhile, depending on each child’s age, the other students may be working on solo assignments or playing in another room.
Homeschooling FAQ
Here are some commonly-asked questions about homeschooling your children.
Are homeschooled kids more behind or ahead than public school kids?
One of the advantages of homeschooling is that students can progress according to their own temperament and timetable. In a study done by the National Home Education Research Institute, homeschoolers had an average standardized test score in the 87th percentile, compared to the average score in the 50th percentile by children in public schools. They could, though, be several grades ahead in certain subjects but behind in others.
Does the state fund any homeschool programs?
Government-funded programs vary widely from state to state, but the majority of homeschooling families fund their children’s studies themselves. In certain areas, enrolment in a state-based program is optional. In that case, the state pays for specific resources in exchange for the homeschool meeting certain requirements to remain in the program.
Is there a network of parents who homeschool?
Homeschoolers in most Southern African countries and regions have access to an array of resources and social networks. In addition to forming co-ops, in which families group together to have classes, there are social events such as lectures, field trips, art classes, music instruction, sports, and playdates.
What happens if the parent is sick?
One of homeschooling’s biggest advantages is the flexibility it offers. A sick parent can still ensure that the most essential aspects of the day’s work get accomplished, providing instruction from bed if necessary. Group work that requires the sick parent’s direct involvement may be cancelled for the day, but the parent could still supervise any individual work the child needs to do—like penmanship or reading beside Mom in bed. In two-parent families, both parents can contribute according to their schedules.
Do homeschooled kids receive homework? How do they receive objective grades?
In many ways homeschooling lessens the need for traditional homework often required by schools, particularly for elementary school-age kids. Without 20 or more children in one class, schoolwork can often be completed in a shorter time frame during the school day, eliminating the need for extra work afterward.
Acting as a one-on-one tutor, the parent-teacher constantly observes the children as they learn. This direct observation allows a parent to keep track of a child’s proficiency in or struggles. Assignments are then tailored accordingly.
Home-schooled children, especially as they grow older, often attend more traditional classes, giving them experience in completing more typical homework assignments. Some public schools allow homeschoolers to attend certain classes that they choose. As they get older, home-schooled kids may enrol in community college classes and begin their college studies early.
Although grades in certain subjects are not always needed, many families do administer graded tests, some through computer programs. The homeschooling environment allows children to progress at their own pace until they have mastered the necessary materials.
Do homeschooled kids need to take standardized or state-mandated tests in order to move to the next grade or to “graduate”?
A number of Southern African countries and regions require standardized testing at specific intervals; others don’t. Some families prefer to have their kids tested to ensure that the children are progressing academically. Other homeschoolers believe there is no need for such testing until a child reaches high school.
How long does homeschooling last?
Homeschooling can continue until a student graduates and enters college. Families may choose to homeschool throughout their children’s education, or they may do so for only a few years before transferring their kids back into a mainstream school system. Most colleges are beginning to take note of homeschooling’s popularity. Even Ivy League universities have recruited and accepted homeschooled graduates.
