How to Know if a Micro School is Right for Your Child
Parents looking to homeschool their children have many options available. One option is joining a micro school – an organization that provides instruction for young people through the Internet. While this may sound like it’s nothing more than a glorified correspondence course, it actually involves much more. Here you can learn everything you need to know about becoming part of a micro school.
What Is A Micro School?
A micro school is a small group of like-minded families who work together to help educate their young people, typically by using the Internet as the primary medium for instruction. This can be done via closed chat rooms or discussion boards and/or by using either pre-recorded video lectures or live online instruction, with the latter conducted by a teacher who may either be a paid staff member or an independently contracted third party.
In addition to homeschooling their children, micro school families usually participate in other activities together. This can include field trips (often virtual) and organized community service projects designed to help make the world a better place while at the same time allowing kids to gain valuable real world experience.
Why Join A Micro School?
The concept of the micro school has its origins in times long gone, and indeed this is perhaps best seen in America’s earliest days when it was common for parents and friends to gather together with their children or young adults, often while learning from one another at the same time.
Today, micro schools for homeschooled kids continue this tradition by providing adults and teens with an opportunity to do what many people love most – namely learning from others who share their values and life experiences. In a sense, it’s like having one of the world’s best teachers in your own home, only one who is available every single day.
In addition to saving families money on school fees (micro school programs are usually free), micro schools also help kids avoid the pitfalls of public school education, including bullying and poor teacher-parent relations. Instead, children get to learn from like-minded individuals who fully understand what today’s youth must deal with.
Perhaps best of all, being involved in a micro school helps youth develop the skills they need to become productive members of society. This includes the confidence to speak publicly and to work alongside others while making decisions which affect themselves and others. These skills help prepare teens for life after school (which can be better than high school), while at the same time giving them the foundation they need to continue learning.
How Do I Find A Micro School?
There are two main ways to find a micro school: either by word of mouth or via the Internet. With regard to the latter, there are numerous micro schools online, most of which can be accessed by searching for the words “micro school”. These sites should give you all the information you need to join.
However, if you want to speak with people in real life before joining such a program, it’s important that you check out any micro school first. This can be done by simply visiting its physical address (if it has one) and asking about their curriculum, what age group it serves, its history, and how much individual instruction it provides. Also ask if you can speak with one of the school’s students or former students to get a first-hand account.
Once you’ve done this, make an appointment to tour the premises and interview someone from the organization (preferably both) while also offering to bring your child with you. Don’t forget to ask what the school’s discipline policy is, or if it even has one.
Micro schools are a great option for homeschooling parents, and they can also be a wonderful first step on the road toward greater educational freedom for all.
