Questions About Online School: What Must You Consider?

Do you have questions about online school and homeschooling? We are going to start by asking YOU questions before we can answer your questions about e-learning…….

Whether you are new to homeschooling and just trying to figure it all out or you are a current homeschooling mom looking to add a few online classes, we can help. We’ve been successfully doing online school for 6 years!

Start by asking yourself these 12 important questions about online school.

Do you want to be your child’s primary teacher?

The answer to this question is important. Are you looking for an online curriculum in which your child will have a designated teacher for each subject, or online work that you will be managing and overseeing? Both exist!

Do you want to grade your child’s work or have their work graded by a teacher?

Another important question- keep in mind, it can be a combination of the two. These first two questions really help to determine how much overseeing you want to be doing..

Do you work, and if so, how much time do you want to spend homeschooling or assisting with online school?

Really consider this. As a working mom of two kids participating in online school, it can be done. You just need to decide how much time you can truly dedicate to helping without pulling your hair out – it’s best to figure that out before you choose e-learning curriculum.

Do you / can you transport your kid(s) to a Co-Op (like a school) or to field trips?

This matters because you may want to open-enroll or dual-enroll into a school district that offers a Co-Op. Don’t worry if you don’t know the answer to this yet. Just figure out if you can / want to drive to a different location for schooling / field trips a few times per month- this will also determine what route you choose for schooling.

Does your child already participate in extracurricular activities?

Yet another question related to your future path- are you considering online school because your child is highly involved in sports or other activities? This will influence the curriculum you choose as you may want or need more flexibility.

Does your child want to participate in school sports or activities like band, chorus, or theater?

This question is also related to open-enrollment and / or dual enrollment. Depending on the state you live in, children who are homeschooled may be able to participate in sports and / or other activities – it’s something to ask yourself now. If your child is in 9th grade or above and interested in college athletics, you need to consider eligibility with the NCAA– plenty of resources are available to help..

Do you want a curriculum that is based on ‘Common Core’?

This is a really important question to consider and you don’t have to have a definitive answer- but you do have to think deeply about it. It will influence the type of e-learning curriculum you start looking at.

What type of technical equipment do you have available for your child to use?

Think about how many children you have and what type of tech you have available. Do you have a laptop or iPad for each child? Will you be sharing? These are important questions when considering online school options.

Do you prefer live online classes or more of a flex version (eg, a recording) to go through at your own pace?

Both of these are wonderful options and things to consider. Would you prefer a recorded type curriculum that your child can log into as they choose, or do you want something where they have live, online interaction? Or both?

Do you want an “All-In-One” program or you do you want to piece together your homeschool / online curriculum together?

Simply put, this question is asking if you want to use one specific online curriculum provider for all your child’s e-learning / schooling or if you want to piece it together with various options.

What motivates your child?

Let’s be honest here. Some kids are self-directed, self-motivated learners. I have three learners and all three are different. Think about what motivates yours. This will help you determine the best path forward in e-learning.

What is your budget for homeschool / online school?

Last but not least, what kind of budget do you have available for online classes? Some of top online providers can be quite expensive, but don’t worry- they often offer coupons or multi-student discounts, and provide a quality experience. However, it’s an important thing to determine from the outset.

Comment below your answers to these questions about online school and be sure to join our private Facebook Group for answers to these questions and more.

Got your answers to these questions? Now move onto the next step-

Check out the:

4 Main Types of Online School

Questions to Ask BEFORE Signing Up for an Online Class