Compare Homeschooling, Unschooling, and Online School

Getting a Visual

Hello, Parent! While they have their similarities, homeschooling, unschooling (also known as the informal version of homeschooling), and online school (also known as virtual school or eLearning) can look different to many families. To explain it, we will compare homeschooling, unschooling, and online school. Let’s start by addressing what they would look like:

I. Homeschool Looks Like:

Parents using curriculums or premade guidelines, workbooks, and hands-on activities. They may also use computers so children can access fun learning activities on websites like IXL.

II. Unschooling Looks Like:

Identifying what your child needs to learn on your own and utilizing hands-on activities, activity pads, and worksheets. They may or may not use electronics to do fun activities.

III. Online School (eLearning) Looks Like:

Utilizing computers and primarily having an online teacher govern your child’s education, also known as virtual learning. If you use an online tool such as Mia Academy or what we hope to offer soon, that is not online school, it’s a curriculum tool for parents.

 

Pros & Cons

It is so important to note that while unschooling is a subcategory of homeschooling, online school (eLearning) is not a form of homeschooling. Programs such as K-12 and Connections Academy are online schools, where your child’s educational journey is being crafted, molded, and governed by public or private school guidelines. While there is nothing wrong with your choice, it is vital to know what your family identifies as: homeschoolers, unschoolers, or online schoolers!

Homeschooling Pro’s and Cons

Pro:

• Parent knows what their child is learning
• One-on-one learning
• Community within Moms
• With the right resources, can be low-cost
• Plenty of resources to make sure your child excels in every area you choose
• Special Needs children do not get left behind because YOU are guiding their education
• Sick days can be made up easily because you have a full 365 days to choose 180 days that count towards homeschool records!

Con:

• Requires some time and research
• Requires lifestyle changes for some parents
• Can be overwhelming without the right guidance
• Trial and error can be very upsetting alone

 

Unschooling Pro’s and Cons

Pro:

• ALL OF THE SAME PROS AS HOMESCHOOLING!

Con:

• Requires the most time and research due to the lack of curriculum and guidance
• Negative connotation because of the name
• Often misunderstood

 

Online School (eLearning) Pro’s and Cons

Pro:

• Usually free programs and academies exist
• Do not need to keep records, child enrolled in government-based education
• They are great at catching special needs early

Con:

• Requires little time and research
• Education is not tailored to your child but general statistics
• Parent does not get as much personal one-on-one learning without burning out the child (some cases, not all)
• Most programs are a bit fast-paced for some children with special needs, though they do try to accommodate them
• Children can and WILL skip through assignments without learning material
• Inconsistent Schedules (For instance, K-12 will have classes at 8am one day and the next day classes start at 1pm)
• Sick Days negatively count against attendance

Key Differences

So, let’s summarize everything for you. Homeschooling and Unschooling are one and the same. Unschooling families usually are free-birds, where parents focus on hands-on activities and getting out in nature to hit their child’s milestones! Homeschooling families are only a slight bit more structured, where parents use workbooks, hands-on activities, outdoor activities, and guideline curriculums such as our Ultimate Homeschool Curriculum Guide to foster their child’s milestones. And online school, or eLearning, families will have almost all of their work and teaching done on a computer by certified teachers, just like public or private schools but at home, or online colleges.

 

Anytime you need to compare homeschooling, unschooling, and online school, we will be here for you!

 

 

References & Links

Elliott, K. (n.d.). The Ultimate Homeschool Curriculum Guide. Get your hands on the homeschool curriculum guide now! https://bykarlieelliott.systeme.io/b30f6b4f

Free 120+ homeschool activity guide for pre K. (n.d.). https://the-monea-academy.kit.com/1e30fd8763

Frequently asked home-schooling questions. K12. (2024, September 20). https://www.k12.com/frequently-asked-homeschooling-questions/#:~:text=Is%20K12%20different%20than%20homeschool,not%20the%20same%20as%20homeschool.

Gray, P., & Riley, G. (2013). The challenges and benefits of unschooling, according to … Journal of Unschooling and Alternative Learning 2013 Vol. 7 Issue 14. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Gina-Riley-2/publication/305720522_The_Challenges_and_Benefits_of_Unschooling_According_to_232_Families_Who_Have_Chosen_that_Route/links/579b8a8d08ae5d5e1e138042/The-Challenges-and-Benefits-of-Unschooling-According-to-232-Families-Who-Have-Chosen-that-Route.pdf

IXL: Math, Language Arts, science, Social Studies, and Spanish. IXL Learning. (n.d.). https://www.ixl.com/