What is a hybrid education? A hybrid education is a blend of homeschooling and classroom education. Your child may attend a hybrid two or four days a week. Some hybrid schools already have a set curriculum.
That curriculum will be what the homeschool parent follows on the days the child is home. Parents will oversee their child’s work, depending on the age parents with younger children will need to be more directly involved.
Not all hybrids have a set curriculum. Allowing parents to supplement and teach their own subjects that best fit their child’s needs. Hybrids are taught by certified teachers, retired teachers, tutors, and sometimes parents who are experts in certain subjects.
It’s an excellent balance between 1:1 homeschool learning and a classroom environment. Hybrid schools are often set up in churches, but some have their own building and space.
How it works? Most hybrid schools keep the traditional school hours from either 8am-3pm or 9am-3pm and are drop off.
Some run on a college-like schedule offering certain classes Monday/ Wednesday or Tuesday/Thursday. Others are Monday-Thursday with Fridays being optional and usually used for an activity day.
What sets hybrids apart is that your child is not confined to a desk for 7 hours 5 days a week. Classes often take place in indoor and outdoor settings.
Let’s investigate some of the perks of the hybrid model.
1. Helpful
Homeschooling is a lot of rewarding work, but it still can be daunting at times. Perhaps you’re not ready to take on full-time homeschooling.
The hybrid model is beneficial when you don’t want to take on all the responsibility of teaching.
It allows your student to learn from others and gives parents a break.
2. Structured
Homeschooling requires organization and structure to be successful. Hybrids add structure to homeschooling by providing parents with set days and a curriculum to follow.
You know what two or three days a week your child will attend school and what days your child will be home.
You continue with the same curriculum as the hybrid or supplement with your own.
3. Flexible
Hybrids allow the parent to pick how many days they would like to send their child to school.
Some families may only opt to have their child attend a hybrid two days a week and want to homeschool them the rest of the week, with a hybrid model that’s easy to do.
Depending on the hybrid school you can enroll your child in for a specific class, multiple classes, half a day, or all day.
Some hybrids give no homework, and all work is completed in the classroom that same day.
4. Control
Parents are still very much in control of their child’s education.
There is full transparency of what is being taught, and parents and teachers work together.
5. Accountability
The hybrid model holds parents accountable.
The work that’s done in the classroom follows the student home where the parents will help their child complete any tasks that were given during the day.
6. Socialization
Children get to participate in a classroom environment on hybrid days. The hybrid model allows kids to be around other homeschooled kids in smaller, controlled settings.
They have an opportunity to engage with their peers, make friends & play games.
Let’s get started!
Hybrid education is not new but has been gaining more in popularity since the pandemic. A work-life balance is something most families strive for but is difficult to accomplish in the traditional school setting.
The hybrid model allows for freedom and flexibility to educate your child in the way that best fits them and your family. Although hybrid schools range in price they are much cheaper than private schools.
Every hybrid is structured differently. The best way to get a feel for a hybrid school is to check a few out.
Click on the links below to investigate some homeschool hybrids.
North Pointe Christian Schools
Severn Run Classical Christian Homeschool Academy
Know of a great homeschool hybrid? Share it with me below.