When it comes to children, one of the most important decisions parents will have to make is in regard to education. Private schools require tuition, but smaller class sizes. Public institutions provide more of a focus on core classes but are frequently underfunded, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. Although these may seem like the only options for families, there is another they may not have thought of initially: home schooling.

Home education utilizes a parent or tutor to teach students. Home schooling comes in a variety of forms, some more formal than others. It's important to understand, however, that there are compulsory attendance laws families must follow if they pursue this educational route. Let's take a look at the various forms of home education and what they offer parents and students:

All-in-one curricula

Parents looking to provide an educational experience similar to what their children would find in public or private schools will most likely use the school-at-home method, also known as all-in-one curricula. Families can purchase textbooks and class schedules from a home schooling service so their kids follow more of a structured curriculum. Furthermore, students under this system will take tests - both state-mandated and in the home - to measure their aptitude.

Not only does this option give students a drawn-out schedule to follow, it also gives parents and tutors a stricter idea of what lessons they should be covering on a daily basis.

Classical

The classical style of home schooling encourages students to learn for themselves. This format divides the educational process into three stages: grammar, dialectic and rhetoric. These phases break down as follows:

• Grammar: Learning words, phrases and terms associated with particular subjects through repetition and memorization of songs and chants.
• Dialectic: Serious studying, research and reading takes place, enabling students to ask questions to practice what they learned in the grammar stage.
• Rhetoric: This part focuses on communication to share the truths of certain subject matter through writing, speech and conversation.

In addition, many children will also go through a preparation stage, according to Homeschool.com. This portion will occur prior to the grammar step, which teaches students about the five R's: reason, record, research, relate and rhetoric.

Unschooling

Perhaps the most informal styles of home schooling is unschooling, which doesn't use a single curriculum. Instead, this method advocates for students to choose their own interests to learn. Fans of this technique claim unschooling fosters continued creativity, even after the required amount of education has passed.

Of course, children still learn subjects like math and science, but the education portion is based on their curiosity and interests in the specifics of the lessons. Since this type of learning is based on a student's freedom, kids do not take tests and are not required to follow state-mandated standards or schedules. Certain stipulations, including home visits and professional evaluations must be met, according to Outside Online.

Unschooling may be less common than other home schooling methods, but those families utilizing the tactic swear by its positive elements, especially in encouraging children to use their interests to learn more about the world.

Reasons for home schooling

All-in-one curricula, classical and unschooling are just a few forms of home schooling available to families. Others include autonomous learning, unit studies and the Waldorf method. Each learning style has its own pros and cons parents should consider before making their selection.

Since this decision is such an important one, it's crucial to understand why adults choose their educational route for their children. Today, 3 percent of students in the U.S. are home-schooled, according to a study from the National Center for Education Statistics. A high percentage of parents - 91 percent, to be exact - stated a concern for school environment as a cause for educating their child in their home, the report found. Other reasons included wanting to provide moral instruction and dissatisfaction with the academic instruction in other schools.

Home schooling is a viable option for parents deciding how to educate their children. This type of learning experience enables families to have more control over the curriculum and how it is taught in comparison to private and public schools. Selecting a student's education is an important decision for adults. While home schooling shouldn't be ruled out, it's crucial people complete the appropriate research and select a method that suits the individual needs of their children.