HOMESCHOOL LEARNING STRATEGIES PERCEIVED TO INFLUENCE ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE, IN NAIROBI COUNTY, KENYA
Abstract
School operations are influenced by various theories and perspectives that individuals hold about what is beneficial for learners. Homeschooling critically examines traditional schooling while aiming to fulfil the educational purpose of academic learning. This narrative study investigated learning strategies in homeschooling that lead to academic success, guided by the research question: How can the quality of homeschooling education be enhanced? Drawing on social learning theory and through interviews with four homeschool educators in Nairobi County, Kenya, a thematic analysis of the collected data revealed six effective learning practices, including professional development, contextualized learning, fostering independent learners, and promoting greater parental involvement. The results indicate that both public school teachers and novice or experienced homeschool educators could improve their teaching and learning outcomes by adopting these practices and incorporating them into their professional development.
Keywords: Academic excellence, Homeschooling, homeschool educator, learning strategies, professional development
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