Homeschooling – Shape Your Child’s Future

Homeschooling – Shape Your Child’s Future

Schooling at home is called homeschooling. This is where children are educated at home, either by their parents, or by private tutors. Homeschooling has become popular these days especially with kids whose parents have a shifting job. This is more convenient, as shifting schools is not only a problem for the parents, but also it may disturb the child’s study cycle.

Why go for home schooling?

Many parents also believe that home schooling can provide their children a custom and complete education, which many believe is inaccessible in private or public schools. Home schooling is known to be the traditional method of teaching. Some parents also feel that along with education on various subjects, religious education is equally necessary. Most times it is not available in public schools. It may be available in private schools, but they may be too expensive for the family to afford, or faith taught in schools may be different from their family religion.

Know your child’s learning style:

The parents should see to it that their children are not debarred from any of the education available in schools. Try to study your child and observe his or her interests. Some children show signs from a very early age. They may be into outdoor games, like to play with colors or music. Some may like mechanical stuff like counting and building blocks, modeling clay, putting lego together, or they may like to read, or listen to recordings of storybooks. This way you will know how to deal with them, teach them, and mould their interests. Children learn in different ways; by touching and handling things, by listening, and by visual methods like reading. They tend to be very inquisitive and love to learn new things.

You can get DVD’s and instructional videos about life, science, geography etc. This way they will be exposed to a wide concept about everything around them. National Geographic has come up with lovely series which are very informative. You can get these DVD’s from stores, and they are easily available these days. Interesting and stimulating videos will help the children develop their mental faculties and will entertain them at the same time.

Teaching at home is much less expensive, as for a private school you will end up paying up to amounts of $3500 or more. But never try to skimp on this expense. Try and set aside a specified amount for home school supplies so that you would not have to compromise on their quality of education. This way you can buy those encyclopedia Britannica DVD’s or painting brushes you need, without affecting your family budget.

Homeschooling has its own benefits. Your children would always be under your watch. Also you would know about their progress, so if they are lagging behind in some subjects, you would be able to help them. Sometimes you may have to face volumes of questions from other parents which may not be very encouraging, but that should not discourage you from what you are doing, because you would know what’s best for your children. Never forget that it is the outcome that is important so always focus your educational goals.

The Top Ten Pros And Cons Of Homeschooling

Deciding to homeschool your children is a big step for the entire family, and it should be weighed very carefully in advance. There are both benefits and disadvantages that should be considered honestly and without bias, and so here are the top 10 pros and cons of homeschooling.

Pros

1. Perhaps the biggest advantage to homeschooling your children is that you know exactly what they are learning and have complete control over when and how they learn it.

2. Another big advantage is being able to allow each child to learn at their own pace without either having to keep up with an entire classroom of faster learners, or be bored because they are way ahead of everyone else in class.

3. You are also able to impart instruction not only on academic matters but also help transfer the values and beliefs of your family to your children without interference.

4. Another great benefit of homeschooling your children is being able to protect them from negative influences that they may become exposed to in the public school or private school system. This could include intense peer pressure, bullies, drugs, and so forth.

5. Homeschooling also allows you to become more familiar with your children’s natural talents and abilities so you can help steer their education toward a career that they would enjoy.

Cons

1. Perhaps one of the biggest disadvantages of homeschooling that is commonly expressed by some parents is the feeling that you never have any time to yourself, or just a break from the children.

2. Of course, the cost factor is also somewhat of a disadvantage, as you will most likely spend more money on homeschooling your children than you would on sending them to public school.

3. It’s also a challenge, but not impossible, to help arrange socializing for your children with others that are their own age.

4. You may also encounter unexpected opposition and resistance from family and friends who do not understand your decision to homeschool your children.

5. You’ll need to be exceptionally organized as both a parent and teacher in order to get housework and homeschooling accomplished in the same day.

As you can see, there are plenty of both pros and cons to homeschooling your children. And there is no right or wrong answer for every parent when it comes to making this kind of decision. So take your time, consider the information in this article, and make your decision based on what will be best for you and your children.

Homeschooling: The Top 5 Tips For Success In Homeschooling Your Children

Making the decision to homeschool your children should not be taken lightly as it will have a definite impact on everyone in the family. The good news though is that families from all walks of life, all sorts of different backgrounds, and from every kind of income level are successfully homeschooling their children. So here are the top five steps for homeschooling success.

1. First and foremost, you’ll need to have the willing support of everyone in the family including your children and your spouse if you are going to make this whole new educational adventure work. If you have a lot of emotional and behavioral issues with your children, than most likely homeschooling will not be a good choice for you at this time. Likewise if your mate is not ready to completely support you in this endeavor, you can expect some very rough patches ahead. So try to get everyone in the family to commit to giving homeschooling their best support if you want long term success.

2. Before you begin homeschooling honestly appraise your daily schedule and make sure that you are going to have enough time to be able to handle not only all of the school related activities that you will be involved in such as teaching, preparing for the next lessons, grading papers, overseeing class projects and so on, but also be able to handle the normal household and daily chores as well. When you make the decision to homeschool your children, you’ll need to bring a good measure of organizational skills in order to get everything done each day. You also have to realize that some of your own personal time will have to be sacrificed more often than you would sometimes like.

3. Another important consideration that needs to be made before you begin homeschooling is whether or your family can survive financially on only one income or not. Because of the demands that homeschooling places on the time and efforts of the parent that is teaching, its very difficult for both parents to be able to work and bring in income. So it would be very wise for you to go over the family finances in advance and make sure that whatever income can be generated by the parent who is working will be sufficient to handle the monthly bills.

4. Consideration should also be given to how you plan on providing social interaction for your children with others of varying age levels. It’s important for them to get to know people outside of the family, so well supervised social events can be important to their emotional development. Very often, homeschool support groups in many areas are able to provide this kind of socialization for all of the families who take part in the group.

5. Finally, get to know others in your area who are already homeschooling their children successfully. Try to find out as much as you can about the whole process before you even begin, and then stay in touch with these families for support as you start this new educational adventure. No one can understand the challenges that homeschooling brings as well as those who have actually lived it themselves, so make good use of the friends and contacts that you make in the homeschooling community.

Homeschooling is a challenge to be sure, but it can also be richly rewarding and satisfying. Hopefully, the suggestions given above will help you be able to be more confident and successful in homeschooling your children.

Homeschooling: Answers To The Most Common Misconceptions About Homeschooling

Although almost 2 million families homeschool their children, there continues to be many misconceptions about the entire process. As always, it’s best to help illuminate the facts instead of feeding the misunderstandings, and so here are the answers to the most common misconceptions about homeschooling.

1. A homeschool education simply cannot compare to a more traditional one.

Actually, test scores seem to indicate that homeschooled children in general test well above average across the country regardless of income, race or the level of education of the parent.

2. Homeschooled children will not be able to get into college.

This is also a misconception as more and more colleges and universities are admitting homeschoolers into their program including such well recognized institutions as Harvard and Yale. In order to qualify for these schools, homeschooled children will most likely have to submit samples of their work, along with letters of recommendation, and CLEP and SAT test results in order to verify the quality of their education.

3. Homeschooled children are not able to develop social skills.

Many people seem to feel that if a child does not attend a public or private school, they will not be able to develop the social skills needed to function well in the adult world. However, the negative behavior problems associated with many children in the school system has been well documented in recent years, and there is no firm evidence that simply attending school helps children develop social skills that will be valuable later on in life.

Most homeschooling parents realize the need for their children to interact with others of their own age as well as adults too, and so they often arrange for well supervised activities where their children can socialize with others of many different age levels. Quite often, there are even homeschool support groups in various areas that help supply social experiences for the families that take part in their group.

4. Homeschooling is only for the wealthy as it is very expensive.

The truth is that homeschooling can be as expensive as you wish to make it. There are expensive homeschooling materials and curriculums that are available complete with video instruction. However there is no evidence that such educational materials are any more effective overall than more simple and inexpensive ones. Many families who homeschool can find excellent used books and materials online, or even make use of those that are found at the local library. At any rate, the evidence seems to suggest that homeschooled children even from the poorest families often seem to be getting a quality education and scoring well on their test scores.

5. Homeschooling is not legal.

Actually, homeschooling is legal in every state in the United States, although there are different governing requirements set out by the individual states. Some states seem to be more homeschool friendly than others, but there are successful homeschoolers in every state in the country.

If you’re considering homeschooling your children, do not be surprised if you meet with opposition and resistance from family or friends who may bring up some of the misconceptions that are covered in this particular article. Hopefully the information provided here can help you better answer these misunderstandings when they arise.

Homeschooling Children with Autism: 5 Reasons Why It Works

As a homeschooling parent of a child with autism, I am often asked, “How do you do it?” It takes dedication, planning, and research, of course, but I find that it is not all that difficult when I remember why I do it.

There are 5 primary reasons why homeschooling is the best option for my child:

1. One-to-one instruction provides for optimal learning.
It is a generally-accepted educational principle that the lower the teacher-to-student ratio, the more effective the teaching can be. Most parents realize that the more students a teacher has, the less attention and direct instruction each student will receive from the teacher. One-to-one instruction is always preferred for private lessons or tutoring because the lessons can be customized to the student’s ability in order to maximize their progress in the shortest amount of time.

Homeschooling or private tutoring offers a child with autism the opportunity to make the most of their learning potential. The child receives more direct instruction time, immediate feedback, and teaching that is tailored to their learning style and strengths. Due to the individualized instruction he or she receives, the child with autism is able to experience success on a daily basis which helps improve their self-esteem. Feelings of success are something that many children with autism do not experience in a typical school setting.

2. The environment can be adapted to the child’s sensory needs.

In a home setting, it is much easier to control the learning environment. Unlike a classroom situation where other students can be a big distraction from learning, homeschooling parents can structure an environment that is best suited to their child’s needs. Whether it is a quiet room, special lighting, background music, or breaks for sensory issues, the home can be an ideal educational setting.

3. Homeschooling offers flexible scheduling.

With fewer distractions and more direct instruction, home-schooled students require less of their time to be spent on schoolwork. There is no time wasted on the taking of attendance, class announcements, student reprimands, repetitive teaching on a subject the student has already mastered, etc.

The school day can also be planned around the child’s best time for learning. Some children with autism are “night-owls” by nature and have a difficult time going to bed early and getting up early for school. We can adjust our hours of instruction to correspond with the times that the child is naturally most alert and able to focus. We can also schedule shorter learning sessions throughout the day with plenty of breaks as needed. Shorter sessions also promote greater intensity and concentration on academic tasks resulting in the child retaining more of the material being taught.

Most parents quickly realize that another benefit of homeschooling is the fact that you can plan field trips during the week when places are less crowded. This is a big advantage for children with autism who may not do well with large groups of people.

4. The child has a better opportunity for positive socialization.

All socialization is not beneficial for our children. In schools, you must take the bad with the good. In a home setting, parents have more say in determining when their children are ready for specific social situations. For more on the topic of schools and socialization, see my article entitled, “Social Skills and Autism – Where’s the Best Place for Socialization?”


5. The child’s interests can be incorporated into their schoolwork.
Anything that your child is interested in can form the basis for their studies. In homeschooling circles, this is referred to as unit studies. You take any topic of interest and design a complete educational program around that topic. This approach works well for reluctant learners who say that school is boring.

For my family, homeschooling is a great time-saver that allows us to focus our attention on constructive social opportunities, educational field trips, and practical daily living skills. We don’t have to worry about which teacher our child is going to have every year nor do we have to spend most of the year trying to help the teacher “get to know” our child and their needs. We don’t have to fight the school district for services or for the correct implementation of services that were promised. We don’t have to waste our time going back and forth to school or to school-related meetings.

Simply put, homeschooling offers my son with autism a method of instruction that works efficiently and effectively to enable him to achieve his highest potential.

The Power of Homeschooling

There are 3 powerful reasons why homeschooling works. These include:

(1.) Homeschooling enables exposure to a broad range of people, ideas, and places. Homeschooling is so flexible that it allows family field trips whenever you want. This provides a great way to learn through taking tours, meeting knowledgeable people, and volunteering. What is even better is that you can take advantage of these opportunities during the week when there aren’t crowds and when the tour guides, or educators, have time to answer your individual questions. Add in some library books and videos, the writing of thank you notes, the writing of a portfolio entry describing your “adventure,” and the possibility of giving an oral presentation to other homeschoolers and you’ll see just how powerful this can truly be. This also teaches your child(ren) that there are great teachers to be found in every walk of life.

(2.) If you own your own home business, homeschooling provides opportunities to teach your child(ren) business skills. Starting a home business today is relatively easy and painless. Involving your child(ren) in your home business is an excellent opportunity to teach them skills which will serve them well in any livelihood they might choose as adults. Just think of the various business opportunities that avail themselves. For instance, you can teach your child(ren) how to do basic bookkeeping on the computer.

(3.) Homeschooling allows great flexibility for vacations. You can easily take vacations in the off-season when prices are significantly lower and crowds are rare. For instance, if your family enjoys camping, you can go during the week, or in the weeks before Memorial Day and after Labor Day.

As you can easily see, homeschooling allows a family to do so much of what they truly love to do. That is the greatest power of homeschooling.

5 Advantages Of Homeschooling

What makes homeschooling better than traditional schooling? Lately, there is a rising trend in families choosing to homeschool their child than send their child to a traditional educational institution.

Let’s look at some of the benefits of homeschooling over traditional schooling:

1. Flexible Schedule

Homeschooling enables a flexible schedule. For example, the child does not need to wake up at 7 every morning. With homeschooling, your child can start homeschooling at 9am or later depending on your preferred schedule. You can schedule your child’s homeschooling education as you see fit with materials or subjects that may be not available in a traditional school.

You can tailor the homeschool curriculum to suit the needs and interest of your child.

2. Individual attention

In a traditional school setting, thirty to forty students are assigned to a teacher in class. Therefore usually, the teacher cannot devote 100 percent attention to any child since it will not be fair to the other children. Plus, it is quite impossible to provide individual attention to all students.

With homeschooling, your child gets all the individual attention he/she needs. For example, if your child is weak in mathematics, you could devote more time and energy into teaching mathematics.

Your child’s homeschooling schedule can be adjusted to crater for that. For example, if your child is better at science than at mathematics, simple devote more homeschooling hours to mathematics and cut back on science. With homeschooling, the choice is yours. Traditional schools can’t do that.

3. Family Activity

The schooling of the child can become an extended family activity. Examples are field trips and experiments. Plus, the child also receives more quality time with his/her parents. There is more time for family bonding. The child is also free of any negative peer pressure or influences.

4. No peer pressure

With homeschooling, the child does not need to prove his/her abilities to other children. Parents are able to deeply understand their child better with homeschooling and therefore are able to plan the learning program according to his strengths and weakness.

Parents can also change the curriculum to suit the learning style of the child. For example, some children learn better from reading while others need to write. Some children even learn better from experiencing or seeing things in action.

5. Religion Learning

Religious learning is a sensitive issue hence most traditional schools shunned it. However, with homeschooling, parents can take control over the moral and religious learning of the child. Parents can impart their ideologies and deep beliefs into the child rather than let the school dictate what moral and religious education the child will be receiving.

Homeschooling is the best way to educate a child as you can see from the advantages listed below. If you have the time, the interest and the ability, why not give it a try?

Homeschooling – A Real Benefit

There are so many problems with our schools today that it can be a difficult choice to put your child on that bus each morning and send them away to an institution where it is likely little or no learning will take place throughout the day. Consider homeschooling your child. There are so many wonderful advantages.

One of the best things about homeschooling your child is the fact that you get to control what your children learn and when they learn it. There are so many worthless things being taught in our schools today. There are things your children shouldn’t be learning. There are certainly age appropriate things that school districts tend to think are appropriate at increasingly, and alarmingly, earlier ages. The ability to control this is a real plus to homeschooling. Another advantage to homeschooling is that you can show your children that learning is a fun, exciting process that they should continue for the remainder of their lives. The schools of today simply cannot meet this need for most children. You can also build a great relationship with your child through homeschooling that simply would not be possible if you continued to send them away from you each day. Moreover, no matter what your child’s strengths and weaknesses, you can give your child the personal attention they need in every subject area. If your child struggles with a particular subject, you can help them to understand the material better. If your child has an area he or she is great in, you can help them to further their knowledge. Finally, homeschooling allows you to protect your children from all of the negative things outside of your home. No longer will they have to be afraid of bullies at school. They will not have to see drug deals in front of their lockers. You will be able to keep them safe from many of the negative influences our school systems breed.

Consider homeschooling your child and you won’t regret your decision.

Transitioning To Homeschooling

If you have made the decision to homeschool and part of that decision will involve transitioning your child(ren) out of the public school system, there are some aspects worth considering.

Once your kids begin their educational life outside of the public school, there will be a transition time for them; as there would be a transition time for anyone undergoing change in their life and their routines. If this is about to become your homeschooling scenario you should understand that the time after the public school, yet before you begin homeschooling is a good time to help your child through this period and prepare for their upcoming new educational experience. It’s important to use this time to help your child understand that learning and their education can take place with their home and their family unit.

Even once your homeschooling year begins it’s important to understand that your child will probably still need some time to adjust to the new routine and the new freedoms of education at home. Early on, let your child dip their toe into the water of homeschooling before jumping in. Remember, aside from the teachings, the lessons, and the learning, this will indeed be quite a different environment for your child as opposed the the bells, the crowded halls, and all the noise and distractions they have become accustom to in their previous learning environment. So, some decompression time may well be in order for them.

During this time, don’t worry about setting expectations too high, or feel as though if you don’t get started ‘doing’ something you will soon fall behind schedule. Remember, flexibility and scheduling is one of the great benefits to homeschooling. Relax. Besides, I truly believe you’ll soon find that once you do get into the rhythm of your schedule, you’ll find that with the individual attention that your child receives with each subject, they’ll soon not only make up for any early lost time, but they’ll probably surpass what you even had scheduled initially!

Use the transition or decompression time to talk with your child about what it is that they are really interested in and what they like to learn about and dream about. Talk to them about setting little and longer term goals and how by reaching each little goal one at a time they are on their way to realizing their dream. Let them know that they will be able to learn and study subject matter that they are interested in much greater detail than they have ever been able to before. Get their mind jump started on all the great projects and subject that you will cover with them in your new homeschooling environment. If you do this, you’ll find that your kids will make it through the transition from traditional education to homeschool education excited and energized about these wonderful possibilities to learning.

5 Homeschooling Mistakes That Are Easy To Make, And Easier To Avoid

1. Setting the Bar Too Low

Research has shown that one of the greatest determining factors in a student’s performance is teacher expectation. This is no different for your homeschool student. You may think the world of your little angel, but every parent has their biases. Admit it. Maybe it has crossed your mind that while Bobby is a genius in math, he really struggles at reading. Perhaps Emma loves to read aloud, but she isn’t the best with numbers. Don’t feel bad, every parent has preconceived ideas about their child’s ability and you are no different. However, in order for your student to reach their full potential, it is imperative that you set aside any notions you have about their ability and go into every lesson knowing that they will succeed. When you expect the best, you get the best.

2. Teaching the Way YOU Liked to Learn

You may have heard from others, or experienced yourself, that certain types of teaching styles are more successful than others. I understand this firsthand. Those of us with a lesser ability to navigate the roads may need to look at a map to find our way. Other may not retain those directions until they have driven the route themselves. You might find that when you read something it doesn’t “stick”, but when you attend a lecture or have a friend explains it to you, everything becomes crystal clear. Everyone learns differently. Don’t expect that because you learned best when shown pictures, that the same is true for your child. Experiment with different styles of teaching and ask for your child’s input to help you figure out what works best for them.

3. Ignoring Classroom Management

-”I want the classroom to be a place where my child can explore and learn freely, I don’t want the rules to prevent them from exploring.”

-”I don’t need to go over the rules! My child is always well behaved.”

Parents think that because they have already established a discipline system in their home, with rules and consequences, that there is no need to come up with similar strategies for class time. Well they are wrong. Class time needs to be separated out from your regular at home activity. Rules and routines specific to the classroom need to be put in place so that it is clear for both the student and teacher what is acceptable during learning time. School rules and routines provide for maximum learning time, so don’t leave them out of your plans.

4. Teaching 1 Thing at a Time

When you plan your schedule for each day, do you break up your time by subject? Reading from 8-9, math from 9-10, etc. Of course you do, who doesn’t? This isn’t a bad way to schedule your time either, as long as you have a big picture in mind. Your child will be better able to retain all the subjects that you teach if they are interrelated. If you design units of study with a big picture or theme that applies to math, reading and science, they will retain more and have more fun in the process. For example: if you want your 7 year old to understand that animals have predictable lifecycles don’t just teach it during science time. Use books on the topic during reading. Teach multiplication using frog legs (5 frogs with 4 legs each…how many legs in all).

5. Teaching is Telling

This is a pretty basic mistake, but one that I still hear about all the time. Parents explain a something new to their student and don’t understand why it doesn’t “stick”. The simple answer is that teaching is not just telling. If you want to be a good teacher, as we all do, you need to learn a variety of ways to teach your child. There is hands-on learning, inquiry learning, visual aids, reciprocal teaching, and technology-based learning. I could go on and on with different ways of instructing that can improve your child’s learning, I have a great deal of training and experience in this area that I use on a daily basis in my own home, but the important thing is that you know that part of teaching is learning. You need to constantly be seeking out new techniques and tools to improve your skills. As you improve so will your child.

The Top Ten Steps To Success In Homeschooling Children

Homeschooling has become very popular in recent years, but it is not for everyone. Some parents and children do extremely well in a homeschooling environment, while others seem to struggle. So what characteristics are needed for parents to be able to successfully homeschool their children? Here are some of the most important steps that lead to homeschooling success.

1. First of all, you’ll want to make sure that you have a good relationship with your children and enjoy being around them quite a bit of the time. If you have lots of emotional and behavioral difficulties in interacting with your children, homeschooling may not be the best choice for you.

2. As far as academic requirements are concerned, just be sure that you know how to read, write, and handle basic math such as addition, subtraction, division, and multiplication.

3. Having good communication skills is also vital to being a good parent teacher, so try to develop your listening and speaking skills as much as possible.

4. One important quality to cultivate in order to be successful in homeschooling your children is patience. Unless you are an extremely impatient person, you should be able to develop this quality to the point where you can successfully teach.

5. Developing observational skills is important to successful homeschooling as well. You need to be able to determine when a child needs extra help and attention in certain areas by simple observation.

6. Of all the qualities needed for homeschooling, perhaps the one that has more of a bearing on your success is developing a sense of humor. You need to be able to keep the daily lessons as fun as you can, and be willing to laugh at yourself, not taking yourself and the children too seriously.

7. Being persistent in the face of opposition can be very important to homeschooling success as well, as many families face resistance from family or friends that can sometimes be very discouraging. However, perseverance in the face of this opposition can oftentimes cause them to accept your decision later on.

8. Having the ability to organize and prioritize your daily schedule and activities is a very big ingredient for success in homeschooling. It will often seem as if there is not enough time in the day to get both your schoolwork and housework taken care of. The better your organization skills in this area, the better results you’ll usually get.

9. Having both parents united in the desire to homeschool their children is an incredibly important step for success. If one is not sure about the process or is openly opposed, it can easily turn into a recipe for failure.

10. As your children grow you’ll need to be able to be flexible enough to adjust your teaching methods and styles to be able to be most effective with each new lesson.

Of course, there are no perfect parent teachers, but if you continue to develop the traits listed above, they can help lead you along the pathway to homeschooling success.

Answers To The Most Common Homeschooling Questions

Although homeschooling has become increasingly popular in recent years, there’s still a lot of confusion and misunderstanding that surround it. As a result, many parents have questions about exactly what homeschooling is and how it is conducted, and this article will help answer some of the most common questions that are asked about homeschooling.

1. What is homeschooling?

Homeschooling is a process where parents take charge of the education of their own children, completely substituting the educational curriculum used by public and private schools. The reasons for choosing homeschooling as a substitute can be many including having better control over the content of their children’s education, being able to better match the speed and pace of learning to each child’s ability, better promotion of the parent-child bond as their children grow older, and concerns over their children’s safety in the public school system.

2. What kind of people homeschool their children?

The answer to that question is that people from all walks of life with varied abilities, backgrounds, and circumstances all have been successful in homeschooling their children. This means that it doesn’t matter whether you live in a city or on a farm, whether you only have one child or ten, whether it’s a single or two-parent family, whether you are religious or not, there are those who have similar circumstances that are successfully homeschooling their children.

3. Is homeschooling legal?

Yes, homeschooling is legal in every state in the US, although there are laws regulating homeschooling that can vary significantly from one state to the next, so before you decide to homeschool your children, be sure to check on the requirements for homeschooling in the state where you live first.

4. What educational requirements are there for parents to homeschool their children?

In most cases, all that is required is that you be able to read, write, and perform basic math functions such as addition, subtraction, division, and multiplication. You can always upgrade your own education as you go if more is needed. But be sure to check on the particular requirements of the state where you live before you begin.

5. Where can we find homeschooling books and curriculums?

There are actually lots of places to get the home school materials that you will need including books, worksheets, and so forth. The internet is a great place to find the materials you will need at the lowest cost possible. You can even find used homeschool books and materials online at eBay and Amazon. You also may be able to find some of these materials locally at small bookstores and garage sales.

Whether or not to homeschool your children is a decision that is not to be taken lightly, and hopefully some of the answers we have provided here in this article to the most commonly asked homeschooling questions will help you be able to determine if homeschooling is right for you and your children.

Homeschooling – Can You Handle It?

Your home school curriculum can also incorporate your own religious and moral beliefs, something that no one but you can teach your own child. By taking control of a child’s education a parent can shape that child’s value system better than any other way.

It is not necessary to have a teaching degree or to even be a college graduate for that matter. Although it is a tremendous responsibility to teach your own child the education they will receive from a concerned parent will be much greater than they can get in a public school system. And if you don’t feel comfortable with some of the harder subject materials it’s possible to hire a tutor for those classes.

If you want your child to excel in home school you need to possess two things. One, you must have the desire to teach your children and two, you must have the determination to succeed with home schooling. With home schools that’s all it takes, a desire and some effort. With those two things your child can realize an education that will far surpass a classroom environment. Any parent can be an effective teacher if they truly have the desire for their children to learn.

There is no one else that will want your child to succeed as much as you do. And to progress at a better-than-public-school pace a child must have a teacher who knows them and wants them to learn. Many public school teachers are only in it for the paycheck. And most others have so many kids in their classroom there is absolutely no way they can give them the individual time and attention that a parent can with homeschooling. This is why home schooled kids have the potential to far exceed public school children.

The biggest hurdle that most parents face is being unsure of their own ability to teach. School teachers must go through many years of education programs before they are qualified to teach others while many parents have no training at all. But should this be the deciding factor?

You may be surprised at how effective you can be as your child’s instructor. School teachers are face with many obstacles and regulations that you will never have. They must overcome many children’s learning styles and behaviors, children with disciplinary problems, school regulations and a host of other things that will not be required of you. As a homeschool parent you are in charge of only one child, not a room full of children who possess different personalities that learn in many different ways.

In the public classroom, when it comes to curriculum, school teachers are required to follow a program and use materials that the public system as approved. Plus, they are bound to get through the material no matter how slow some of the children may be. You, on the other hand, with a homeschool curriculum can proceed at the perfect speed with home schooling. You can make sure your child learns a specific subject before going forward. And possibly, you can proceed much faster because there are no less intelligent kids slowing things down for you. In the public system you can only go forward as fast as the slowest kid, otherwise they will be left behind.

Another positive aspect to homeschool is your individual time. A teacher must start school precisely at a predetermined time and finish at a predetermined time. A parent can adjust the schedule as their children’s learning abilities dictate. It is usually much easier to deliver the subject matter more quickly one-on-one which makes it possible to delve deeper into certain subjects. Deeper examination can help a child understand things greater. By getting through lessons quicker it also allows more time for other activities and field trips.

Take a little time to search the web for ideas and lesson plans. You will find many different topics such as accredited home school, home school materials, Christian home school programs and more. If you think you can’t do it think again. With all of the resources, online home education groups, forums and your desire and effort you can help your child achieve a brighter future that they can achieve in no other way.

3 Reasons Why Homeschooling Rocks

1. It’s not boring as all get out.

I spent the first 5 and a half years of my education in public schools. There were, of course, times when I enjoyed learning things and talking to my friends. On the flip side, though, there were long stretches of monotony and boredom. And that was just grade school! I can’t even imagine what it would have gotten like in middle and high school. I vaguely remember a class I took in 6th grade before I began to be homeschooled. “Conflict resolution” they called it. It was an entire class we had to sit through for 50 minutes a day on how not to get in a fight. Instead of teaching us something useful like math, history or science, we had to sit and learn that getting in a fistfight wasn’t good for anybody.

I think it goes without saying that homeschooling was far more interesting. I was either doing something and learning, or I was enjoying my free time. I never had to sit through extended periods of monotonous lectures or stare at a chalkboard while a teacher catered to the slowest student in the classroom. I was able to learn at my own pace and enjoy it.

2. No one gives you wedgies.

Unless, of course, you have an older sibling and then you might get more wedgies than you can handle. One of the fantastic things about being homeschooled is that there is no awkward social structure that you have to fit yourself into. Unless you live in a very complicated family, there are no bullies, no drug addicts and so forth.

Again, the advantage is more than what you don’t have to deal with, but also in what you do get. Being homeschooled enabled me to develop much stronger relationships with my parents and my siblings, and I did find a variety of friends through our homeschool group and church and so forth. I found that when I got to college I was able to comfortably communicate with everyone from the older students (some who were even grandparents, coming back for their education) to the younger students and even the professors and staff. None of these people ever gave me a wedgy.

3. Odds are your teacher will probably like you.

I didn’t personally ever have issues with a teacher that didn’t seem to like me or treat me well, but I do know that those experiences are out there. The odds increase, I think, as you get into high school that you might run into a teacher that you either don’t like or who doesn’t like you for some reason. I wouldn’t say that it’s anything personal, just sometimes there are personality clashes.

On the other hand, I think you benefit from homeschooling because you’re able to develop a much deeper relationship with your parents. Instead of coming home from school and simply telling them what you did (if you can even remember all the details) you live it with them.

The Social Aspects Of Homeschooling

Going to a regular school is more than just education. School kids get to mingle with their peers and teachers and in the process acquire social skills that are important when they progress into adult life.

Some critics have criticized that homeschooling does not fulfill this aspect of education. Since the child is studying alone at home, it does not give him/her the opportunity to pick up social skills. Some critics even pointed out that homeschooling children are less able to express themselves compared to the regular school goers.

However studies have shown quite the opposite. Public school children are put under fiercely competitive school environments. The net result is that they lack the confidence to initiate or hold a conversation. They do not know how to interact with other age group people. Some seems to have no social skills at all! This is indeed worrying.

On the other hand, homeschooling children are more aware of the implications and purpose of their learning. They are also able to make intelligent comments and are more attentively when studying.

The studies concluded that public school goers pick up bad influences from their peers while homeschooling children are shielded from such negative influences.

In my own opinion, homeschooling children are better prepared with the tools necessary to face the world. Being shielded from negative influences from their peers plus the positive influences from parents will help them to be more versatile and a more well-rounded individual.

The High Costs Of Homeschooling

Most people think that homeschooling is cheap since there is no need to pay for school fees and other miscellaneous fees. However, that is further than the truth.

In truth, homeschooling expenses can be greater than if you send your child to a regular public school. Public schools are partially funded by government funding whereas for homeschooling, there is no such funding available from the government. There are several non profit and support groups who do fund homeschooling but usually it is on a case by case basis.

Let’s look at some of the costs involved when homeschooling. Obviously, you still need to buy or acquire textbooks, course materials, study aids etc. Secondly, you need furniture. Examples are tables, chairs, lighting, computer equipment etc. Thirdly, include accessories such as pens, erasers and paper. Lastly, as your child progresses into higher grades, you may not be able to teach your child. As such you may need to hire a tutor which can be costly. Lastly, you should also consider any other curriculum such as dancing, piano lessons etc as these do cost quite a lot over the long run.

Also, you should also not discount the fact that one of the parents will probably not be working due to homeschooling. That means a loss of household income for the family.

These are just some of the costs associated with homeschooling. The reality of homeschooling is while it can be a good form of education for your children, you should consider the cost of homeschooling very seriously. Homeschooling is a serious commitment in both time and money. Make sure you plan ahead before proceeding.

Is Homeschooling For You

There are a few things that you should consider when trying to make the decision to homeschool your children. This is a very important personal decision and should not be taken lightly at all. A few things that you should consider before making your decision are time commitment.

Do you really have the time to sit down with books for a couple of hours a day and complete the projects, prepare lesson plans, grade papers, plan field trips, and the list can go on forever. Homeschooling can take up a great portion of your day. It is a personal sacrifice when you are a Homeschooling parent.

You will have little or no personal time for yourself, let alone your spouse. You must make time for yourself and to take a step away from your daily Homeschooling and go shopping or just relax in a hot tub for a few hours.

Homeschooling is a great financial strain on the entire family. Usually the parent that is doing the teaching does not work outside of the home and the non teaching parent brings in all of the income. This can be a great strain on the family and maybe be very difficult for families who are used to living on two incomes.

Socialization is a very important factor when it comes to Homeschooling. A child must be able to socialize with other children their age. Homeschooling your child can make it a lot easier for you to control who your child comes in contact with and becomes friends with.

Organization plays a huge part for any Homeschooling parent. There is still the house work to be done during the day along with the teaching. You won’t always be able to keep the house as clean as you’d like or the laundry kept down to a minimum like it was before you chose to homeschool.

You should take careful consideration when it comes to deciding if you would like to be a homeschool teacher and you should decide if Homeschooling is right for your child as well as the entire family.

The Benefits of Homeschooling

Making the Decision to Learn from Home.

Although it has been a predominant form of education throughout history, many people consider homeschooling to be a new concept. They might be surprised to learn that our Founding Fathers were educated at home. A homeschool once only included the idea of parents assuming the responsibility of educating their own children. Today, the modern homeschool has evolved to include the use of computers and other technically-advanced equipment that simulate the real classroom in a household setting. Online homeschools cater to the needs of elementary, junior high and high school students.

Benefits of Homeschooling

1. Low Teacher-to-Student Ratio - With anywhere from 15 to 35 students in a class, teachers in a traditional classroom have limited time to give students one-on-one attention. When students are homeschooled, they have a greater chance of getting the individualized attention they need. Teachers can focus on one student at a time.

2. Instant Feedback - When students participate in a homeschooling program, they can get immediate feedback regarding their assignments, quizzes and exams. Likewise, they can let their teachers know if they do not understand a concept or need extra help. There is two-way communication.

3. Customized Curriculum - Homeschooling allows students to get an education that is tailored to their needs. For those students requiring extra help or needing additional challenges, they can participate in a homeschool curriculum that focuses on specific areas. A customized curriculum also enables them to set their own pace. They can navigate a lesson as slow or quick as they choose.

4. Less Distractions – Homeschooling programs enable students to solely focus on the task at hand. They can pay 100% attention to their studies, without any worries, social distractions or pressures of a regular school setting. When students learn at home, they can also schedule their classes to suit their schedule.

5. Time Management – At home, students can sit down and get right to work. There is no wait time before they can read a lesson or start an exercise. They are no longer bound by a school schedule as a teacher performs role call, attends to another student or handles a discipline problem.

6. More Flexibility - Learning in a home environment enables students to have greater flexibility than in a traditional classroom. They can set their own schedule. If they want to study or take their tests at night, they have the freedom to do so. Families can take a vacation in the middle of the week, or use their kitchen for a chemistry lesson. The possibilities are endless!

Homeschooling provides people with an option to traditional educational methods. Whether students are homeschooled by their parents or take homeschooling online, they can be in charge of their education and make decisions about what is best for them. They have the freedom to create an education that is customized to their needs. It provides them with choices.

Homeschooling Has Advantages; Critics Say Kids Will Lack Socialization

Homeschooling has its obvious advantages especially considering the problems in public schools and the lack of discipline. You see, Home schooling has its advantages as the modern day US classroom is more like a giant babysitting endeavor and it hardly teaches kids what they need to know at rate they are capable of absorbing it.

Recently this debate came up in an online think tank and one homeschooling brilliant parent stated; “I disagree that homeschooling leads to isolation and/or an unrealistic view of the world. A common misconception is that with homeschooling, the child(ren) is isolated and starved for social contacts with peers – this is untrue.”

Well if it is not done correctly it surely could be a problem in that regard, social interaction is part of understanding the reality of things. And for those parents who do field trips, involve their kids in team sports and other activities then these problems can be over come quite easily and actually become an increased benefit as the schools lack the funds for many meaningful field trips.

Many parents if they have the time may opt for the homeschooling advantage while other parents who are the product of the public school system may assume that it was good enough for them, so it is good enough for their kids too. I hope you will consider both sides of this issue and think it through before you make you decision. Check it out, you might like what you find out.

Homeschooling Fredrick Douglass – Today

This article is the 1st of 3 in a series for computer based
Homeschooling African American children during Black
History Month. It’s aim is to suggest a standards goal
for teaching our children at home in order to provide them
with an exceptional education to insure their future.
Homeschooling using a computer to bring the enormous
amount of information into our children’s classroom during
Black History Month can be a critical tool to
reaching a parents goal for a quality education.

Now while teaching your child to be like Fredrick Douglass
can seem like an impossible task, let’s look at a quote from
Fredrick Douglass himself to see what his thoughts would be…

Frederick Douglass once told a group of African American
students from a school in Talbot County, Maryland,
“What was possible for me is possible for you. Do not think because you are colored you cannot accomplish anything. Strive earnestly to add to your knowledge. So long as you remain in ignorance, so long will you fail to command the respect of your fellow men.”

So preparing your children to join the list of famous African Americans should not seem all that much of a challenge if we support our children to listen to Fredrick Douglass – “Strive earnestly to add to your knowledge.” That’s not too hard of a standard to set for computer based homeschooled children or their parents. There are a few steps that can be taken to effectively support homeschooled children in reaching the goal of becoming an
orator, motivational speaker, and one day join the list of
famous African Americans.

First up is the simplest one – read to them. Even if it’s just 30 minutes a day, it’s an important building block in helping children to add to their knowledge. All the experts, pundits, educational consultants etc., etc., were right reading is always fundamental. It fundamental in the his-story of Fredrick Douglass, it’s fundamental in the her-story of Buchi Emecheta a Nigerian author, fundamental enough for her to strive to be a librarian. Reading to children inspires them to read and generates a bond that will last always. It is just as important to suggest to your children what to read, and guide them into books written by and about the great African American heritage.

If you would like for your child to be an orator like Fredrick Douglass, the Sage of Anacostia, a most eloquent and skilled public speaker then give them an audience at an early age. I been in homeschools in Chicago, Miami, Baltimore, Houston, and other cities and sometimes have seen parents take a microphone away from the 4 year old to give it to a child who is uncomfortable speaking. And I tell them give it back to the one who wants to be heard! If you have a child that seems to like the sound of their voice, then you may have a public speaker on your hands and it is your duty to give them the opportunity to become eloquent and
skilled. At the same time if your daughter just has the courage
to speak and not the vocabulary then she can look upward toward
Sojourner Truth who delivered her ‘Aint I A Woman’ speech to the
Woman’s Rights Convention in Akron, Ohio. Even if your child
does not become a speaker, allowing him/her to sometimes enjoy
the sound of their voice encourages confidence and self-worth -
2 important characteristics for anyone to be a part of history
if not a famous African American in history.

Finally everyone must take into account the impact that the crucible of slavery had on Fredrick Douglass’ passion as the lion of black orators. Fredrick Douglass’ achievements may have been in another field to taken another form simply because of who he was in character – however Fredrick Douglass and slavery had an unmistakable tie in making his-story. Upon this there is no doubt and I would call for parents to give their children a similar passion with the impact from the crucible of love. Unflinching, unfailing, unmistakable love can give any character a passion for
principles that will cause them to be like a voice crying in the
wilderness…maybe even into African American history.

Computer based homeschooling can give your homeschooled child an
additional window into the world of African American history,
one filled with images, sounds and words. The time it would take
to add this resource to your children’s education would be even
more effective than not giving them any added tool to provide
them with the support they will most certainly need in the
world’s crucible of time.

Be sure to get the final 2 parts of this series on African American history and it’s part in computer based homeschooling your children.

Homeschooling? It Just Doesn’t Matter

You know, it just doesn’t matter.”

This thought bounced into my head during one of my endless internet research expeditions, trying to find the “right” curriculum. After home schooling since 1996, I now realize what others have been saying all along: it just doesn’t matter.

Please don’t misunderstand me. Education matters a great deal, but all the fuss about this or that program, this or that method, this or that curriculum package, is just that: fuss, and not substance.

My kids never once finished a spelling book, and guess what? They spell just fine. They probably won’t win a national spelling bee, but they do all right. How did that happen? I don’t know. I do know that it wasn’t due to my expert teaching skills.

I’m not even sure how my son learned to read, but as he sat next to me this morning reading to me I thought, “How did this happen?” Because I honestly don’t remember teaching him to read as well as he does.

I guess it’s just a matter of providing the environment and a little motivation. Kids learn what they need to learn, when they need to learn it. It’s rather miraculous, when I think about it, when I look back and see that it just seemed to happen.

Oh, yea, I put in my share of sweat about the whole thing, but now I see what author Marva Collins means: “Anything works if the teacher works.” I always thought she was right, and now I know it.

So am I excited about homeschooling? Yes and no. Like the rest of life, it will be whatever it is: wonderful, boring, bla bla bla. But somehow my kids will get what they need, and that’s very satisfying to know.

Having Fun When Homeschooling

Homeschooling has many benefits for a child’s education. One of the most obvious is that it allows you, the parent, to tailor a specific education geared towards your child’s particular needs. It also allows you to teach in a style that suits your child — as we all know, different people learn better in different ways. When you decide to homeschool it is important to remember that as well as being a parent, you are now taking on the role of a teacher. This is, of course, not a responsibility to be taken lightly, and you have to make every effort to be the best teacher you can be.

Everyone has had the experience of having both a good and bad teacher. If you stop and think about it, I think you’ll notice some things that your good teacher’s had in common. The most important is that they were genuinely interested in their subject areas. Nothing makes a teacher better then enthusiasm for a subject. I think you’ll also notice that most of the bad teachers you had didn’t seem particularly interested in the subject they were teaching. It is for this reason that it is crucial that you create a homeschooling experience that interests both you and your child.

While your child’s education should come first and foremost when creating a homeschooling curriculum, you shouldn’t be shy to think of your own education as well. When looking at things to study in particular subject areas, think about things that interested you in those areas that you didn’t get to explore as much as you liked to when you were in school.

It cannot be understated how valuable an experience it is to learn with your child. You will be strengthening a family bond, and your shared interest and excitement in a topic will ensure that your child retains the information. A way to do this is to understand the balance between rigidness and flexibility in a homeschooling curriculum.

A certain amount of formalness is required in a general curriculum: you have to have set goals and timelines in which certain things must be learned. But within those timelines, you have a lot of flexibility, and you should use it to your advantage. When studying literature, for example, understand that the goal is to read and learn about good literature, not necessarily to read a particular book. So instead of studying a “standard” novel that you’ve already read, consider a book that is new to you as well. With both you and your child interested in the book, the experience of reading it together will be enjoyable for both of you, as you will both be excited about the outcome.

This concept needn’t be applied only to literature, think of things in science or music, for example, that you’ve always wanted to learn about. If you make sure that you are interested in the subjects as well, your child will sense your enthusiasm and become more drawn into the subject, ensuring a much more valuable educational experience.

The Advantages of Homeschooling

The pros and cons of homeschooling are many, but do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages? With total control over your child’s homeschooling needs you have the flexibility to teach your child values that cannot be taught in a public classroom. On the other hand your time will not be as free as it used to be.

The education a child can gain from a loving and concerned parent will be much greater than is possible to receive in a public school system. You don’t need a teaching credential or even a college degree, just the desire to give your child a quality education. If there are subjects that you don’t feel comfortable teaching it is possible to hire a tutor for those classes. And on the positive side your home school curriculum can incorporate other things such as your own religious and moral beliefs, something that will not be taught in a public school system. By taking control of a child’s education a parent can shape that child’s value system better than anyone else.

There are two main requirements necessary to achieve a rewarding home schooling experience for both you and your child. Obviously you must have a desire to teach your children, that is number one. If you are doing it out of duty or obligation you may soon find yourself in way over your head and wanting to get out. The second requirement is determination. You must truly want your child to succeed and be willing to put forth the time and effort it takes for your child to reach his or her potential. With these two ingredients your child may be able to realize an education that could not be achieved in a public classroom.

You, more than anyone else, want your child to reach their full potential. This is usually not possible in a crowded classroom environment. A child, to learn at their best, must have one-on-one instruction from someone who truly cares for them. And who better than you can give that to them? Public school teachers are overwhelmed by the sheer number of students they must control every day. With the many different learning styles, discipline problems, regulations that need to be followed and other factors a public school teacher cannot spend the individual time with each child that is necessary to bring out that child’s best. Home schooling can help children to blossom and bring out a child’s full potential like nothing else can.

Do you have doubts about your ability to teach? All you have to do to overcome your fear is to visit a public classroom for a day. Visit a kindergarten class or a first grade class and you will see that much of the time spent is merely controlling the children’s behavioral problems. And the lessons that are taught are usually very simple. In a one-on-one home atmosphere you will be able to progress at your own pace.

With a few home school books and lesson plans you will be able to get started very easily. Remember, you are starting your teaching experience with a very young child. And you will actually be able to learn as you go. With a little preparation it is possible to grow with your child. And the first time you see some of your instruction sink into your child’s brain you will feel satisfied that you are performing a very important task. You will surely be surprised at how effective you can be as your child’s homeschool instructor.

Public school teachers have their curriculum all laid out for them. They must follow programs and use materials that others have already approved for them. They must also move at a predetermined pace so that they can get through their study programs even if it means going forward at the expense of a child understanding what has been taught. You, on the other hand, can come up with your own homeschooling curriculum which can include religious or moral beliefs. You can take a field trip anytime you desire. You can make sure your child fully grasps a specific subject before moving forward. This will allow your child the opportunity to learn as they should be learning and at a pace they can keep up with. In a public system the slower children are often left behind.

There are negatives as well as positives however. The biggest negative to home schooling is your time. Your child will most likely receive a more rewarding education at home, but you will be devoting lots of your time to this cause. This could be a big sacrifice, especially if you are struggling financially and need to work. However, with a real desire you may be able to live without luxuries that will give you the time you need to offer your child the education they deserve. Search the internet for lesson plans, other pros and cons, christian home schooling information, home schooling requirements, home schooling books, eclectic homeschooling and other topics of interest. After researching this subject you may find that teaching your child will be even more rewarding for you than it is for your child. If you would like to develop a special bond with your child homeschooling may be the way.

Is Your Family Ready for HomeSchooling?

More parents are deciding to homeschool their children each year. As early as the late 1960′s homeschooling increased from 10,000 to 15,000 children. In 1999 the number of homeschooled children had risen to 850,000, and by 2003 the number jumped to 1.1 million children which represents a 29 percent relative increase over the 4-year period.

Students are considered to be homeschooled if their parents reported them as being schooled at home instead of at a public or private school for at least part of their education and if their part-time enrollment in public or private schools did not exceed 25 hours a week. Students who were schooled at home only because of a temporary illness were not included as homeschoolers.

Most Important Reasons for Homeschooling

Thirty-one percent of homeschoolers had parents who said the most important reason for homeschooling was concern about the environment of other schools.

Thirty percent said the most important reason was to provide religious or moral instruction.

Sixteen percent of homeschooled students had parents who said dissatisfaction with the academic instruction available at other schools was their most important reason for homeschooling.

Families that elect to educate their children at home come from all major ethnic, cultural, and religious backgrounds, and all income levels. However, homeschoolers are more likely to be religious, conservative, white, better educated, and part of a two-parent family, compared with the average American family. Homeschooling families tend to have more children and be middle-class.

Parents who homeschool their children are more likely to vote, contribute money to political causes, contact elected officials about their views, attend public meetings or rallies, or join community and volunteer associations. This holds true even when researchers compare only families with similar characteristics, including education, income, age, race, family structure, geographic region, and number of hours worked per week.

What Resources Do Homeschooling Families Use?

Parents are, of course, the primary resource. Typically, the mother takes the lead, though fathers usually pitch in. Perhaps as many as one out of ten fathers takes the primary responsibility.

How Well Do Homeschoolers Perform Academically and Socially?

Researchers cannot tell whether the same children would perform better or worse academically in a classroom or at home. State testing data does not necessarily reflect all homeschoolers because not all comply with the testing requirement. Other testing efforts rely on volunteers.

Keeping that caveat in mind, where testing data is available, homeschoolers do well. For example, in Alaska, the state’s Alyeska Central School has tested its homeschooling children for several decades. As a group they usually score above average in any subject area and at all grade levels. The largest study to date, commissioned by the Home School Legal Defense Association, involved 12,000 students tested through the Bob Jones University testing services. The homeschooled children placed in the 62nd to the 91st percentile of national norms, depending on grade level and subject area.

At least one intriguing study suggests that student achievement for homeschoolers is not related to the educational attainment of the parent. This is consistent with tutoring studies that suggest the education level of a tutor has little to do with achievement of a tutored child.

College admission also may suggest success. Homeschoolers have reported admission to over 1,000 different U.S. colleges and universities.

People disagree about whether homeschooling helps or hinders a child’s social development. Homeschooling children spend less time with peers and more time with people of different ages. Most participate in scouting, church groups, and other associations. Many volunteer in their communities. Some operate a business. There is no conclusive research suggesting that additional time with same-aged peers is preferable to more time with individuals of varying ages.

What Is the Legal Status of Homeschooling?

Today homeschooling is legal in all states. State law generally requires homeschooling parents to file basic information with either the state or local education agency. Over half the states require some kind of evaluation under some or all of the homeschooling options available under state law. Usually, this evaluation involves testing of students, but some states accept portfolio evaluations or a teacher evaluation. Much less frequently, states have education or testing requirements for parents. Some states require submission of a curricular plan. Parents do not need teaching certificates.

Public programs are growing. Alaska sponsors the Alyeska Central School, where teachers in Juneau work with students all over the state via mail, the Internet, telephone, and occasional home visits. In California, children can enroll in a public school’s independent-study program. Washington and Iowa laws require public schools to admit students part-time. Some public schools offer specialized homeschooling centers where families may obtain resources and instructional support, or where children may take classes. An estimated 18 percent of children who are homeschooled enroll in school part-time; 5 percent enroll for 9 or more hours per week

Local and state support groups offer advice and assistance. Sometimes, several families will share instructional duties. Local support groups form readily if there are a sufficient number of homeschooling families in an area. There is at least one state-level homeschooling association in every state, and in some states there are a dozen or more regional associations. Often, parents may examine instructional materials at a book fair or association meeting.

Other popular resources include libraries, museums, colleges, parks departments, churches, local businesses, and schools. Many large and small publishers offer curricular packages, books, periodicals, and other materials for use in home instruction.