Some of these include:
- Parents can determine their
children’s curriculum. For instance, if a child is particularly interested
in a specific subject, the parents can tailor the child’s schooling so
that he can focus on that subject. If, say, a child has a special interest
in dinosaurs, the parents can bring dinosaur-related literature for the
child to read to fulfill language arts, information on paleontological
findings for science curriculum and even math problems that feature
dinosaurs for math calculations. - The schedule can be suited to the
child’s needs. Recent studies show that many children perform better if
they sleep more. A parent can arrange the child’s school schedule around a
more relaxed sleep schedule, giving the child more time to sleep in the
morning and moving the learning day further into the late afternoon. - Learning can be fun. If a child is
allowed to pursue her own interests, chances are that she’ll be more
motivated to learn and will achieve higher levels of study. - There’s no bullying. No drugs. No
alcohol. No peer pressure. Just a healthy learning environment where the
student can thrive. - Parents can create stronger bonds
with their children. Homeschooling isn’t only a matter or sitting at a
table with a pen and paper (or computer). It involves field trips to
museums and other points of interests, getting together with other
homeschooling children and their families with whom they can share
activities. When the parents are involved in that process together with
their children, the bonds between parents and children grow and strengthen. - Students can study in a way that
suits their individual learning needs. Some students do best in a quiet
environment while others thrive with background music and other stimuli.
Parents can identify the way that their child learns best and can then
tailor the environment to suit the child’s needs. - Parents can provide religious and
ethical instruction in a way that meets the family’s outlook and belief
system. - Students can develop special
talents through after-school activities that gives them exposure to other
students of their own age who share their interests.
How to Homeschool :
If you’re considering homeschooling, you need to begin by locating the relevant laws pertaining to homeschooling in your state. Some states require significant reporting and monitoring while others give parents a free hand to school their children as they see fit. HSLDA (Home School Legal Defense Association) offers an overview so you can quickly identify the pertinent laws and regulations for your state.
Locate the homeschool group for your state. HSLDA provides a list of homeschool groups listed by state as well as groups listed by interest, religion, needs (disabled, etc). You can also find support groups online including a wide range of groups on social media that offer guidance and assistance according to location, religion, interest, age-range and preferred educational focus.
After you’ve done your research and identified the type of schooling that you wish to provide to your child, locate curriculum providers who will give you the materials and resources that you need to get started. Before you buy a bunch of study materials, you might want to speak to other homeschooling parents to get ideas, suggestions and referrals. There are curriculum fairs for homeschooling parents that you may find of interest to help you, at least as you get started.
HomeSchooling Today
Homeschooling is an education option that is finding acceptance among families with young children and older teens. Some families choose to homeschool because they want their own values to guide their children’s education while others wish to monitor their children’s friends and companions.
Whatever the reason, proper homeschooling requires a high level of dedication on the part of the parents. Parents must be dedicated to spending almost every waking hour with their children since, not only will they be preparing the lessons but they’ll also be directing the child’s after-school activities and social engagements.
Why homeschool?
Homeschooling Trends in 2018
By 1917 education had become compulsory in all 50 states in the United States. It wasn’t until 1993 that homeschooling was declared an option for families in all the states. The number of students being homeschooled has risen steadily over the last 25 years from 1.7% of all U.S. students in 1999 to 3.4% in 2012, the last year for which there are statistics from the National Centers for Educational Statistics.
The actual figure is thought to be much higher since not all states have reporting laws. For instance, parents in New Jersey do not need to inform any department or agency of their homeschooling activities and do not need to provide proof of homeschooling . The NCES survey takes into account a coefficient of variation is 30 percent or more, giving rise to the possibility that the percentage of students being homeschooled in America is in the double digits.
Successes
According to the National Home Education Research Institute, standardized academic achievement tests show that children who are educated at home typically score 15 to 30% higher than public school students. These results are accurate for students who are taught by parents both with and without a formal education, regardless of their income bracket. This means that a parent’s financial situation and academic achievements don’t have any bearing on a homeschooled student’s ability to achieve top results.
The NHERI also reports that its studies show that homeschooled students score in the above average range on their ACTs and SATs important tests that universities and colleges consider for admissions. Many colleges and universities are actually actively recruiting home-educated children. A number of institutes of higher education have a tab on their admission forms that identifies students who were homeschooled who wish to apply for admittance into their schools.
In a University of St. Thomas study Michael Cogan discovered that homeschooled students consistently earn a higher GPA than the other students and graduate college at a rate of 66.7% — almost 10% higher than students who came from a traditional public school system. Homeschooling students know how to make the best use of their time and don’t need to be reminded that learning isn’t like playing Vegas casino games. They’re more ready to learn and more able to guide their own learning process.