Archive for June, 2007

by Donald Saunders
There are almost as many answers to the question of why you should homeschool your children as there are parents undertaking homeschooling.

Some parents wish to remove their children from a public school system which they see as failing, or as being positively harmful to their children. Other parents wish to school their children at home for religious reasons, or to instill certain values into their children. Whatever the reason, there can be little doubt that most parents choose homeschooling because they believe that it is the best educational choice for their children.

For many there are two sides to homeschooling comprising those things that it brings to the child and those things that it removes from the child’s environment. Peer pressure and bullying are rife throughout the public school system today and can place children under considerable pressure and, at times, even place them in danger. Homeschooling your children allows you far greater control over just who your children do and do not come into contact with and how they are influenced.

In terms of a child’s growth and academic development there can be little doubt that, in the majority of cases, homeschooling produces superior results and this is evidenced in such things as home schooled children winning the National Spelling Bees and the number of home schooled children attaining degrees (in many cases Master’s degrees) at some of our finest universities, often at remarkably young ages.

Of course many people will claim that such children are simply gifted and that their success is due to their natural genius rather than to homeschooling. However, if this were the case then we are certainly blessed with an abundance of geniuses in our younger generation. The simple fact of the matter is that the numbers do not support this view.

The numbers, produced not simply by advocates of homeschooling but by bodies such as the US Department of Education, clearly show that home schooled children do far better than their publicly schooled peers with home schooled children a grade ahead by the age of 12 and as much as four grades ahead by the time they reach the equivalent of the 8th grade.

Homeschooling is certainly not an easy option and is certainly hard work for most parents, especially in the early days, but there is little doubt that it works and the rewards for both children and parents are well worth the effort.

Parenting4Dummies.com provides information, advice and articles on all aspects of parenting including parenting teenagers and many parents consider it their best homeschooling resource.

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by Lisa M Lee
If you are home schooling your child you have no doubt heard the question, “But what about his/her need for socialization?” By this we know they mean, “Will the child be able to interact with a variety of people in a positive way? Will he or she learn the rules and behaviors that are acceptable in his particular society?”

Is this something you really need to worry about? Well, of course it is. But…

Understand this one thing. The public schools are a horrible place for your children learn their social skills. Ever hear of “peer pressure”?

These classrooms are filled with other children who are the same age and often the same socioeconomic backgrounds. They are not taught to get along with those who are different. They learn to bully them. And the victims are told to “just ignore it.”

In a home school situation the bullies would be required to stop their ‘wrong’ behavior. And the victims are taught to ‘forgive.’

If your school has police officers roaming the halls, it is not because the children are learning to love each other. It’s because there is crime going on in the schools. Do you want your children learning their social skills from criminals? Do you really think you cannot do a better job?

Another thing to think about is this: Ever since your child was born you have been developing a bond with him/her. Then he turns five and you send him off to school. You lose precious and valuable time for building a relationship with your child. Homeschooling parents can continue building these bonds for many years.

You may not have thought about it but public schools are a recent development. Not many generations ago, children did not go to public schools and they were socialized just fine. You say things are different now. Not really. The family is still the basic unit of any society. When families fall apart so does the society. Make sure yours remains strong.

So how do you teach your children social skills?

Relax. Your children will learn social skills no matter where they are. The question is what kind? Unlike publicly educated children, home schooled children have mostly adults to teach them their social skills. And since these adults are usually family, they are more concerned that their children learn the right behaviors.

Think about it this way. Would you teach your child table manners by putting them in a school cafeteria with dozens of other kids their own age? Can you say “food fight!”? By the same token, why would you think they’d learn proper socialization skills from their peers? The light finally came on, didn’t it?

Children in public schools are put in classrooms where they are expected to conform. No freedom to be oneself. It is a well known fact that children are influenced by peer pressure. When children are worried about what others think, they are not free to discover their own interest and talents. In the home school environment children can set and pursue their own goals, with a little guidance from the parents.

Studies have shown that home schooled children function socially at or above that of their publicly schooled peers. Why should this be surprising? They have better examples.

And there are many activities they can be involved in to give them exposure to a wide variety of people. Things like Scouting or 4-H groups, music or swimming lessons. Art museums offer classes where they can explore their creativity. Zoos have classes for them to learn about the wildlife in other countries.

Most communities have support groups which offer field trips and park days where children can relate to others their own age. These groups are also good places for parents to share ideas about what works in their homeschool. There are many ways to give your child positive experiences that will help them grow into responsible adults.

Lisa Lee is a home schooling mom and co-owner of http://www.BestHomeEdToys.com , specializing in educational toys, games and learning products, with an emphasis on the home schooling family.

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by Michelle Bery -
The face of schooling has changed over the years. From learning at home from one’s family, to one room school houses that served as the classroom for children of many ages, to schools housed in massive buildings where students have access to resources that used to be reserved for the finest universities, schools have constantly evolved throughout contemporary history. Today we are witnessing a reversal of that trend as more and more students find themselves out of the public schools and back at home receiving a home school education.

There are many reasons that parents may opt to provide their children with a home school education. Some parents prefer a home school education because public schools are not legally allowed to provide religious guidance and instruction. Other parents may believe that a home school education can provide higher and more stringent academic standards, or a safer learning environment than the public schools can offer. For others, a home school education is the best option because the parents travel extensively, or the child has special needs that are best met at home. For those reasons, and many more, home school education is a booming business that is gaining momentum with each passing year.

For those who are considering home school education, and those who are already engaged in that endeavor, there are several factors on which to focus. Public schools offer more than just academic instruction, and a good home school education needs to fill those gaps in order to be most effective.

Socialization is a primary concern of many parents who provide a home school education for their children. While students can learn the “Three R’s” at public school or at home, they also need to learn how to share, listen, take turns, and get along with others. Students who are receiving a home school education are often enrolled in clubs, sports, and other extra curricular activities that will help develop the child’s socialization skills.

Educational resources are another element of education in which home school education must strive to match the level of the public schools. Public libraries, internet, and specialized home school education publishers and curriculums can help parents provide an adequate and effective home school education for their children.

Ultimately what matters most is that our children are educated. Recent studies show that children receiving a home school education perform as well, and in many cases better, than their counterparts in public and private schools on standardized tests. That success has continued even after students leave the comfort of a home school education and move on to colleges and universities. Parents who feel that their education options are lacking might consider a home school education. It could be the best fit for their child and their family’s needs.

For easy to understand, in depth information about home school education visit our ezGuide 2 Home School.

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by Donald Saunders
Many people describe home schooling as ‘do it yourself education’ and most parents immediately assume that they are the ‘you’ in ‘yourself’. As a result, many parents with busy lives earning a living or pursuing other important activities, and particularly single parents, tend to dismiss any thoughts of home schooling out of hand. But are they right to do so?

Home schooling has been around for a long time now and involves more than one million children in the US alone and experience means that are many options open to parents today. Indeed, it is perhaps no surprise to find that parents in just about every situation you can imagine have found the solution to home schooling their children.

We are all of course familiar with the traditional two parent family with dad out at work and mum looking after the home and this situation makes home schooling a relatively simple option. Since the 1960s however society has changed a great deal and today there are a whole spectrum of family situations including role reversal, single parents, same-sex couples, extended families and much more.

Each situation brings with it both problems and advantages for home schooling and it is a matter of examining both and then looking for ways to overcome the one and enhance the other.

For example, many families turn to their wider family or friends for help and invite family or friends into their home to help. This is nothing new of course and, for many years, it was common for families to offer a friend or an older family member like an uncle, aunt or grandparent accommodation in exchange for helping with the care and education of the children.

Neighbors can also often provide assistance. A number of ’stay-at-home’ moms are already providing day care facilities for children and, as home schooling continues to spread, babysitting services are increasingly being extended to include home schooling.

In many cases families are also getting together to provide home schooling on a ‘group’ basis with parents pooling their resources and time.

Another popular option is to employ a tutor. Tutors today come from a wide range of different backgrounds and in all age groups and include both specialists, such as those teaching languages or music, as well as general tutors. In fact, it is quite common to find ex-public or private school teachers who have become dissatisfied with the ’system’ turning to tutoring because of their fundamental love of teaching.

Most parents think that private tutoring is simply beyond their financial reach but, after some careful research, they are often surprised to learn that the cost of hiring a tutor can indeed be within their reach.

One other important consideration is the children themselves. It is surprising how well motivated children are by the independent nature of home schooling and many parents find that teaching a child at home can take considerably less time than you might think.

If you find yourself tempted by the advantages of home schooling over the present poor public school system then do not fall into the common pitfall of dismissing the idea out-of-hand. Take the time to explore the options open to you and you may well be surprised to find that it is not as difficult as you think.

Parenting4Dummies.com provides advice and information on many aspects of parenting and can also be your best homes schooling resource with information on such things as do it yourself education and much more.

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by Mary Wells
Congratulations on taking your homeschool child another step closer to completing this part of their education. Consider, however, taking your homeschool one more step–towards a high school diploma.

Although many of us know that homeschool children can not only meet the state’s requirements, but exceed them… the sad fact is that most employers and many colleges still do prefer a high school diploma over home school records.

The good news is that there may be a solution that will give you peace of mind.

Did you know that your homeschool graduate can earn an accredited high school diploma from online high schools like Belford High School. Online high schools offer homeschool graduates complete official transcripts and education verification letters.

Homeschool students are often welcomed and received credit for the work they have already done at home.

Even though there will always be people who think it is a scam to allow homeschool kids or adults to earn a diploma without spending countless hours in a public classroom, online high schools like Belford High School are different. They know the value of life and work experiences regardless of the total number of hours logged in a traditional classroom setting.

So congratulations on making it down this long road of homeschool education, but just consider taking one more step by having them take the simple equivalency test to see if they qualify to get a high school diploma today. It will give you peace of mind and will give them that final piece of the education puzzle.

Merry Wells is a former college instructor who encourages others to succeed using tools like Belford High School. For more information, visit http://www.BelfordHighSchoolReview.com

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by Donald Saunders
One of the very first questions that most parents ask about home schooling is whether it actually works. They are only too well aware of the fact that the public schools have problems, but really wonder whether they can do any better. One natural response for some parents is to try a little harder to see if they can afford private schooling but, even if this were possible, are the private schools faring any better than the public schools?

The simple fact of the matter is that there are many, quality studies which show that, on average, home schooling produces superior students. To an extent of course this is understandable as parents clearly have an effect on education no matter which route they take. A parent who is genuinely interested in the education of his or her children will help to motivate them, producing better results.

But there is certainly more to it that this and there are many cases, in a great enough variety of situations, to take even this into account and still come to the conclusion that home schooling produces better results.

Even the Unites States Department of Education agrees. In one study which they sponsored themselves home schooled students produced exceptionally high test scores. The median scores in every grade were far higher than those of public schools and even higher than those of private school students. The average home schooled student in grades one through four was a grade level above that of public school peers and, by the time home schooled students reached the equivalent of the 8th grade, they were as much as four years ahead of students attending public school.

As if this were not enough, costs were also lower. On average, government schools spent $6,500 per student each year and private schools spent $3,500. By contrast, parents undertaking home schooling spent about $550 per student each year. This figure for home schooling does not of course take into account the time spent by parents on home schooling for which a public school teacher would be paid.

The public school system as we know it today evolved during the second half of the 19th century as one state after another made school attendance compulsory. Perhaps the most interesting question however, and one which rarely seems to be asked, is why, if public schooling offered such superior value, it was necessary for the states to make it compulsory and to force parents to put their children into the public school system.

It could be, and sometimes is, argue that this was due to the ignorance of rural parents who did not see the value of education. However, it is interesting to note that adult illiteracy rates in 1840 Massachusetts were a low 2% and that, by 1995, this figure had risen to 19%, in spite of apparently enormous advances in the intervening years. In 1840 libraries were rare and today they are everywhere as books are both relatively inexpensive and easy to trade.

Today over a million children are home schooled in the United States and thousands of home schooled students have attended colleges and universities, including many of the most prestigious and difficult to get into.

Whatever your own thoughts about home schooling vs public schools there is no doubt that the results clearly show the advantage of home schooling.

Parenting4Dummies.com provides advice and information on many aspects of parenting and can also be your best homes schooling resource with information on such things as the advantages and disadvantages of home schooling, home schooling vs public schools and much more.

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