Homeschooling?

Question

A few questions about homeschooling.
Is it a good choice for some kids?
Does a person have to be certified or take some kind of test to home school their child?
And can anybody give me any opinion or can give me any information about homeschooling?
Thanks

Answer 1

Yes, it's an excellent choice for many kids. No one school option is right for everyone, including homeschooling, but it can be very, very good.

In most states, a person does not have to be certified. As we are not teaching a class of 30 according to government regulations, we do not need to be certified or take a test. Each state has its own regulations, though...you can find them here: http://www.hslda.org/hs/state/default.asp

I personally think homeschooling is great (which is good, considering we homeschool). It's a choice that every family needs to make, though. Without more details, it's hard to give advice to your particular situations. There are some great books at the library you may want to read for more info, including The Ultimate Guide to Homeschooling by Debra Bell.

Hope that helps!

Answer 2

Homeschooling is definitely a good choice for some kids. It can help them grow up in a more normal way rather than the current standard of being peer-dependent and exposed to all kinds of things they have no business being exposed to on a regular basis. It can help them do well academically. And more.

No, you don't need to take some sort of test. Since many private schools still allow uncertified teachers, those schools, too, have people teaching who haven't taken some sort of teaching test. You may be required to have a high school diploma or equivalent depending on where you live. Best to look up the homeschool laws at your state education website. HSLDA does have them, too, but I found that their information wasn't complete at times.

My opinion: homeschooling is as good as the parents who do it. Would we say that "parenting only works out about 1/3 of the time" and given that statistic (factual or not), people shouldn't become parents? As much as we may find that there are parents out there that aren't good parents, would that, and should that, really deter *us* from becoming parents if we want to? Other people's poor choices in homeschooling have nothing to do with how it'd work out for you.

If a parent is determined to make it a good experience, then she will make sure the kids do things with other kids (which the homeschooling parents I know do, despite people responding that homeschooling isn't good because kids won't do things with other kids), make sure character and academic development are taken care of.

[I really, really wonder if the people making such ridiculous comments about homeschoolers would honestly never get out of the house.]

Answer 3

Homeschooling is an excellent choice for many children, and you should look for the homeschooling laws in your state to find out the what the requirements are for homeschooling parents. Following is the link to the Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA):

http://www.hslda.org/laws/default.asp

The HSLDA cite will give you a lot of information about getting started in homeschooling.

I began homeschooling my first grade child in November 2006 and have taught him to read, enrolled him in sports classes and library reading programs, taken him on field trips, etc. He is learning at a phenomenal rate, and homeschooling has been a great choice for our family.

Answer 4

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Yes. It is a good choice for some kids. While public school tends to have its set ways and all kids have to conform, homeschool can be adapted to the child's needs, so at least theoretically, it could be a good choice for any kid.

It is not always a good choice for the parents, or the family as a whole, and some kids do fine in Public School. (That doesn't mean homeschooling wouldn't work for them, just that Public school works for them too.)

Some children really thrive on social interaction, and if those kids are homeschooled the parents need to make sure to provide extra social opportunities for those kids. Most homeschooling parents provide plenty of socialization anyway, but some kids might need more than others.


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It depends on your state. A few states require certification, some states require a certain number of college credits, some states require a High School diploma or GED, many have no requirements at all. To find out the laws in your state go to http://www.hslda.com click on the words "In Your State" (found on the left hand side of the screen), then select your state, then click on "Laws".


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My opinion is that homeschooling is wonderful. It gives kids and parents a chance to develop close relationships. It gives kids freedom to be the people they are, instead of what the crowd says they should be, it allows kids to excel without being teased as "teachers pet" or "the class nerd", it allows kids who struggle to work at their level without being laughed at, so they can actually have a chance to catch up instead of being so frustrated that they stop trying. It allows kids on Autism Spectrum to advance academically in a secure environment, around people who understand them. I allows kids who want to do what is right to be able to without being pressured. I could go on and on and on. Homeschooling is wonderful.

Check out these sites:

http://www.homeedmag.com
http://www.homeschooling.about.com/od/gettingstarted/a/homeschool4you.htm
http://www.crosswalk.com/homeschool
http://www.homeschool-books.com
http://www.rainbowresource.com
http://www.abeka.com
http://www.christianbook.com
http://www.aop.com
http://www.homeschooldiscount.com

And for a great on-line support group go to:
http://www.groups.yahoo.com/group/Support4HomeSchool


The hslda site I mentioned above also has statistics that show how well homeschoolers do on College entrance exams and on completing college, compared with Public School students, its eye opening.

Answer 5

Homeschooling is a hard choice - not many people understand or support it. The hardest part is trying to figure out the best way your child learns. Once you get that, you are off ot the races - encourage them to advance in their strengths and work on the areas that they struggle. For me - I require my kids to work on lessons in their weak areas then they get to do the lessons they like.

There are several web resources for what you need to know, you can buy lesson books (to get you started and give you an idea of what to teach), each state has a support group that meets annualy and you should find local groups in your home town.

Homeschooling has been great for me and my kids. We own a business that is open 20 hours a day. By having flexiblity to create our own time schedule has been FANTASTIC! Good luck and contact me anytime if you want to talk.

Answer 6

Some kids just aren't the homeschooling type but it can be a good choice for some kids. You don't have to have any special requirements. If you come across something that you don't know while you're teaching them then you both learn it ;-)

I love being homeschooled. I have so much free time but I'm also getting the best education I've ever had.

As far as info. on it, you'd have to look up the homeschooling requirements for your state.

Answer 7

Just like everything else in life- no one hat fits all.

Homeschooling works for those parents that are determined to make it work. Not everyone succeeds at homeschooling or Public school for that fact. All you can do is try that hat on and see if you either can grow into it or it is a good fit.

www.hslda.com is the best place to start out. You can see what is required in your state.

I have never heard of anyone having to take a test or having their degree to teach to be able to homeschool.

I personally think homeschooling is a good decision for those that want to do it for whatever reason that might be.

We are making it work for our family. My daughter loves it. To each his own.

Answer 8

Homeschooling is not for everyone but for millions of children and their parents, it is working very well. Requirements vary for each state so you'll need to check for your specific area. Most states do not require certification.

Homeschooling requires a great deal of commitment on the part of parents. It is not an easy task but can be very rewarding. In terms of academic achievement, homeschoolers as a group consistently outperform their publicly and privately schooled peers (dozens of studies conducted over the past 20 years).

In terms of socialization, critics always claim that homeschooled children will be unable to function in the "real" world. This claim has never been substantiated by any type of research or data. In fact, studies that have been completed related to socialization indicate that at worst, homeschooled kids are comparable to their publicly schooled peers. Some studies have shown that homeschooled kids seem to have a greater sense of self-concept and are less likely to be influenced by peers. (this seems like a positive to me!)

There are an overwhelming number of resources available for homeschoolers. There are support groups of every imaginable type, dozens of highly regarded curriculum providers, lots of books and web-sites. One of the first books I read was by Linda Dobson, "The First Year of Homeschooling Your Child". It was a great overview of homeschooling and really changed my perceptions. Another influential book was by Dr. Brian Ray, "Worldwide Guide to Homeschooling". It is full of data and statistics based on 20+ years of research.

Web-sites with good basic info:

http://www.nheri.org

http://www.hslda.org

Answer 9

Depends. You have to be a motivates self-starter
Qualifications depends on the state or country.
You generally use commonly available programs (often called "school in a box")

Failure rate is far lower than for bricks schools about 20%

The Average homeschooler does 1-3 grades better than public and 1-2 grades better than private.

Answer 10

if you feel like you cant do it alone go to k12.com and they have a list of all the states that do charter or cyber school, this is our 2nd year and i know my daughter is getting an awesome education. we looked into it bc she was gifted and i didnt want her to skip grades being so young so we looked and the k12 program is farther advanced than public school, at least in my area. heres an example my 4 yr old was doing 3rd grade math homework for her foster brother who was in public school when we had her tested for k12 she was only on a 1st grade math level which was still high for her age. but there is definitely a difference also you can see sample lessons in each grade. just do your research and whatever works best for you and your family bc you have to live your life we dont. good luck.