Homeschooling answers I've received........?

Question

I have put up a lot of questions and received a lot of interested answers. After reading the answers, I have come to the conclusion that the only cons that I have received are about socialization. I am not worried about that because my son is very outgoing and I have a lot of plans for him to spend time with other kids like the soccer team that he was on last season. Other than that, I have heard nothing about the intellectual outcome of the homeschooled child. So, is it true that even people who do agree with homeschooling, agree with the fact that the kids come out smarter? His intelligence is my main concern, of course. I plan on enrolling him in the homeschooling program with Calvert School. We live in NJ and their rules are pretty simple (they really don't care what you do with your child)

I am doing a lot of research elsewhere. This is just a way to get personal experiences. I have enrolled my son in Calvert's homeschooling program.

Answer 1

You just asked your other question on a day when the big naysayers weren't around. :)

There are plenty of anti-homeschoolers who are quite convinced that you can't possibly meet his academic needs, that somehow teachers magically know how to teach things to people and you won't, and that everything your child is going to learn has to be from you.

But yes, there are a number of naysayers who will say that homeschoolers come out "smarter" but that they're "social retards". Of course, I have yet to see any of those naysayers say they spent a week or more with a variety of families. It's all on hearsay or on limited experience. Or on faulty reasoning, incorrectly assuming that an assumption is actually truth.

Answer 2

There is nothing that says that a child will be more intelligent, or make greater achievements, as a homeschooler; however, homeschool graduates tend to achieve better test scores and be more focused on their goals.

This isn't just because of homeschooling; anyone can legally pull their child out and homeschool them. However, those who stay with homeschooling through graduation tend to be very dedicated parents (willing to commit the time and effort) and very committed, motivated students (who have a vested interest in their own education).

Homeschooling is obviously not the only legitimate educational choice, nor does it guarantee an intelligent high achiever. However, if you, as a homeschool parent, are willing to do whatever it is that you need to do to make sure that your child receives the education that he needs, and are willing to instill the motivation, responsibility, work ethic, and love for learning in your child that he will need, that will make a huge difference in his life. And if he, as a student, is willing (as he gets older) to put in the work that is necessary to truly gain an education, he will very likely be a very intelligent, high-achieving, homeschool graduate.

(One thing to watch - don't put this all on him as a kindergarten student :-) Give him the best resources you can find and afford, but realize that the abstract thinking skills necessary for "formal" schoolwork come at about age 8-10. Right now, just have fun with him learning basic skills, playing, and discovering the world around him. Calvert is an excellent program, and it will all come in time!)

The social myth is just that...a myth. I live in an area with literally hundreds of homeschool families within about a 45-minute radius, and these kids are some of the most socially well-adjusted kids I've ever met.

Answer 3

Have you read any books on homeschooling or visited the websites that were recommended to you? Have you found a local homeschool support group yet? There are much better resources available that YA for serious research. This is as good a place as any to begin, but keep digging deeper. There is alot to learn. Many of the people regurgitating that worn out "socialization" myth have no direct experience with himeschooling and a limited exposure to homeschoolers. If your child is outgoing, he will stay outgoing. That is his personality. You just need to provide him with opportunities to be himself with other people. In my experience homeschooling provides a much better environment to true socialization than government education. As far as academics and intelligence, most people find that their children blossom in the home learning environment. Many find their children to excel beyond their public and private schooled peers. Kids graduating public school do not "come out" smarter at all and I'm not sure why you called that a fact in your question. That sounds a bit loaded to me. I know high school honor's students who do not know how to read a map or appreciate a good book. In public school my daughter made it to the middle of third grade before we found out through testing that she read as though she had been in first grade for 1 month. We were very involved parents, so the argument that involved parents make the difference is false. Besides, I didn't send her to school for 8hrs a day, so that I could re-school her every night. What then would be the point in public school at all? We were constantly encouraged to over medicate our child and leave well enough alone. Her teacher admitted to being unable to do anything with our child. She was falling through the cracks. We were waving red flags as hard as we could. We were treated as an annoyance to the system. Many public school students do. Some don't. Some make it through with an adequate education. What you choose for your child is completely up to you and I believe that either way, the experience will be 80% what you make it.

Answer 4

Not sure about the coming out smarter part, but I've been homeschooling for 9 years. I've been very involved with large homeschooling communities, as well as taught classes for homeschoolers.

For the most part, I've found the homeschoolers don't dislike educational pursuits as much as many of the public schooled kids I've worked with (I have taught in public schools as well). Oh, they all have certain subjects and tasks they aren't crazy about, but for the most part they are usually self-motivated and interested in getting involved in different things, diving into new studies or projects, very excited about new and different learning opportunities. They seem to retain an eagerness and excitement about their education throughout the years that I've noticed a lot of public schooled kids start to lose by second grade.

I'm speaking in general, of course, because I don't know every homeschooling child in the world. But this is my experience.

As for socialization, I've never found it to be a problem. Two of my children are very outgoing, and one is very shy. Neither were inhibited by homeschooling. My two outgoing kids will make friends almost everywhere we go, will mingle with kids of any age, background, appearance, etc.... my shy child was actually worse when she went to school until 3rd grade because it was too intimidating an environment for her. At school she spent her days alone in a crowded room feeling awkward, as a homeschooler she was able to take part in smaller groups in a more relaxed, less peer-pressured setting and able to make some friends and get involved more with activities.

Answer 5

Typically studies show homeschoolers excell 2-3 grades above public schoolers and 1 grade above privarte schoolers, but results varies. It depends on you and the student.

Homeschool does have a 10-20% dismall failure rate, but this is half of what public has in the same area.

The difference is in public schools are you forced by sheer presence in the room to absorb something.

In homeschool where kids don't even open a book they learn nothing at all.

So a home school failure is typically not as smart as a public school failure.

Answer 6

Most homeschooled children are probably more intellectual than they would have been if they'd been in public school (or probably any other school for that matter).

Homeschooled students get the advantage of individual instruction. They can't hide it from the teacher when they don't understand something. They don't have their questions ignored by overly busy teachers. When they are interested in a subject, they can pursue it in great depth and become experts on it. They aren't afraid to look smart for fear of being ostracized by peers or picked on by bullies. They aren't afraid to chat with those outside of their age group to learn more about a topic. They don't sit and wait to be spoonfed information but are willing to seek out information on topics of interest to them.

Homeschooled students still have limitations. Just like all children do. Any one particular child may not be as intellectual as any other; so you can't be sure that a given child will be "smarter" than the kids in school. But you can be sure that such a child is more likely to live up to his potential.

Most of the homeschooled children that I know of seem much brighter than public school students. A lot of them would be bored in schools and getting into trouble because of it, rather than being intellectually challenged.

Answer 7

I can't agree on the "Smarter" statement. I do however think they are well versed in subjects that Public school kids have not been exposed to because of time restraints and curriculum. The nice thing about homeschooling is if you do have a bright child they are more likely to able to follow their interests where a child in Public school is forced into a box. Intelligent people need to be able to work and learn outside the box and often our intelligent kids get overlooked in the school systems or pushed aside or just bored out of their minds which makes it very difficult to have a love of learning. So children that are already bright that homeschool and are allowed to follow their interests seem more intelligent to outsiders because of this. They can see they have that love of learning and they aren't forced to learn without time constraints and the curriculum choice of the schools system which thinks one size fits all.

Former K-3rd grade Teacher both in Public and Private schools.

Answer 8

I think my son will come out smarter than he would if he continued in public school. I do not think he will come out smarter than all of the public school students. He is a reluctant learner and would rather be outside working than inside reading. We insist that he get the basics but it does not look like he will ever be a great scholar.
That's ok. He is a great kid. We are enjoying his teen years. He will be successful at something. We aren't sure what yet, but he is a work in progress.

Answer 9

I don't think that it's appropriate to say they "come out smarter." I think that when a child is homeschooled that they are allowed to follow their interests and ideas while learning at their own pace so they achieve more. I have met some of my son's friends that if they were homeschooled would be a grade, maybe 2, ahead because they could learn at their own pace.

Have you checked into k12.com? It's a free homeschool program. I have posted the site for your state.

http://k12.com/curriculum_and_products/participating_schools_in_new_jersey/index.html

Answer 10

I don't believe that homeschooled children necessarily "come out smarter," but I do believe that because they are allowed to more fully explore their interests, they achieve more.

All children have the capacity for greatness, to learn, to achieve, etc., they just need guidance, encouragement, and assistance in all their endeavors.