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Disadvantages of Homeschooling

New Homeschool Conference in Dallas, TX – Teach Them Diligently (Sprittibee)

If you have been a reader here for any length of time you’ll know that: 1. I’m a Christian homeschool mom. 2. I’m an event and portrait photographer. 3. I enjoy conventions. Especially ones that encourage me in my passions (homeschooling, photography and blogging included). I also love a homeschool convention in TEXAS (I’ve been […]

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The Choice to Homeschool – Wicked Local (blog)

The Choice to HomeschoolWicked Local (blog)NOT because of an “anti” issue, but because homeschool is the choice we want to make for her. Public school has many benefits for children and families. So does homeschool. Public school has disadvantages. So does homeschool. As a side-note, as a …and more »

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Homeschool Update

Questions and Answers

Homeschool information?Im doing a paper on the side effects of homeschooling kids and i was wondering if anyone knew good books or websites that point out flaws to homeschooling kids.

Posted by Jim W
[display_name id=”1″]I don’t think there are any books are websites that prove homeschooling is detrimental to kids, because it really is a viable option that can work out well for children.

However, there are pros and cons to homeschooling, as well as some social, academic and economic disadvantages. Here are some links that contain more detail:

Http://www.successful-homeschooling.com/…
Http://www.successful-homeschooling.com/…

Hope this helps!

Are homeschool students disadvantaged when going to college?I understand the value of specializing the education process to fit the student’s learning style and the 1:1 teacher/student ratio. However, when I went to college, the teaching model was even more extreme then the public classroom. There you find 1:100 or more teacher/student ratio. If a student is only use to a 1:1 ratio environment of learning will they know how to learn in a one to many environment with a professor who has very little interest or attentivness in the “individual” students ability to learn or learning style?

Posted by lamborgini
[display_name id=”1″]I agree with Frankie that doing well in college is mostly about study skills. However, I do think that smaller classes are a definite advantage, but that homeschooled students are at no disadvantage in them. I went to a major university. I had freshman lectures of over 300 students. Because students can’t ask questions, have discussions, that’s why those classes have “sections” where you’d meet with a TA for a smaller class. College is a huge jump for all new students, homeschooled or not. It might make it easier to go to a community college and wet your feet, but get to a top tier university and everyone struggles. I know, I went to both and the experience and level of competition is not comparable. My community college was only a little more advanced than my high school. Some private universities really make a lot of accommodations and provide an amazing amount of support for their students. I learned that as a graduate student at a private university after coming from my public university with over 30,000 undergrads. There were a lot more ready for my spot if I wasn’t going to put it to good use.

Personally, I think that most freshmen are unprepared for those mega-lectures, homeschooled or not, it doesn’t make a difference. Try going from 30 to 300. It’s a major jump. The things that I think make a difference are students who are too directed and coddled by their parents as high schoolers. In schooled kids, this usually shows up in the children of the well-to-do whose parents will spare no expense getting Jr. Into the best university and who fuss at teachers who might dare to give their prodigy a B. In homeschooled students, it’s the ones who are repeatedly told by mom and dad how they are far superior to all schooled students and that they are close to perfect and can do no wrong. . When parents treat their kids as though they can do no wrong, the world is a harsh place. No one else coddles them. It’s a shock when no one but mom or dad is overly impressed. These people exist in every group. Ask any university about “helicopter parents”. When life doesn’t pamper them they turn into slackers.

Homeschooling?This is a question to everyone out there being homeschooled. Do you like it, and what are the advantages / disadvantages?

Posted by Nick
[display_name id=”1″]We absolutely love the advantages of being a homeschool family. We’re able to set our own schedule. Each child can study topics that actually interest them. We can present new material in ways that compliment their learning style. The kids are able to participate in a myriad of extra-curriculur activities. Our children love learning.

The only disadvantage I can think of is dealing with people (like a few of the posters above) who have no knowledge or facts to support their opinion on the subject.

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http://homeschoolsolutions.org/benefits-…

Positives of Homeschooling

Positives of Homeschooling

Reasons to Homeschool Your Children 1/3

Questions and Answers

What are the positives about homeschooling a 12 year old and why is everyone negative about it?

Posted by Hmmm,let me think….
[display_name id=”1″]Positives:
* Your child will be better educated assuming you are conscientious parent.
* Your child will be more normally socialized providing she is given the opportunity to interact in the real world with people of all ages, including her own. (What could be more abnormal than sitting in a room all day with 30 people the same age as you?)
* Your child will not become subject to peer pressure and feel the need to be “cool”.
* Your child will learn to be an independent thinker who is not so much affected by current trends and popular culture.

Negative:
* You will get a hard time from parents whose only experience is that of school. They cannot see beyond standing in line, sitting down when told to, accepting mediocre. Many cannot see beyond what they perceive as the “socialization” issue. Some would even think that your child is missing out on being a affected by popular culture, because they themselves are victims of it. Some will say that being bullied is good for them. That’s a terrible argument because in school, you pretty much have to put up with it. In real life, your boss or the police would deal with it and it would end. You will also hear that your child will NOT be educated.

What are the positives of Homeschooling?How does the teaching work? My mom doesn’t think that she could teach me, but I’ve heard that anybody can really teach their kids.. Is that true? What are the positives of being homeschooled? She thinks that in the classroom i’d be better, but how can I persuade her that homeschooling is perhaps good for me.. More time, more one on one time, more time to work on assignments… Help??

Posted by Mickey
[display_name id=”1″]Why Homeschool?

Most parents do it for religious reasons but here are some other reasons:

1. Homeschoolers generally receive a better academic education

2. Parents can control what their kids are exposed to and when.

3. Homeschoolers generally have better social skills than their traditionally schooled peers (mostly because parents are there to help with social problems as they arise)

4. Homeschoolers have closer relationships with their parents

5. Homeschoolers are less likely to have behavioral problems

6. The symptoms of many learning and developmental disabilities (such as Asperger’s Syndrome and ADHD) become significantly more mild and in some cases disappear altogether when the kids are switched from a classroom setting to homeschool.

7. Home schooling works around your family’s schedule rather than the family having to work their lives around a schools schedule.

8. Many Universities actively seek out home school graduates and some have offices for which the sole purpose is to meet the needs of home school graduates

Home schooling takes a lot of work and requires organization, but most parents can do it if they are willing to make the commitment.

More information on homeschooling can be found at the Home School Legal Defense Association Website:

Http://www.hslda.org/Default.asp?bhcp=1

Positives and negatives of homeschooling?Please, all details you know.. Facts..

Thank ya.

Posted by Metallica luv
[display_name id=”1″]Positives:

1. One on one I feel is always better and you would get more out of what your being taught
2. Not as much peer pressures you deal with in public schools
3..Can help you to be closer with your parent which might make you open up to them more about things that could save you grief later on.

Negatives;

1. Missing out on activities most schools have to offer you. (cheer-leading, sports, field trips. Etc.)
2. Meeting new friends.
3. Working as a group on projects.

I have nothing against home schooling as long as the parent actually has the kids do the work not them do it for them. I know of one that in this same case had her son out of public schools from I believe it was 8th grade until he graduated through home school and the sad part was she was the one doing most of the work for him. So one has to ask themselves what will happen to a guy such as in this case and if he will ever be able to stand on his own two feet without one of his parents being there to help him along.

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Advantages of Homeschooling

Home-schooling skeptic has a change of heart – al.com

Home-schooling skeptic has a change of heartal.comThe chief advantages are curriculum and time, we found. My wife was able to choose curriculum à la carte, meaning she could choose the best individual math program and then the best individual reading program without having to accept a one-size-fits …

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Why Homeschool

Questions and Answers

Homeschooling advantages? I am trying to convince my mom!

Posted by Ashley

[display_name id=”1″]Just check this link you will get the many advantages and disadvantages oh homeschooling.

Http://www.epinions.com/content_46570947…

What Are The Advantages Of Homeschooling?I have quite a few friends near where I live that are homeschooling this school year. What are the advantages of it for the parent and the child? What makes it a better option then sending your kids off to school? It seems to be something that is getting more and more popular. I know quite a few people that have decided to pull their kids out of school to teach them at home. If you homeschool, what made you decide to do so? What has been the best part about having your kids home? I imagine it is a very rewarding experience.

Posted by Julie P

[display_name id=”1″]I like the idea of homeschooling my children because I have total control over what I choose to teach them and the method I use to get the information across. My daughter gets bored very easily, and she was having a hard time paying attention in class, so I looked for alternatives. Since I have been teaching her and her brother at home they have gotten a lot more knowledgeable about basic topics and we are a lot closer than we ever were. I would recommend this to anyone that is looking for a better way to make sure their children are drinking up enough information.

What are some advantages and disadvanages of homeschooling ?

Posted by Spn

[display_name id=”1″]The biggest benefit for us is freedom: The freedom to learn what, when, where and how it suits each of my children; The freedom to take a vacation when we want to; The freedom to attend family functions 700 miles away without having a school report the children as truant.; The freedom to let children enjoy childhood instead of being rushed into schedules, or rushed into acting older than they are.

My general “go to” list of pros and cons for our family are:
Individualized education that can be custom fit the learning style and interests of each student
Ability to seek out more hands on/field-trip opportunities
Ability to move at the speed that the student needs in each subject
“School work” can be finished in much less time than a typical school day because of teacher/student ration, no wasted time on home-room, period changes etc.
Lack of being bound by age/grade level/ school district, etc
Not bound by the public school calendar for vacations, etc
“School” can take place anywhere at any time.
Socializing and socialization (which are 2 different things BTW) takes place in the real world, vs. The segregated setting of public school.
Receiving an education instead of being schooled

Cons:
Putting up with ignorant stereo-types spouted off by those who never learned to think outside of the public school box.

Statistics and standardized test scores prove that homeschoolers are, in general, better educated than their public schooled peers. There are many false assumptions about how homeschooling works such as: only the very religious homeschool; the parents are the only ones teaching; the parent can’t learn right along with the student; students can’t learn something on their own…etc. There also seem to be the assumption that parents can’t teach more than they know. If humans were incapable of learning beyond what their parents knew we would still be living in caves. Humans are curious by nature. It is the unnatural setting of public school that kills that natural desire.

All research indicates that not only are homeschoolers generally just as well socialized and well adjusted, but that they also tend to participate in more social activities as children and adults. Research also shows that public schools are very often harmful to social skills and the ability to socialize. Homeschooling gives the chance to be around a wider variety of people. Homeschoolers are not limited to being around only those who live in the same school district and who were born in the same 12 month period. Instead, homeschoolers are free to be around people of all ages and who live within a larger area. There are so many ways to socialize beyond the box that is public school. Statistics show that the average homeschooler participates in 3x the number of extracurricular activities over their public school counterparts. Studies also show that homeschoolers are more active in their community not only when they are homeschooling but also once they enter college and/or the workforce.
Students in traditional school settings are confined to a building/campus an average of 7.5 hrs a day 180 days a year with the same people day in and day out (often the same people for most of their years in school). In public schools they are segregated into groups by geographical area (with the exception of areas that have magnet schools, open enrollment etc but that is a minority of areas). In both public and private schools, students are then further segregated into groups by age, and often times into smaller groups according to ability. Such segregation greatly limits the number of and types of people that those in traditional school can socialize with on a regular basis. Also, so much time is spent in school or involved in its activities (especially homework) that public and private school students spend the majority of their waking hours either n school or doing homework. Many don’t experience socialization outside of public school because they do not have the time.

There are many ways to meet friends and to be active while homeschooling such as:
Take up a new hobby or expand on a current one
Volunteering
Join a homeschool co-op
Join a homeschool social group
Join the YMCA, YWCA, Boys Club/Girls Club
Take classes through the local recreation center or private studio such as: sports, dancing, martial arts, art etc
Learn to play a musical instrument
Book Clubs
Scouts
Activities through your church/synagogue/mosque/coven etc

List of various articles: Http://www.ontariohomeschool.org/sociali…
Http://www.livestrong.com/article/178461…
Lies about Homeschooling: Http://www.connectthethoughts.net/blog/2…

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Benefits of Being Homeschooled

Benefits of Being Homeschooled

Homeschooling Tips : How to Homeschool Your Child for Free

Questions and Answers

Convince my family that I should be homeschooled?This November, I was diagnosed with depression, and ever since than, things have been really rocky for me.
One of the topics, school. I go to a small school, but my parents are worried that I might have to repeat the eighth grade because I’m constantly out of school, be it to see a doctor, or to go get a new bottle of anti-depressant pills.
I’m thinking that since I get really nerveous in crowds, homeschool might be better for me personally and academically, since my Dad is honestly quite a good teacher. But my parents are probably going to say no, because they think I’m trying to get an exscuse to get out of school, plus, to them, homeschooling probably seems like climbing mount everest right now.
How should I properly show them how homeschooling would be better for me?

Posted by Alexis O.
[display_name id=”1″]I am homeschooled and I love it. Some times homeschool is better for kids/teens… Sometimes its not. If you really want to be homeschooled, here is some advise on convincing your parents.

1. Maybe have a discussion with them. Even if you think they aren’t listening, it still helps. Be open about why you want to be homeschooled. Explain how you think homeschool would benefit you. (Sometimes its better to kind of rehearse what your going to say. When I am trying to convince someone something, I always have to write down my ideas first.) It’s also a lot easier to learn when you are homeschooled cause you can go at a slower pace.

2. You have to be responsible to be homeschooled so try to show your parents that you can be responsible. If you have a pet, that’s a great way to show responsibility. Also, what ever you are doing to show you are responsible, keep it up.

3. A lot of people this that homeschoolers are not around other kids their age enough and become/are unsocial (my aunt and uncle also think this). But if you join a homeschool group, there are activities you can go to. (Public schools/private schools don’t have rock climbing/white water rafting events like homeschool groups do!) Remember, all of the events in a homeschool group are OPTIONAL. But if your parents are worried that you are not gonna be around other kids/teens enough then compromise and promise to attend the event sometimes. You can always just join the group to receive updates about the events and just wait till you see something you want to attend.

4. Saving money is a big selling point… It is much cheaper to homeschool. Books are somewhat expensive but you are saving money being homeschooled and to join a homeschool group is cheep too.

Your parents know you better that the people on Yahoo Answers do so if they decide not to homeschool you than maybe its for the better. Feel free to contact me if you need more help.

I hope that this helps!

Benefits of being homeschooled?I have never got on well at school. I’m 14 and in year 9. I want to get homeschooled but my mum hates the idea and won’t even consider it. I’m extremely shy and have very few friends. I like the idea of homeschool but I’m not really sure what it is or how much it costs or anything really. I live in England, Surrey..

Posted by Lillie
[display_name id=”1″]There are many benefits to home education (as it’s known in the UK) but your mum has to be the one to write the letter to your school, asking for you to be deregistered. There are no rules in the UK, other than that you have to be educated according to your age, ability and aptitude. You don’t have to take exams, you don’t have to follow a curriculum, you certainly don’t have to have a teacher and you can learn anything you want to, pretty much. So it can cost as much or as little as you and you mum decide. Lots of UK home educators use libraries and free websites and spend almost nothing on education; others pay for courses that can be quite expensive. It’s totally up to you.

The one possible con is that if you want to take GCSEs, you would have to pay for them all if you’re educated at home. But lots of home educated students don’t bother with exams at all.

See Http://home-ed.info/

Homeschooled!?What are the Pros and cons???

Posted by Daddys Girl
[display_name id=”1″]The Pros
Educational Freedom. Most homeschooled students have the choice to study and learn what they want, when they want, for as long as they want. This is not to say that all the basics (and more!) aren’t covered. But those basics may be covered at age six for one child, and at age ten for another, depending on ability, maturity, and interest levels. (Unfortunately, a few states do have unnecessarily restrictive legal requirements; in those states, educational freedom may be limited.)

Physical Freedom. After the initial shock of leaving the school system has passed, parents who homeschool say they experience a real sense of freedom. With their lives no longer revolving around school hours, homework, and the school calendar, these families plan off-season vacations, visit parks and museums during the week, and live their lives according to what works for them.

Emotional Freedom. Sadly, peer pressure, competition, boredom, and bullies — are all part of a typical school day. This can be a particular problem for girls. According to studies, self-esteem plummets in middle-school girls. However, similar studies of homeschooled girls have shown that self-esteem remains intact and that these girls continue to thrive. (Read A Sense of Self: Listening to Homeschooled Adolescent Girls by Susannah Sheffer.) Homeschooled kids can dress and act and think the way they want, without fear of ridicule or a need to “fit in.” They live in the real world, where lives aren’t dictated by adolescent trends and dangerous experimentation.

Religious Freedom. Many families feel their religious and spiritual beliefs are an important part of who they are. Homeschooling provides the opportunity for parents to incorporate their beliefs into their daily lives.

Closer Family Relationships. Just about every family stressed the important role that homeschooling played in helping them find time to foster loving ties between all family members. Teens seem to benefit enormously from this interaction, and rebellious, destructive behavior often begins to diminish soon after homeschooling begins.

Stability During Difficult Times. Whether there’s a new baby, an illness, a death in the family, or another obstacle or transition, homeschooling helps families cope during challenging periods. Dauri, who homeschools her three boys, described how homeschooling helped her family adjust to a move from Europe back to the US, followed by another move across the country: “It was a great comfort that we homeschooled throughout the moves. It was a stabilizing factor in our otherwise mixed-up lives.”

Well-Rested Kids. As more and more studies are illustrating, sleep is vital to the emotional and physical well-being of kids, especially teens and preteens. The effects of early morning classes can be devastating to many children, especially those who are not morning people. After realizing that lack of sleep and hours of busywork often left her boy in a zombie-like stupor, Haya has decided to try homeschooling: “My oldest (age 13), is up at 6:30 in order to catch the bus at 7:15 and start school at 7:30. He comes home at 3:00 and does homework — sometimes until midnight. He’s often exhausted. I’m hoping that when we homeschool next year, the dark circles under his eyes will disappear and his real personality will emerge again.”

No Busywork. Homeschooled children can accomplish in a few hours what takes a typical classroom a week or more to cover. In a recent interview, John Taylor Gatto, New York City Teacher of the Year and a 26-year teaching veteran, said that in many classrooms less than one hour out of each school day is spent on “on task” learning. No wonder these kids have so much homework. And that brings us to a major “pro” of homeschooling: No more homework!

The Cons
Time Restraints. There’s no way around it: learning outside of a school environment can consume a lot of mom or dad’s time. Most folks visualize that time being spent at the kitchen table with textbooks and worksheets, but for most families, that’s not the case. My family has never gone that route, choosing hands-on experiences and interesting activities as learning tools, instead. However, planning, driving to, and participating in those activities (or waiting for them to be over) constitute the bulk of my day. And that can be very draining.

As a single homeschooling mom, Mickey wrote to say that single parents who homeschool their kids face even greater time restraints: “We have to be very creative in our timing because I work and homeschool. Luckily, I work close to home and have a lot of time off, but it’s still a challenge.”

Financial Restraints. For married parents, one partner often foregoes full-time employment out of the home in order to homeschool. This can be a big sacrifice for families who are struggling to balance their budget. Surprisingly, most homeschooling families believe that the brief loss of income is well worth the satisfaction of watching their kids grow and learn in freedom.

Being with Your Kids 24/7. There’s no denying it — if you choose to homeschool, you’re going to be with your kids most of the time. If you don’t enjoy being together, then homeschooling is not for you. While it can sometimes be difficult, most homeschool parents view their daily interactions with their kids — the ups as well as the downs — as opportunities for personal and familial growth.

Limited Team Sports. While community sports activities fill the void for younger kids, teens often find limited opportunities to join sports teams, especially competitive ones. Depending on where you live, homeschoolers may or may not be welcome to participate on teams with their public-schooled peers. Several parents did mention that a few families overcame this problem by creating their own teams.

Living Outside the Norm. Like any activity that challenges mainstream thinking, homeschooling may be seen as an oddity at best, or even as a threat to those who are unable to accept ordinary parents succeeding where trained professionals often fail. My family has developed a bit of a tough exterior over the years, but negative comments and criticisms still filter in occasionally. If you are unable to live “outside of the box,” then homeschooling is not for you.

One Last Pro
Although this list is by no means comprehensive, it does provide an accurate overview of the pros and cons of the homeschooling lifestyle. But I did save one of the best “pros” (from Bev) for last: “When you need a hug, there’s always one to be found!”

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Homeschooling vs Public Schooling Debate

Homeschooling vs Public Schooling Debate

Our Homeschool Preschool/ K4 Curriculum!

Questions and Answers

Public or Private School VS Home School? My son is 2 now, and my little girl is due in 2 months. I’m a stay at home mom, and probably will be till my kids are at least into their double digits. My husband and I have been seriously talking about home schooling our children, at least for the first few years. I have yet to do any research into the subject to see what is required, but I am starting to think that may be best.My question is though, how hard is it to home school for the first few years?
What are the kind of expenses that are likely to occur?
How do you even find out if home schooling is an option, and how it works?

Any information would be a big help. I know I have a few years still till I rely have to worry about it, but I would love to start gathering information and getting prepared as soon as I can.

Thanks =)

Posted by Heather R
[display_name id=”1″]I can only speak to my experience homeschooling in the U.S., so hopefully this will be useful…Homeschooling is legal in all 50 states of the U.S. Be sure to look up the homeschooling laws in your state…each state gets to decide their education laws, so what works for you in Ohio is gonna change once you move to Georgia or for your buddy in Michigan. (Try a Google search of “Ohio homeschooling laws,” or “Michigan homeschooling laws.”)

The next thing to realize is that there’s a whole spectrum of what’s called “homeschool.” Some people sign up with an online version of public school; that’s really technically not “homeschool,” since you’re counted as public school student and you have to have regular contact with teachers, submit work and tests, etc. The dirty little secret here is that the school district gets to keep the federal funds for you, as you’re a public school student this way. (Quite obviously, your school district will like this option best. Often when one queries the school as to the options available for “homeschool,” the school administrators will smile sweetly and mention just such an arrangement, conveniently omitting the rest of your options. This “lie by omission” quietly implies that this is the one and only way “homeschooling is done.” There’s a quite a debate in the homeschooling community about whether or not this constitutes an effort by the educational bureaucracy to redefine the meaning of homeschool, and what effect that would have on legislation and regulation of more traditional homeschool. But I digress.)

Other people may choose to buy materials from companies and enroll with online schools, but they’re “independent” of the school districts, and they don’t owe anyone a darned thing…their test scores (if any; few homeschoolers in the traditional sense are obligated to take state standardized tests) are their own business, as is the pace, order or depth at which they choose to go through the material.

Other people make up their own curriculum, based on their own personal criteria. Some states want you to keep a portfolio of material to prove you’re doing something there at home, other states want you to submit your curriculum for the year for approval, others may require testing that could send you back to public or private school if you fall below a particular percentile…just in case. Again, depends on the state.

Still other people endorse what they call “unschooling,” and they throw out all books and tests altogether and simply follow what interests them. (See the writings of John Holt, or Google “unschooling” for more on that theory of education.) A good book for anyone over 12 years old is “The Teenage Liberation Handbook: How to Quit School and Get a Real Life and Education,” by Grace Llewellyn. Here’s an excerpt:

“Did your guidance counselor ever tell you to consider quitting school? That you have other choices, quite beyond lifelong hamburger flipping or inner-city crack dealing? That legally you can find a way out of school, that once you’re out you’ll learn and grow better, faster, and more naturally than you ever did in school, that there are zillions of alternatives, that you can quit school and still go to A Good College and even have a Real Life in the Suburbs if you so desire? Just in case your counselor never told you these things, I’m going to. That’s what this book is for.”

Even if you don’t hold with what the author has to say, the point of view she has is dramatically different and can be a great springboard to help you get in touch with what you believe school and learning should be like. The book also outlines a very nice reference for curriculum, as well as chapters about dealing with your school, your parents, and your social life. It’s meant to be a very usable book.

As with many things, there’s a wide spectrum of “unschoolers,” as well. Many of them have a certain set of concepts they want their kids to get and don’t care HOW they get the information, while others take a much more laid-back approach and allow the student to set the list of concepts themselves…or not set one at all. All of these people will still consider themselves “unschoolers.”

We’ve been using the K12.com program as independents for 3 years. I’m gradually dumping sections of it as I find pieces that are better or more to my liking. Find a nearby homeschool support group, you’ll find tons of ideas there, too, and places to go. 🙂

Home school vs Public School?OK. I have 3 little boys… I’m really debating if I want to home school them or send them to public school.I only work part time so I have the time and the resources to home school, I just don’t want them to miss out on anything. And I only have my GED – so will that hold them back in their futures, because I wasn’t educated enough? Please no rude/mean comments..I’m honestly struggling.. I’d just like to hear some different prospectives on this – to help me make this big decision.

Posted by Natalie
[display_name id=”1″]My mom homeschooled my two sisters and I, and I think we turned out fine 😉 I’m currently transferring into my third year into a private university in San Diego with an outstanding GPA of 3.7 & I can sincerely credit it to homeschooling. I honestly don’t feel like I missed out on anything by not going to public school. My mom had a BA in business & wasn’t necessarily “cut out” to homeschool, but she did a fine job of it, if I do say so myself.My mom had us in many different extracurricular activities (such as AYSO soccer, softball, basketball, speech and debate in a league called NCFCA and/or STOA homeschool forensics) as well as in a “homeschool school”, which met at my local church once or twice a week. That took care of the social related aspects of education that most people feel homeschooled children lack. I was able to make friends in a more controlled environment, where my mom felt it was safe and gave us the education we needed.

With the freedom of schedule, we also had other opportunities that children in public school aren’t privy to. I was able (at the age of 8) to go to Japan with my dad for 10 days. We were able to travel across the United States while we studied about the very things we were seeing (Mt. Rushmore, the First Transcontinental Railroad, the Grand Canyon, Lake Powell, Yosemite, Yellowstone, etc.) & stop through all of the national parks on the way.

I was also taught discipline in a way that I don’t think public school really affords; that of a personal level. My mom was able to lovingly rebuke & redirect us when we had problems…it wasn’t a teacher who doesn’t have a real invested interest in your kid particularly. She was able to pour into us directly, and the results of that are frequently commented on by friends, acquaintances, and strangers alike. My mom instilled in us a love for learning and a curiosity to continuously expand that knowledge. EVERYWHERE we went was a learning opportunity, including Disneyland and Knotts Berry Farm!

However, I don’t want to disillusion you into thinking it was all easy going. There were times when we were beyond difficult and my mom said she’d had it. She was ready to drive us down the the nearest public school and foist us onto the first teacher to walk by haha But, because of her persistence and dedication, I’m the student and person I am today and I’ll never be able to thank her enough for that.

My advice is to homeschool, but you really should do what you feel you need to. Don’t make this decision lightly…think long and hard about it, and about what you think would be best for your kids. It’s awesome that you’re considering homeschooling as an option, and the best of luck to you!

What are the benefits/ set backs of homeschooling?

Posted by JfromtheV.I.
[display_name id=”1″]The benefits….growing together as a family and FREEDOM! Those are the biggest benefits for me and my family. The freedom to learn as we see fit, the freedom to learn and explore what we FEEL like learning and exploring, the freedom to spend all day at the beach regardless of whether or not we are some type of schoolish “vacation”.Who needs recess when you can go outside all day, swim in your pool, walk, run, go to the park, etc. For much longer than at school?

As far as friends, home educated children make them in their neighborhoods, extra curricular activities, and groups.

As far as team effort…um, a family IS a team and how silly for anyone to try and say that school is the only place where “team” work happens, what a crock. When siblings work on something together or a child works with their parent on something that IS team work, and when home educated children get with their friends and do projects or are on a sports team…that IS teamwork.

Socially? I love the socializing that happens via home education and that is another awesome benefit of home schooling. You are not stuck in an artificial setting with 30 peers 5 days a week, ONLY in school settings does that happen. Outside of school people of all ages intermingle and socialize and converse with one another, share their knowledge, etc. Even in a stuffy ole office building you more than likely will not find people of all the same age working together. You can meet interesting people in your community, at the library, stores, at the Bus Stop, volunteering, etc…so awesome. The world is so much bigger than the classroom, and how many people do you “meet” in school anyway? Unless there is a new child or you are a new student you’ve already made a decision as to who you are going to hang with. That is why many home schoolers are seen as odd, it really isn’t an issue, so they aren’t used to the situation and it is new and uncomfortable, so what? Most fit in after awhile, same as a small town boy/girl making the move to the big city…some only take a bit of time to adjust, some may take longer but eventually you begin to feel comfortable and fit in.

Setbacks? They may not know how to raise their hand to ask how to go potty…oh, but that doesn’t happen outside of school, except perhaps in the military. Standing in line? Nope, they do just fine, as many are accustomed to standing in line at the store, bank, movies, etc. With their parents. Taking instructions from other adults? Most home educated children I know do something outside of the home that requires taking directions from other adults so no, they are fine there too.

Ignorant people making bias and rash judgements on a group of people who are different than them…that is the biggest setback. Having to defend your reasons for home educating to a bunch of ignorant people making generalizations based on opinions only or perhaps a couple of bad run ins.

Sometimes we get under each others skin, but that is normal for most families. Sometimes it is hard to think of new and fun things to do and be creative. However, I certainly wouldn’t call those setbacks.

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http://homeschoolsolutions.org/benefits-…

Homeschooling Pros and Cons

Still in the Saga… and a Story of How God Answered a Prayer (Sprittibee)

It’s funny how God brings you through layers of new revelations if you stick with Him through a difficulty. You get a glimpse of the beauty in the pain of a transformation at the potter’s wheel. This last two weeks has been a flurry of motion – doing the next thing – putting fires out […]

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At Council hearing, parents, students plead for more money for schools – Philly.com

Philly.comAt Council hearing, parents, students plead for more money for schoolsPhilly.comOne parent said that come September, she was sending her daughter out of state and homeschooling her son to avoid the problems wreaked by budget cuts. Tina Diaz, a graduate … Until now, she said, the pros have outweighed the cons. But the budget cuts …and more »

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You Can Homeschool, Part 1 — HSLDA

Questions and Answers

What are the pros and cons of homeschooling?I am considering switching to homeschooling from a public school. I’m in 10th grade so I’ll be homeschooled for 11 and 12th.

Posted by
[display_name id=”1″]Pros:
Individualized education that can be custom fit the learning style and interests of each student
Ability to seek out more hands on/field-trip opportunities
Ability to move at the speed that the student needs in each subject
“School work” can be finished in much less time than a typical school day because of teacher/student ration, no wasted time on home-room, period changes etc.
Lack of being bound by age/grade level/ school district etc.
Not bound by the public school calendar for vacations etc
“School” can take place anywhere at any time.
Socializing and socialization (which are 2 different things BTW) takes place in the real world, vs. The segregated setting of public school.
Cons:
Putting up with ignorant stereo-types spouted off by those who never learned to think outside of the public school box.All research indicates that not only are homeschoolers well socialized and well adjusted, but that they also participate in more social activities as children and adults. Research also shows that public schools are harmful to social skills and the ability to socialize. Homeschooling gives the chance to be around a wider variety of people. Homeschoolers are not limited to being around only those who live in the same school district and who were born in the same 12 month period. Instead, homeschoolers are free to be around people of all ages and who live within a larger area. There are so many ways to socialize beyond the box that is public school. Statistics show that the average homeschooler participates in 3x the number of extracurricular activities over their public school counterparts. Studies also show that homeschoolers are more active in their community not only when they are homeschooling but also once they enter college and/or the workforce.

There also seem to be the assumption that parents can’t teach more then they know. There are many false assumptions about how homeschooling works such as: parents are the only ones teaching; the parent can’t learn right along with the student; students can’t learn something on their own…etc. If humans were incapable of learning beyond what their parents knew we would still be living in caves. Humans are curious by nature. It is the unnatural setting of public school that kills that natural desire.
Statistics and standardized test scores prove that homeschooling works. Homeschoolers consistently score higher than their public school peers. When homeschoolers are broken down into categories by their parents’ education levels, the children of school teachers/those with degrees in educational fields score slightly lower that the average for homeschoolers. While no one knows for certain why this is the case, it is believed that “trained teachers” are more likely to insist that a student bend to fit the curricula instead of bending the curricula to fit the student’s needs. Most former school teachers that homeschool will tell you that their schooling got in the way of being an effective homeschool parent.

Many homeschoolers take AP and/or college courses during high school. It is very common for a homeschooler to graduate high school with 1-2 years of college credits. This is usually due to dual enrollment at a local community college or by taking CLEP exams.
There are many ways to meet friends and to be active while homeschooling such as:
Take up a new hobby or expand on a current one
Volunteering
Join a homeschool co-op
Join a homeschool social group
Join the YMCA, YWCA, Boys Club/Girls Club
Take classes through the local recreation center or private studio such as: sports, dancing, martial arts, art etc
Learn to play a musical instrument
Book Clubs
Scouts
Activities through your church/synagogue/mosque/coven etc

It is really sad that those who have bought into the myths and stereo-types are unable to think beyond the literal and figurative box of public school. They do not realize that the reason all their childhood memories and friends come from school is because they spent the majority of their waking hours from the ages of 5-18 in public school or involved in its activities. They assume that friends and childhood memories can only come from public school because sadly that is the only experience they have. They have been duped into believing that public school equals the real world yet they fail to realize that nowhere else in life other than prison is one’s life so controlled by others. In school you can’t even take a drink of water or use the restroom without the permission of someone else.

Pros and cons to homeschooling?

Posted by cali.gurl_becky13
[display_name id=”1″]Cons:
No built-in babysitter during public school hours. This means that one parent usually has to stay home, or they have to coordinate work schedules or hire a babysitter when at work. It means that the children end up going most everywhere with the parents–though this also means that they learn a lot about living in the world as they see things that lots of schooled kids don’t experience until on their own.
Not fitting in with the majority–Some will question the choice just because it isn’t the choice made by the majority of parents, but there are so many homeschoolers these days that this shouldn’t be a big problem.
People will worry about the social side of the child’s life–though research shows that homeschoolers do better socially (“The Well-Adjusted Child” by Rachel Gathercole). They learn to deal with people of all ages, rather than just those of their own age, and most homeschool parents make an effort to make sure their children get out and mingle with other people, including other children.Pros:
Safety–Lots of stories in the media about school shootings, bullies, drugs, etc. Homeschooled kids rarely deal with these problems, and when they do, the parents are usually nearby to help them figure out a way through it.
Health–Homeschooled kids can eat healthy meals and snacks, get drinks and exercise, go to the bathroom, etc. When they need to–not just when it fits the school’s schedule. Those with allergies can more easily avoid what sets off their allergies. Kids who are sick can get the rest they need without worrying about getting behind, and may be able to do some lessons even while sick–if they are able to read or watch educational programs in bed.
Education–Homeschooled children tend to outscore schooled kids on standardized tests. Since their education can be individualized, they can get an education designed for them and progress more rapidly. They aren’t slowed down by slower students in a class, or frustrated by lessons which assume they know something that they don’t since the parent can have them work at their own pace, and speed up or slow down when needed.
Freedom–Homeschoolers can set their own schedules. Take vacations when they want. Do lessons at the time of day that they want. They aren’t bound to a schedule set by someone else. They can choose curriculum and lessons that work for them, rather than being stuck with a program planned by someone else.

Pros and Cons of homeschooling and online schooling?I’m in the 9th grade currently and we are moving out of my school district. I have switched schools 3 times (this would be the 4th), and I really don’t want to make new friends again. I have the option to home school and I was just wondering the “Pros and Cons” of getting home schooled. I always wanted to do so. I have a good enough social life that I dont think that I would be affected like that. Graduation and Prom is a big thing I would miss out on. Also I have been wanting to get home schooled for a while now. I also want to know if I would have the same chance of getting into colleges if I didnt do home school. Thanks for all help…
P.S. I hear I could graduate a lot faster.. Should I do it?

Posted by Phillip
[display_name id=”1″]Yes, you could graduate faster. Yes, you have the same or maybe even a better chance at getting into college.I’m a huge advocate for homeschooling, but I know homeschooling isn’t right for all families. For my family, homeschooling works best.

PROS:
1. Homeschooling offers the most flexibility. If families frequently travel, and as a result kids miss a bunch of school, then I think in that case, homeschooling would be best.
2. If a kid is an overachiever, and finds him or herself constantly being held back, waiting for the rest of the class to catch up, then I think homeschooling would be a great option because the kid could work at his or her own pace.
3. If a child is a struggling learner or has a learning disability, and struggles in public school, I know first hand (my son has severe dyslexia) homeschooling may be a better choice than public school.
4. If a high school kid wants to take AP classes and doesn’t want to have to get a teacher’s approval to do so, then I think homeschooling is a great option.
5. If a high school aged kid wants to get a head start on college, homeschooling is a great choice. Instead of doing all high school classes, the student could enroll in college and take a few classes, earning both high school and college credits.
6. If a kid is easily distracted, or can’t handle typical school related drama, homeschooling would be a great way to go.
7. If a high school aged kid wants to graduate from high school early, then homeschooling is a great option.
8. Homeschooling is a wonderful option for kids that miss a bunch of school due to health related reasons.

There are some instances when homeschooling isn’t a good choice.

CONS:
1. If a kid lacks self discipline, homeschooling may not be a good fit.
2. If both parents work, homeschooling may not be the best choice.
3. If the parents aren’t committed to homeschooling 110%, then homeschooling may not be a good choice.
4. If a kid has severe behavior problems or a lack of respect for their parents, homeschooling may not be the best option.

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http://homeschoolsolutions.org/benefits-…