HOMESCHOOLING 101

What Is Homeschooling?
Homeschooling is an approach in which parents choose to educate their children at home instead of sending them to a traditional school. This approach began growing in the 1970s, when John Holt, Dorothy Moore, and Raymond Moore started writing about reforms in educational structure. 

Homeschooling provides an atmosphere where parents can provide personalized or individualized method of instruction that matches the child's unique abilities, learning styles, and interests. As Ken Robinson puts it "the key to [educational] transformation is not to standardize education, but to personalize it, to build achievement on discovering the individual talents of each child, to put students in an environment where they want to learn and where they can naturally discover their true passions." 

Why do people homeschool?
There are many reasons why families choose to homeschool. Such reasons include dissatisfaction with the traditional school system, different educational philosophies and beliefs, and concerns about the environment in schools. 

Parents do not need an education degree to homeschool. Those with school-age children who have never attended a traditional school can begin a homeschooling program. If the children are in school already and the parents decide to homeschool, the the kids have to be withdrawn from the school before beginning homeschooling.

What are the different ways to homeschool?
Homeschooling families choose an educational philosophy that they will adapt based on their circumstances. Different philosophies or methods include Waldorf, Montessori, Charlotte Mason, classical, leadership education, interest-led learning, unit study, and more. There is also an option to be eclectic, or to combine different philosophies to meet the children's needs. 

How are children of different ages homeschooled together?
There are many methods to teach multiple age groups. One of which is through unit studies. In unit studies, children learn the same topic together, but they perform different activities depending on their age and ability. For reading, writing, and basic math, a homeschooling parent might tutor each child on-on-one to meet the individual needs.

How do homeschoolers socialize?
Homeschoolers all around the world often have social networks. Some families group together to have classes and social events like playdates and field trips.  ​​

What are advantages of homeschooling?
Homeschooling is widely known for its flexibility. There is freedom to customize what and how the children learn. This includes freedom to choose the homeschooling method and resources that will be used. Also, homeschoolers progress according to their own pacing and schedule. They have complete freedom over the structure of their school year. Many follow the traditional school calendar, some homeschool all throughout the year, and others customize their own homeschool calendar.

Based on research, on average, homeschoolers often outperform children in traditional public schools.

When does homeschooling begin and end?
It depends on the family who chooses to homeschool. Homeschooling can begin with kindergarten and can continue until the child graduates and enters university. Most universities now recruit and accept homeschooled graduates.