The HSLDA reports some new statistics about homeschooling. In the last decade, the population of students in home education has grown from 850,000 to an estimated 1.5 to 2 million.
Fact #1: Homeschoolers perform 34-39% above the national average in standardized tests. The national average, by definition, is 50%. Homeschoolers test at 84-89% in subject by subject standardized test scores, well above the national average.
Fact #2: Children in lower income families who homeschool outperform public education. Even families making a combined household income of less than $35,000 per year outperformed public education by 35% in standardized test scores.
Fact 3#: Boys and girls respond well to homeschool education. Only one percentage point separated male and female students in standardized test scores with boys averaging 87% and girls 88%.
Fact #4: Home-schooled children of parents who do not have a college education outperform public education. Even in homes in which neither parent has a degree, students tested at 83% nationally. That's 33% above the national average.
Fact #5: Stronger government regulation does not increase student achievement. No discernible achievement difference is shown in states with high, medium, or low levels of regulation. Students' performance levels for all three categories come in at 87-88%, or 37-38% above the national public school average.
Fact #6: Spending more per student via public education does not improve performance. Homeschool education generally costs $500 per student each year for curriculum and supplies, while public education costs an average of nearly $10,000. Regardless of total dollars per student, homeschool students came in at 86-89% performance, or 36-39% above the national public school average.
Fact #7: Homeschool children of parents who had earned teaching certification were not higher in achievement. Certified educators achieve homeschool performance at the 87th percentile while non-certified homeschoolers achieved the 88th percentile.
Do you have questions about home schooling? About how to get started? Where do you find all you need and more? Well, I am not an expert, but I can tell you what has worked for us and what has not. *Remember each child is different and so is each family* First things first, where to begin.
- Prayer!!! To our family this was a God directed thing.
- Second, if your husband is supportive of the idea, you need to wait until he is. (Ask God to help you out)
- HSLDA- Home School Legal Defense Aid. Has all your states laws pertaining to home schooling in your state.
- Alabama you need to be under an Umbrella....Check out the CHEF of Alabama for a list of umbrellas.
- I thought I would be bold and and "create" my own curriculum for the first year. I sent it all back, and ordered a complete curriculum for my first two years. It removed some of the stress. I now know what works for each child and how to put my lesson plans together.
- The first year is the hardest, hang in there it gets sweeter with time just like everything else:)
- Check out my favorite places, they might become some of yours. Never be afraid of asking questions and seeking advice from others. We need to learn too.
I love Proverbs 22:6 what a wonderful promise!
Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it. Proverbs 22:6
Why, ask why? Many people ask why we home school. Many may find my answer offensive, but some times the truth is painful.
1. The education system has failed.
- Since the 1970's the level at which children are educated has dropped dramatically.
Most High schoolers drop out before graduating.
We would like our children to be able compete with their peers from countries around the world.- History books are being changed, to teach part of history and leaving out some very important parts of history out.
- Theories in Science are now being taught as facts.
- Why do my children's values have to bend, change and yield to conform to the rest of the World.
2. I actually enjoy being around my children.
- To get to be a role model for them is a blessing.
- They get to learn all the important stuff, how to treat others, put others first, what a mom looks like.
- Home economics is a daily life lesson, that doesn't have to wait until High School.
3. We want our children to learn in a Christian environment.
Although many argue that Christians need to be in the world, which I agree with to some degree.....
- That job is for the well grounded. If you had a seedling that was to become a Maple Tree, You would carefully plant the seed, nurture it, water it, and watch it grow in your efforts. Do you plant it outside when it is tender shoot? No. You keep it away from insects and storms, heat damage and even frost. You do this UNTIL its roots are deep and strong. It needs to mature enough to weather the storms that may come. Neither do I want my young child to be out there with other influences that he is not strong enough to withstand.
4. My favorite question ever, What about socialization?
- Do I really want my children to pick up nasty habits from their peers, you like cussing? Or better yet, sex education at 9 or 8 years old.
- Do I want my children learn that is okay to talk to adults any way the want?
- They are exposed to many different people every day, and actually are learning how to behave and treat others.
- We as parents get to set up the boundaries for what is acceptable and what is not.
- After all God gave them to us, for a reason and purpose.
Four weeks of school done. These first weeks of school have flown by, and have been enjoyable. I changed how we are doing things this year which has truly made the biggest difference. In the past I have just scheduled actives whenever, after all that is the beauty of homeschooling right? Freedom to go when ever? I forgot one of the main reasons I like home schooling is to be home. Well last year it added stress and time limits to school. Which equalled major strife in our lives. So at the end of last year feeling almost like a failure, and really like I did not give my children the time they deserved.
What is the big change? Activities are now on Monday's, along with bible study. Ballet, Tae Kwon Do, Piano and extra things like mail run. That leaves us home the rest of the week during "school" hours to do "school". However one thing I am sadly missing is a group bible study. I know however an evening one will be made available and that it is okay, because it is just for this season of our life. One that God has given us to spend time with the ones we love.
September 21,2010....
Seven weeks down, working on eight, end of first quarter next Friday. Sigh! and Whew! This year I had a lot of anxiety with teaching 3 instead of 1. How was I going to manage to do it? I have to teach a child to read, write and math. I was very over whelmed, but now I see God's at work every day at school. We have figured out our routine and everyone has "special" one on one time with mommy. We have learned some letters and have even read our first words! Math is finally clicking for my sweet Princess Pea and numbers are forming for my little Buster Brown. The things I picked for my oldest are at just the right level to help her use her brain. A little added time some days for some subjects but it is all following together. I am so thankful for what has been given to us so far. I can not wait to see how the rest of this adventure t
