Homeschooling Information - Your Questions Answered

Are you looking for homeschooling information? Here are answers to the top 5 questions about homeschooling:

1. What are the benefits to homeschooling?

Homeschooling has many benefits for both the student and the family as a whole. Children who are homeschooled have an opportunity to learn at their own pace in a method that suits their primary learning style. They also avoid many of the negative social interactions that take place in public school, and develop close bonds with parents and siblings.

Homeschooling statistics show that homeschoolers outperform public school students academically. Homeschool students are also more likely to be actively involved in their communities once they graduate from high school.

2. What are the disadvantages of homeschooling?

Parents who homeschool take on primary responsibility for the outcome of their children's education. They lack the free time of parents who send their children to public school, and they also have to purchase their children's homeschool materials in addition to paying school taxes.

Homeschool moms and dads must seek out social opportunities for their children instead of relying on school activities. In some cases, they may also face criticism from friends and family members. However, for most families, the homeschooling pros greatly outweigh the cons.

3. What about socialization?

Homeschoolers are able to avoid much of the peer pressure, teasing and bullying that occur in school, and instead focus on developing positive peer relationships.

Homeschool students can participate in a variety of social activities through homeschool co-ops, homeschooling support groups, community activities, sports teams and other organizations. Many parents begin homeschooling thinking they will have trouble finding social engagements for their children, and end up finding they have too many activities to choose from.

4. Is homeschooling legal?

Parents have the legal right to homeschool in all 50 states. Homeschool laws vary from state to state. For more information about homeschooling laws in your state, visit the Homeschool Legal Defense Association's website.

5. Are parents qualified to teach their children?

Parents are their children's first teachers, and are more than qualified to home educate. Research has shown that the level of homeschooling qualifications has little effect on the a child's academic performance. Many pre-packaged curriculum programs come with teacher's guides and lesson plans that tell a parent how to teach certain concepts. Parents who do not have teaching certificates and college degrees can successfully teach their children.

Here is some additional homeschooling information.

Carletta Sanders is a homeschool mom of 3. For homeschool information and activities delivered directly to your inbox, sign up for her homeschool newsletter.