| Let's be honest: When people here the term | | | | resources that exist for parents interested in taking |
| "homeschooling", one of the first images that pops | | | | charge of their children's education. Many of these |
| into their mind is a backwards, old-fashioned, | | | | programs are developed by professional educators |
| inadequate form of education. However, it is true | | | | and are accredited programs that are recognized as |
| that for centuries, children have been taught at home | | | | valid education curriculums. Students are encouraged |
| by their parents. This practice is in no way a new | | | | to think for themselves and take ownership of their |
| phenomenon and has helped produce many of | | | | learning experience. |
| history's greatest movers and shakers! In | | | | Some people might say that this information sounds |
| contemporary American society, homeschooling has | | | | good in theory and on paper, but when it comes |
| received a reputation for being a poor way to | | | | down to it, how do homeschool students perform |
| educate children. This reputation, which is limited in | | | | compared to students from the public school? The |
| perspective, is neither fair nor accurate. | | | | answer to this question would surprise many! "A 1997 |
| The education that homeschoolers receive is often | | | | study by Dr. Brian Ray of the National Home |
| more dimensional and diverse than the standard | | | | Education Research Institute (NHERI) found that |
| means of education received in a typical classroom. | | | | home educated students excelled on |
| One of the greatest aspects of a homeschool | | | | nationally-normed standardized achievement exams. |
| curriculum is its flexibility. Learning a lesson about the | | | | On average, homeschoolers outperformed their public |
| Impressionist Art period? Pack a lunch in a bag and | | | | school peers by 30 to 37 percentile points across all |
| the family in the car, and head to the museum to | | | | subjects." |
| see actual work by the artists you are learning about. | | | | Finding a program with high standards and that fits |
| Learning about the wonder of birds in your science | | | | the needs of you and your child is important, but as |
| lesson? Grab a pair of binoculars and head outside. | | | | you can see, choosing to homeschool your children |
| These are both incredibly valuable experiences. | | | | would in no way impair them for a bright future. |
| In addition, there are many great homeschooling | | | | |