The first step to homeschooling is making your decision to home educate your child. It is important to become informed and knowledgeable about some of the main concerns you may have. Explore these areas of our website to learn more about the initial decision to homeschool.
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| Making Your Decision |
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The reasons people decide to educate their children at home are varied and can be unique to each family. Some look towards a better educational experience, others are concerned with moral and social issues, some are concerned with safety, and still others have special needs that they wish to address. Explore these reasons and others that have led families to homeschooling.
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| Advantages of Homeschooling |
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Ask anyone who loves homeschooling what the advantages are, and you'll probably hear a long list of the benefits of educating children in the home. Homeschooling is a journey and an adventure, with benefits and rewards for the entire family. Come find out what these advantages are and decide if homeschooling is right for you.
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| Teaching Your Own Children |
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Are you qualified to teach your own children? The answer is yes! It is challenging, but rewarding, to educate your children in your home. Find out what these challenges are and how to address them.
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| Socialization |
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"But what about socialization?" So the typical question goes to anyone who homeschools. Find out what socialization means to homeschooling families and strategies to engage your children and your entire family in social activities and connections.
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| Research & Statistics |
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Learn about current research and statistics involving homeschooling families, the homeschool movement, and the educational system.
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| Public School Issues |
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Many parents are basing part of their decision to homeschool on issues with public schooling, from bullying to poor academic performance to problems with governmental control.
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| Community Outreach |
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Want to help homeschooling integrate into the community at large? Are you a homeschool group leader who talks with the media or provides information to new and curious homeschoolers? Here are tips to help you present homeschooling to the public and the media.
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Homeschool Resource Center in a Public Library |
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Kathy Wentz |
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Libraries can provide more than just books. Kathy Wentz shares the example of how homeschoolers worked with library staff in Johnsburg, Illinois, to create a Homeschool Resource Center (HRC). This project was funded with a grant by the Illinois Secretary of State's office for "New and Innovative Programs." The HRC provides resources and materials, including microscopes, telescopes, math and science manipulatives, foreign language tapes, and more. |
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Special Ed: Factory-Like Schooling May Soon Be a Thing of the Past |
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Britton Manasco |
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Britton Manasco, writing for Reason Magazine, looks at the advantages of homeschooling, along with some interesting facets of home education. Discusses the benefits of encouraging independent thought and decentralized learning practices. The article also takes a look at the state of today's classrooms and the limitations of traditional notions of education. There is also a discussion of the use of technology in the homeschool environment and how this relates to the issue of socialization. |
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The Socialization Question |
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Holly Craw |
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Every homeschooler has been asked the question, "What about socialization?" The asking of it implies that the only acceptable way for children to learn “proper behavior for group settings” is to be immersed in learning situations with 30 other age-mates. It also assumes that teaching one’s children and being social recluses are the same thing.
Being involved with other people (socializing) is one of the strengths of the home schoolers.
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Why Homeschool |
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Here are just some of the advantages you might want to think about as you are considering a homeschooling lifestyle. This is only a partial list. Any homeschooling family could come up with more items for the list. We hope this list sparks your thought processes, and helps you with your decision. |
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