Some questions on Homeschooling?

Question

1. Can a parent homeschool a child if they are not that "Smart"? Like... if they were about average? Meaning not teacher-status?

2. How would you go about it? Do you sign up for a program? Does your parent have to take some type of test? Are you contsantly checked up on?

3. If you are homeschooled, can you still get into a good college? Does it depend on your SAT's and etc...?

4. In your opinion, which is better? Like... which one do you feel is more academically advantaging? Especially If you are a person who is better at studying than participating in class....

I know this is alot, but this would really help me! Thanks so much~!

Answer 1

1.  Studies have shown that the education level of the parent has little effect on the outcome of homeschooling - meaning that a parent can successfully homeschool even if they did not graduate from high school.  Here's some info on qualifications:

http://www.successful-homeschooling.com/...

2.  You need to find out your state's laws: http://www.hslda.org/laws/default.asp

Then you choose a program.  Text book and online programs sometimes work well for high school:

http://www.successful-homeschooling.com/...

http://www.successful-homeschooling.com/...

3.  Yes, you can get into a good college as long as you meet their requirements.  Many colleges are now recruiting homeschoolers.

4.  Statistics show homeschoolers out perform public school students academically.  Here are some statistics, as well as a comparison of homeschooling and public school:

http://www.successful-homeschooling.com/...

http://www.successful-homeschooling.com/...

Good luck making a decision!

Answer 2

1. As Jazzy says, studies have shown that academic level of the parent has little to do with how well the child does in homeschooling. In fact, teachers are just (gasp) regular people. They have gone to college to get a degree, but most of what they learn in teaching classes is how to teach to a gang of kids, how to keep discipline and fill out paperwork.

2. How you do it depends on where you live and your comfort level. Some people like to sign up for an umbrella school where someone is giving them all the work and telling them what to do. Most states allow for freedom in making your choices. You need to look at www.hslda.org for laws in your state.

3. You can definitely get into a good college. Of course it depends on your transcript (which your parents will track for you) and your ACT/SAT scores.

4. In my opinion, homeschooling has worked much better for my children. In pubic school, my children were losing their joy for learning and were getting used to being spoon fed the right answer, so they were no longer looking for their own answer. Now they can explore, read and create their own opinions, their own viewpoints and read multiple ideas for every thing. They've gotten much more social, and participate better in activities that they do attend because they are more confident in themselves.

Good luck.

Answer 3

1. Why would you assume teachers were of above average intelligence? Some are, some are not. A teaching student that graduates at the bottom of his class can still be a teacher. That said, give people more credit. It is called average intelligence because it is what most of us have to work with.

2. You'll have to check with the laws in your state. YA is a good starting place, but you'll need to do your own research too. In my state, I withdrew my child, mailed in a letter of intent and began immediately.

3.Yes and yes. Just as a high school education does not guarantee you admittance to a good college, neither does homeschool. It is what you make of it.

4. It depends. I think homeschool can be beneficial for a wide variety of students.

Answer 4

Hi

I've been homeschooled for about 3 years now and only once did i need a supervisor. so I don't think it will matter unless the student is young, than he will need a supervisor. For older independent students, their books act as a teacher for them so they won't need help from anyone else.. really depends on the age i guesss... yes you can get into good college, just like normal school, ask the school first though.

Answer 5

1. Yes, Yes, Yes.

2. We get books -- borrow from the library, buy from new and used bookstores.  No we don't sign up for a program.  No, parent don't have to take a test.  And no we are not constantly checked up on.

3. Yes, and yes and no.

4.  Home education is by far superior in every way -- academic and social, etc. Yes, especially if you are better at studying!

Back to 1:  A parent can offer a child a wonderful education whether or not they themselves are considered "smart".  Average is just fine.  And below average is okay too.  I guess that I wonder what it means to be *teacher-status*.  In my mind every parent is capable of teaching.  Some may be more capable than others but everyone can do it.  If a parent needs help from someone it is easy to find through internet resources, local groups, family, friends, neighbors.

Back to 2:  We have gone about homeschooling for 25 years.  You start with the basics --- learning phonics for reading and math-facts for arithmetic.  Some people do sign up for public paid at-home learning programs.  But, we don't because we want to reach a higher standard.  We want to be in charge of which material and things are brought into the grasp of the student.  Testing for parents would be silly -- it would cost a lot of money -- after all, most parents do already have a high-school diploma.  That should be enough even though even IT is not necessary.  If we were constantly "checked on" I would move to a deserted island!  Yikes -- we don't need no stinkin' monitors! teehee.

We also bought a great program about 10 years ago -- it has 12 yrs+ of material for an excellent education for the whole family.  www.robinsoncurriculum.com

Back to 3:  My daughter is in a transfer program through a community college and will be attending Oregon State University next year.  Many home-educated students get such high SAT scores and they are given great scholarships to attend good colleges and universities.  SAT's do mean a lot to college admissions -- so do ACT's and AP's and CLEP's.  Home-school students are able to obtain all of the above.

Back to 4:  Home school has proven to be better in my family.  My children are now adults and have done very well with their studies.  They lead very good lives --- have great jobs and great grades in college.  I have also seen excellent results among the hundreds of friends that we have in the home-school *community*.  The statistics are in.  And home-school students have a higher percentage of success in academics than P.S.

www.nheri.org

Answer 6

1. Yes and teachers aren't all THAT smart :-)

2. This is a tricky question because it really depends what state (or country) you live in and what you want to achieve. Most US students seem to sign up with an online school of some sort, their parents don't have to take a test and the only 'checking' would be the marking of coursework submitted to the online school.

3. Certainly and a lot of HS students do. SATs do count for most colleges but so do 'out of school' activities and interviewing well.

4. My personal bias is for HS anyway but if you are someone who is good at studying without a teacher breathing down your neck and find the classroom environment distracting, HS may well be a good choice for you.