Homeschool: A Growing Trend
In the beginning days of homeschooling,
pioneer parents were virtually on their own.They had to put together their own
curriculum, find their own materials and supplies, discover their child’s learning
style on their own with no outside help, keep their own records… Remember,
Internet wasn’t readily available in those days, and when it did become more
accessible, it was it wasn’t always user friendly. I remember the
early days of computers and Internet…frustrating at best. The learning curve
was steep. Homeschool support groups were virtually nonexistent.
Much has changed for homeschooling families today thanks to the ever
advancing growth in technology. Using the Internet and home computers
is now very user friendly, and Internet availability is not a huge
problem anymore with the advent of DSL and Cable. Gone are the days of
spotty dial-up, well gone for most folks since there are more choices
today.
The homeschool trend
has become one of the fastest and most talked about educational issues
along with public school testing and charter schools. In 2010, there
were approximately 2.04 million homeschool students in the United
States according to the National Homeschool Research Institute, and
that number is growing as much as 15 to 20 percent per year.
Homeschooling comprises a larger student population than voucher school
programs -- at least those that include private schools, that enroll
only a few thousand students in a few cities (Gardner 2000).
Homeschooling also involves a larger population than charter schools.
According to estimates from organizations involved with charter
schools, the student population in the fall of 2000 was just over
500,000 (Center for Education Reform, 2001). Even conservative
estimates of the number of homeschoolers put their numbers at that level
or above according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
Homeschooling is rapidly becoming a mainstream education alternative.
The Old Schoolhouse magazine, a homeschooling publication, said that
homeschoolers score an average of 37 percentile points above the
national average on standardized achievement tests. These
impressive statistics have caught the eye of college admissions
personnel. The magazine said colleges are employing a wide variety of
strategies aimed at recruiting homeschoolers, including strong
representation at homeschool conventions, direct mailing campaigns, and
promotions in publications. Some institutions have appointed
"homeschool liaison and recruitment specialists." Impressive homeschool statistics in my opinion.
Parents have access to various educational aides these days. Many
stores carry CD’s of educational games. This is useful for
supplementing specific target areas. Just make sure the ‘games’ truly
provide quality educational benefits rather than a heavy focus on fun
only. Workbooks are also available in most grocery stores and mass
market stores such as Wal-Mart and Target. Teacher supply stores have
taken notice of homeschooling families in the last few years and now
cater to them as well. Online curriculum providers are an excellent way
to supplement or use as your core curriculum. Always check for a trial
period and/or demos of their resources before committing to a long term
contract, if one is required. Homeschool co-op groups are also on the
rise. It is a super way to meet 0ther homeschooling families,
participate in social activities, have your child take classes in areas
you might not be totally comfortable teaching… Homeschool support
groups are usually available in larger cities and some smaller ones as
well. The Internet provides numerous avenues for finding support via
Yahoo groups, educational forums, educational parenting sites, reviews
of different curriculums, online educational magazines and blogs,
educational shopping sources, discount educational shopping co-ops and
so forth.
Homeschooling families are not alone in this day and time. Reach
out and find others. Support goes a long way when you are having a
rough day. Take time to share your successes and failures. We all learn
from each other. Just remember, as homeschoolers, we are in this
together. We become stronger as we journey together.
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