WHY HOMESCHOOLING WORKS...
Kate
1) Kids learn how to learn on their own.
2)
Their education can be tailored to suit their needs.
3) Kids learn how to think instead of what to
think.
Lissa
I know for my teen a couple of things really came into play when his growth spurts hit! One
is being able to get enough sleep. Another is being able to eat when he's hungry and not just when a bell rings. He also has
time for sports without them competing with his studies. I'd say this physical activity, healthy more natural sleep and eating
pattern helps him concentrate better. I'd also have to add being able to study a subject and take off in the direction
of a personal interest in depth makes the original study stick with them better. Also without the social stresses and the
occasional control freak teacher looking over their shoulder I think my kids learn better... less stresses.... safety ....
more relaxed environment allows them to enjoy learning. There are just so many things. My touchy feely kid can get his hands
into things. My quick learner can speed her way through when she wants to. My reluctant little one can get the extra time
he needs when he needs it. They get all their questions answered not passed over.
Pat
Advantages: Learn at your own rate, more freedom, you have a choice in what you study, you
don't have to wait for everyone in the class to get something, you have time to read books, you get things done faster.
Amy
Ann Lahrson Fisher is in the final stages of publishing a book that looks at
common characteristics
of homeschooling families that use a broad spectrum of homeschooling styles. (It's a good book -- I expect it will be
like the "Joy of Cooking" for homeschooling, a good starting point for new homeschoolers and a handy reference guide for more
experienced homeschoolers.)
Among other things, she points out that homeschooling families spend more time in conversation
(rather than one-way teacher-to-student lecturing in the classroom), which gives children an opportunity to develop critical
thinking skills and to gain confidence in their ideas.
I also believe that one of the greatest strengths of
homeschooling is that our children are allowed to be children, with time to play, time to think by and for themselves, and
time to get to know themselves. I don't know if this
necessarily translates into higher test scores, but I know that
it directly translates into young adults being well-prepared to face the world with joy, curiousity, imagination, ethics and
self-confidence.
Janet
They have more time to work on their specialized talents. You are free to teach those things
that the public school does not offer. They can be more involved if you have a home business. They can also learn cooking
and all those domestic things you do around the house. But that is the main thing which you already mentioned is that the
kids learn how to learn on their own. There's a few just off the top of my head. I'm sure other people have alot more to share
too.
Paul
As Gatto and Holt have noticed, the learning process does not fit well (if at all) into the
industrial-style environment of the classroom. So, simply taking them out of that environment is a huge boost to learning.
Laura
I think kids learn who they are without the distractions of others (peers, etc.) telling them
who they *should* be. I think because of this, they also learn to trust hemselves.
Robin
I think this strand is another example of why home schoolers do so well. There is no such
thing as an obstacle with you guys, where the road is blocked, you create a path around it. What an awesome thing to
teach! I am so well trained at working within the system, I can learn so much from those of you who have deleted system.com
off of your hard drives!
Staci
What is making it work for us so far is....The learning of values, morals and good old fashion
respect. These three things have played a BIG part in our learning. Family has become important again. I
had lost alot in the 3 and 5 years they were in public schools. They have slowly come back and are gradually loving
learning again!! The freedom to research things that interest them, eating when hungry, restroom needs handled without
permission, the questions they aren't afraid to ask, biological clocks working in their favor, taking two days to learn something
that they couldn't get in 40 minutes and taking 5 minutes to learn something instead of 35 more minutes of wasted time, one
on one education, learning resources to tape other people to help them learn and not depending only on me or one person in
their lives, the unique ways in which they each learn are all issues that are easily addressed through homeschooling.
Connie
1) they feel loved, accepted, encouraged
2)More one on one, individual attention and small group
interaction
3)They never have to be held back with the rest of the class or pushed forward when they are not ready!
4)Spend
a lot more time on those things that really grab their attention.
Niki
The biggest advantage, I believe, is relationship! We are with our children 24-7 and we actually
get to know them. After NOT homeschooling my first 3 (except for Althea a couple of years) I found it was hard
to know where they were coming from and it was hard to work through growth and peer stuff. Not that it's easy now, but I know
these girls and I can make more accurate judgements in their behalf than I could with the older ones.
