Welcome to the Homeschoolers Wiki!
Purpose of this wiki
The purpose of this resource is twofold:
- To serve as a clearinghouse for homeschool-related information on the Web
- To provide a collaborative space for homeschoolers to share their experiences and ideas
Intended audience
- Parents who homeschool
- Parents considering homeschooling
- Homeschooled students
- Parents of students interested in providing enrichment (or remedial) activities for students attending public or private school
- Tutors (including online tutors)
- Educators interested in investigating the homeschool approach
Topics addressed
This wiki covers a variety of topics related to homeschooling, including:
Homeschooling statistics and trends
Homeschooling is currently one of the fastest-growing trends in education, with an estimated 2.5 million students learning at home. Virtual learning is beginning to play a part, too. Click here for a look at current homeschooling statistics and trends.
History of homeschooling
Homeschooling (along with apprenticeship) was the dominant form of education around the world until relatively recently. In the United States, the concept of compulsory instutionalized schooling wasn't introduced until the mid-19th century, and wasn't commonplace (that is, attendance wasn't actively enforced) until the early 20th century, coinciding with the rise of massive urban populations and the workforce needs driven by the industrial revolution.
Homeschooling in the United States saw a resurgence (and a flurry of legal activity) in the 1980's, when parents homeschooling for religious reasons began challenging existing policy. Today, in 2009, homeschooling is on the rise--notably for non-religious reasons such as educational quality.
For more on the history of homeschooling, see A History of Compulsory Education Laws, by M.S. Katz, and the Homeschool Legal Defense Association's Compulsory Education Laws: The Dialogue Reopens.
Rationale for homeschooling
Homeschooling requires a significant investment of time, effort, and even money (typically calculated as the opportunity cost of the home teacher's absence from the job market during the years spent homeschooling).
The reasons for homeschooling are nearly as varied as the homeschoolers themselves. An article in Education Next recently listed the following reasons in order of prevalence:
School environment (31%)
Religion/morality (30%)
Instruction quality (17%)
Other (9%)
Physical/mental health problems (7%)
Other special needs (7%)
Some of the "other" reasons often cited include not wanting to slow down a gifted child, and wanting to match a child's schedule more closely to the parents' (for example, military families or other families who move frequently).
Styles and approaches
"Homeschooling" means different things to different homeschooling parents--and, quite possibly, to the same homeschooling parents at different points during their teaching years. Some feel most comfortable with an approach and pace similar to that of an institution, with an official curriculum and an 8:00 a.m. starting time. Others chose to homeschool precisely because they wanted to avoid such structure. Homeschooling gives all parents the option to adapt their learning styles to their children's specific personalities and learning styles.
Some popular approaches, or styles, of homeschooling include classical, Montessori, Waldorf, and unschooling. This CBS video gives a brief overview of a few approaches, including the "Thomas Jefferson" education.
Curricula
Whether or not U.S. parents use a formal curriculum depends on a variety of factors, including the requirements of the state they live in and the homeschooling approach they choose (some--notably, unschooling--eschew formal curricula).
Some homeschoolers find all the materials they need at the public library. Others prefer to "try out" formal curricula by borrowinging materials from other homeschoolers. Still others turn to one of the many online curriculum review resources or just choose a curriculum after doing a bit of research, knowing they can also change to a different curriculum if the first one doesn't work for them (or for their child).
Getting started with homeschooling
What you need to do to begin homeschooling will differ depending on what U.S. state you live in, as well as how you plan to approach homeschooling.
The Texas Home School Coalition's Getting Started guide offers practical tips as well as an overview of the legalities of homeschooling in Texas.
E-learning courses for homeschoolers
This page provides links to e-learning courses, from free enrichment courses to online K-16 courses and even degree programs.
A day in the life of a homeschooler
Ever wondered what a day at homeschool looks like? Find out here.
Resources for homeschoolers
Here you'll find a list of the best homeschooling-related books, magazines, blogs, online (and face-to-face) support groups, curriculum reviews, and more. The list is growing, so please add your favorites!
How you can contribute
Misconceptions about homeschooling abound--and nobody understands homeschooling like the parents and students who are actually involved.
Please consider taking a few minutes to edit this wiki and:
- Describe a typical day in your homeschool. What you do? How do you do it? How long do you spend? Is it fun? Is it hard? Is it working? Please click here to share your experience with a few paragraphs, a picture or two, a video--whatever you like. Whether you're a homeschool parent or student, your story is invaluable.
- Add links to your favorite (and not-so-favorite) resources. What books do you go back to time and again? Which ones have you thrown across the room? Do you subscribe to a really great homeschooling magazine, or participate in a terrific online forum for homeschoolers? Do you maintain a homeschooling blog you want people to know about, or do you regularly read someone else's blog for inspiration or tips? Share your favorite resources or weigh in on other folks' favorites here.
- Give us your two cents. What is this wiki doing right? What could be improved?
Note: If you've never edited a wiki before, you might want to check out these tools from PBwiki:
Click here to contact the creator of this wiki.
Comments (4)
Jenna Springfield said
at 9:22 pm on Apr 29, 2009
As a fellow homeschooler I must say that this is one of the most comprehensive sites I have seen. Homeschooling is all about indiviualized instruction. Since each of my children have different needs/gifts that change throughout their development, it is important that I continually learn and understand various strategies and methods that suit the needs of each child. This wiki provides the perfect starting point. Thanks for taking the time to gather and post these materials.
Jenna Springfield
Frederick Kaplan said
at 9:37 pm on Apr 29, 2009
Okay, two things:
First, the video of your daughter doing the musical scales on your blog was 100% made of WIN. (And by that, I mean it was positively adorable.)
Second, I had no idea that you were a home-schooler. I guess I had just presumed that Jenna was the only one of us in the class who had chosen that option.
See, I learned something new today... :D
titansrule1974@... said
at 8:52 am on Apr 30, 2009
Emily, for the last two years we’ve had a Summer Bridge Program here at UTB/TSC, this program offers 7 college credits for students during Summer Session 1. On our first year we had 400 high school students participate, 2 of them were homeschooled. The only reason we knew they were homeschooled was because of their applications, they did as well as our “traditional” students. Keep up the good work.
Martin
Griselda Garcia said
at 4:33 pm on May 2, 2009
Hi Emily,
I think that this wiki will help mothers that homeschool their children. I remember speaking to a mother that homeschools her son, she said that it was very hard for her to find resources to use. I think it would be incredible if many mothers that are homeschooling their children visit your site. They would benefit greatly from your resources.
Griselda
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