MYTH:
1. Your kids won't know how to function in society . The ever so famous, "How will you socialize them?"
OUR THOUGHT:
Send them to school where .... They get in trouble for talking (socializing) in class. Obvious solution. ;)
TRUTH:
Homeschool students rank typically above average, when measuring social, emotional, and psychological development. Research include peer interaction, leadership skills, family cohesion, community service efforts, and self-esteem.
Homeschoolers are often included in social and educational activities outside of the home and with others beside their family members. They are frequently involved in activities such as field trips, scout programs, political events, church ministry, sports, and community volunteering.
MYTH:
2. Your kids will always be "behind" others of their age.
OUR THOUGHT:
Because duh, we sit at home and do nothing but watch cartoons.
TRUTH:
The home-educated typically score 15-30% above public-school students on standardized academic achievement tests!
MYTH:
3. Homeschooling is the same as school just at home.
OUR THOUGHT:
No, it's customizable and the best way to cater to your child's individual style of learning.
TRUTH:
• Our thought IS the truth. Yes, you still learn what traditional students learn PLUS a lot more! You have the freedom to make your own lesson plans, curriculums and even subjects!! You don't have to make them sit at a desk and follow the same exact curriculum your local private school uses . The goal for homeschooling is to teach YOUR child in the way HE learns. Homeschooling is not meant to be standard. It's meant to be customized.
MYTH:
4. Your kids won't be able to go to college
OUR THOUGHT:
Your mom goes to college .
TRUTH:
•Home-educated students typically score above average on the SAT and ACT tests that colleges consider for admissions.
•Homeschool students are increasingly being actively recruited by colleges.
•Homeschool students succeed at college at an equal or higher rate than the general population.
MYTH:
5. Kids need to be dressed properly in order to be focused
OUR THOUGHT:
Well we are just fine in our jammies and yoga pants, thank you very much!
TRUTH:
• Truth is.. comfortable kids are less apt to be distracted. Less distraction means more focused learning. Who would argue with wearing pajamas to work?
(Okay so maybe this is still our thoughts) ;)
MYTH:
6. Your kids will be left out of sports
OUR THOUGHT:
This one usually just comes from truly not knowing so we don't blame you
TRUTH:
•Most schools allow homeschooling students to join their sports teams and clubs. The homeschoolers abide by their rules when at a school event. This is also teaching them how to handle themselves in different scenarios, environments, and with different leadership.
MYTH:
7. Parents need a teaching degree in order to homeschool
OUR THOUGHT:
Not true. Who better to teach your children but you? After all, you know them better than anyone!
TRUTH:
•Homeschool students score above average on achievement tests regardless of their parents’ level of formal education.
•Whether homeschool parents were ever certified teachers is not related to their children’s academic achievement.
MYTH:
8. Homeschoolers have no structure and won't be able to handle a job
OUR THOUGHT:
We all have routines and firm or loose lesson plans. We just don't make our kids sit through 9-5 desk work where they get frustrated and zone out and therefore forget everything they are supposed to be learning. We engage them, one on one, till they grasp it. Never moving on to another student when the last one still needs help.
TRUTH:
•All homeschooling parents teach in a different way just as all children learn in a different way. We have methods, curriculums, habits etc. that cater to each individual child. This is especially beneficial to the student who may learn slower than his fellow student or even his sibling.
• When a child is in his home he is also taught how to listen to authority and how to have responsibilities. He sees the inner-workings of how adults function, pay bills, manage responsibilities, and run a household. We would venture to say they will gain a far more substantial structure from staying in the home observing how real adults function.
MYTH:
9. Parents only homeschool because they are overprotective and want to shelter their kids from the world.
OUR THOUGHT:
So this is partially true but not in the negative sense people are implying. We choose to shelter our children from unnecessary evil which is our job! We choose to be protective over our children to make sure they excel in a healthy environment. It is not a bad thing to shelter your children but there is a balance. We do not keep them locked up to never see the world. We limit their interactions with things that go against our moral code as to keep them from taking on those actions and attitudes. Once again this doubles as TRUTH.
Sources for facts:
http://www.nheri.org/research/research-facts-on-homeschooling.html http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/oii/nonpublic/statistics.html