Homeschooling was once considered a little odd. Only 3.3 percent of American kids were homeschooled, so homeschooled kids were a rare sighting.
But the pandemic changed all that. The number of homeschooled kids skyrocketed to about 11.1 percent nationwide.
That means about one out of every 10 kids you meet—at the playground, in after-school classes or at the grocery store—is homeschooled.
If you’re a long-time reader, you know that number includes my own children. I’ve been teaching my kids at home for several years and it’s been great for our family.
But despite the popularity of homeschooling, there are still some beliefs that many have about it that are untrue, and I’m ready to see them debunked…
1You need special expertise to teach your kids
A lot of people assume that you need a teaching degree or some other special qualification to homeschool. They think that homeschool parents must make up their own educational curriculum, and thus need to have a vast understanding of scope and sequence.
Some homeschooling parents do develop their own educational plans, and more power to them. But did you know you can order a complete curriculum that even comes with a script telling you exactly what to say in lessons? There are hundreds of great options out there.
In many ways, a homeschool parent is more of a facilitator than a teacher. A big part of our job is connecting our children to great educational resources that other people have written or developed.
So, no, you don’t need any special expertise. All you need is a love of learning and love for your child. The rest of the tools and resources you need can be accessed easily, either online or from your local library.
2Your kids won’t be able to go to college or succeed
Actually, homeschooled students are more likely to graduate from college than the general population!
Homeschooled students graduated college at a rate of 66.7%, A study led by Michael Cogan by the University of St. Thomas revealed that the homeschool graduation statistics is 10% higher than that of students from public schools. Homeschoolers score 15%-30% better than students in public schools in the standardized academic achievement exams.
Many students find that being homeschooled gives them amazing opportunities to explore their own interests at their own pace and take control of their education. These skills serve them well in higher education and the workforce.
3Your kids will be unsocialized weirdos
Alright, let’s get to the biggest myth. I hear this all the time: “But what about their socialization?!”
Honestly, this is the least of my concerns as a homeschool parent. I often joke that I’m more concerned about my socialization than theirs!
Like most homeschooled kids, my kids are involved in many activities: They do sports, camps, enrichment classes, and Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, as well as playing with other kids daily at local playgrounds.
Homeschooled kids are used to being friendly with kids of all ages, not just with their same-age peers. They’re often great at spending time with a wide range of people, from babies to elderly folks.
I will add that I have dozens of friends who were homeschooled as children (including my husband). Many of the most social and friendly people I know were homeschooled.
I’m raising my kids to be people with whom I enjoy spending time. In turn, they are learning to interact politely and with kindness outside of the home, too.
So let’s lay to rest the socialization myth, along with the others, and celebrate all the things we love about homeschooling instead!
And today we celebrate...