As fall approaches, and as parents consider what type of schooling is right for their child, they often have a lot of questions.
Here are some of these top questions (and their answers) asked by those expressing curiosity and concerns about homeschooling.
TOP QUESTIONS ABOUT HOMESCHOOLING
Will my child receive proper socialization if I homeschool?
The answer is yes – if you put in a little effort. In a traditional school setting, parents send their kids off each day and hear about their new friends. For a homeschooled child, the parents take an active role.
Socialization may take several forms for the homeschooled child – interacting with the community as you attend events and local libraries, museums, and so forth; but also getting together with other children on “playdates.”
Parents may find that a homeschool co-op is a wonderful source of positive socialization. Homeschooled families go on field trips together and interact regularly.
What about testing?
Your particular board of education will have guidelines and laws about academic assessment. For example, some places require that homeschooled children be evaluated by a certified teacher; others allow submission of a portfolio to a certified teacher for approval, and still, others require that homeschooled kids submit to standardized testing.
As for tests and quizzes during the year – well, that’s up to the parent! You can include “pop quizzes” or tests as part of your curriculum if you choose.
What about the ACT and SAT?
These tests are college requirements, so it depends on whether or not your homeschooled student is going to go to college, and what college he or she is interested in. Obviously, if the college he or she wants to apply for requires these test scores, then he or she will need to take the tests.
Is it expensive?
The answer to this question varies depending on the curriculum and method you choose; but the short answer is, not necessarily. You can spend a great deal ($500+) if you want to purchase a pre-packaged, full-year curriculum with all the “fixings.” But you can spend a whole lot less than that if you take advantage of community resources (including your local library) and free internet materials.
Homeschooling can get expensive in terms of time if a parent must take time away from a wage-earning job to teach.
Is homeschooling just for religious families?
No, homeschooling is not just for religious families; there are secular approaches to homeschooling as well as religion-based ones. In the past, sources say, more homeschoolers educated their children at home for religious reasons than they do now. School violence and safety are modern motivations to homeschool, too.
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