Top 5 Questions about Homeschooling

Answers to Top Questions about Homeschooling

As parents consider homeschooling their child or children, they often have a lot of questions. Here are the top five questions (and the answers) asked by those expressing curiosity and concerns about homeschooling.

What about socialization?

This is probably the biggest question future homeschool parents have and the answer is a resounding – YES! If parents put in a little effort, homeschooled children can and will be social individuals. In a traditional school setting, parents send their kids off each day and hear about their new friends. For a homeschool child, the parents take an active role.

Socialization may take several forms for the homeschooled child such as interactive with the community as you attend events and local libraries, museums; but also getting together with other children on “playdates”. Parents may find that a homeschool co-op is a wonderful source of positive socialization. Many homeschooled families go on field trips together and interact regularly. Maybe you could take control of your homeschooling socialization and host a homeschool hangout.

What about testing?

Your particular state board of education will have guidelines and laws about academic assessment. For example, some states 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. A good place to start for information about your state’s guidelines is the HSLDA’s website.

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. One suggestion is that whatever you do, keep solid records of your child’s work throughout the school year.

Is homeschooling 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.” However, you can spend a whole lot less than that if you take advantage of community resources, including your local library and free internet materials. There are many homeschooling groups on social media that offer curriculum for sale way below the original cost and will work just fine. Don’t forget you can also hand down the curriculum that you buy for one child to another. Store it in a safe place until you are ready to use it again.

Homeschooling can get expensive in terms of time – a parent must take time away from a wage-earning job to teach. It is a financial sacrifice that the family must make.

Am I qualified to homeschool my child?

Earlier in the post I said that socialization was probably the biggest question parents had about homeschooling, well, there might be a tie. Socialization and am I qualified to teach might run a tight race for the first place question. So let’s dive into that and put your mind at ease. First off, I was a private and public school teacher who turned homeschool teacher ( I homeschool other people’s children) and I know first hand that not all traditional school teachers are qualified to teach the subject matter they are teaching. Some schools are understaffed and they have to fill in the gaps with teachers who hold degrees in subjects other than what they are teaching. Secondly, you know your child(ren) better than anyone. But seriously, are you willing to get up each morning and help your children learn and be the best person they can be? They need to learn academically as well as life skills. Who better to teach them and guide them than you?

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 for homeschooling, too. Many parents are worried that their children are going to get lost in the system and just become a number on the roster. This is especially true if the child has learning or social issues. So no, homeschooling is not just for religious families, it’s for families who want what’s best for their children. THEIR children.

While I am sure you can come up with a million more questions, these are the top 5 questions about homeschooling and the answers. Consider all the possibilities and do what is right for your family. Don’t forget to check out my other blog post about homeschooling: