fbpx
 
Connect with us

Let us know how we can help you, and we will get back with you as soon as we can!

    I"m interested in learning more about:

    Blog Post

    Homeschooling could be the smartest way to teach kids in the 21st century — here are 5 reasons why

    Homeschooling isn’t what it used to be.

    What largely started in the 1980s and ’90s as a way for Catholic parents to infuse religion into their kids’ education now has more mainstream appeal.

    Homeschooled kids have the same access to online learning, friendships, and extracurricular activities as the typical public school student — but without many of the drawbacks, like standardized lesson plans and bullying.

    Here are a handful of reasons homeschooling makes sense in 2018.

    kids reading

    Personalized learning is a strong method of instruction.

    Personalized learning is a strong method of instruction.

    The core idea of homeschooling is the idea that kids need to learn at the speed, and in the style, most appropriate for them. In the education world, enthusiasts call the approach “personalized learning,” and it’s in place in a number of schools already.

    Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg are big fans of personalized learning, since it tends to use technology as a way to tailor lesson plans to students. In a recent blog post, Gates pointed to research that personalized learning helps boost scores in reading and math.

    Homeschooling parents can take the method a step further. As parents, many are in the best position possible to know, and provide, the right kind of instruction.

    Students can learn more about what they really care about.

    Without formal curricula to guide their education, homeschoolers get the chance to explore a range of topics that might not be normally offered until high school or college. They can study psychology in fourth grade or finance in eighth grade.

    Some parents are capable enough to pass on this knowledge themselves. But many parents Business Insider has spoken with rely on online learning platforms like Khan Academy or workbooks. Some take their older kids to local community colleges.

    While many homeschool families do teach English, math, science, and history, education is by no means limited just to those subjects.

    Social media gives kids a way to form lasting friendships.

    The most common misconception about homeschoolers is that they lack social skills. Before the internet, there was some truth to the stereotype.

    But today’s students have just as much opportunity to see kids their own age as those in private or public schools, and often without as much distraction. Homeschoolers still use apps like Snapchat, Instagram, and Facebook — which may foster unhealthy and even addictive relationships to tech — but also lets them meet up with other homeschoolers or those from traditional schools.

    “They’re doing just as well or better,” Brian Ray, a homeschooling researcher at the National Home Education Research Institute, told Business Insider.

    Students don’t deal with cliques or bullying.

    Homeschoolers don’t deal with all the downsides of being around kids in a toxic school environment.

    Plenty of critics argue these downsides are actually good for toughening kids up, but kids who are bullied more often face symptoms of depression and anxiety, do worse in class and show up to school less frequently.

    Homeschooled kids are able to learn in a more harmonious environment.

    Schooling isn’t set apart from the “real world.”

    Contrary to the name, homeschooling takes place in an actual home only a fraction of the time. A great deal of instruction happens in community colleges, at libraries, or in the halls of local museums.

    These experiences have the effect of maturing kids much more quickly and cultivating “a trait of open-mindedness,” as Harvard junior and former homeschooler Claire Dickson told Business Insider.

    Since kids spend more time around adults in the “real world,” they rarely come to see school as set apart from other aspects of life.

    Students may achieve more in the long run.

    Homeschooling makes sense from an achievement point of view.

    Research suggests homeschooled children tend to do better on standardized tests, stick around longer in college, and do better once they’re enrolled. A 2009 study showed that the proportion of homeschoolers who graduated from college was about 67%, while among public school students it was 59%.

    Students from Catholic and private schools fell even lower in college graduation rates, with 54% and 51% of kids, respectively, completing all four years.

     

     


    • 05-05-2018

    Success Story

    • “I got 1480: 780 on reading and writing and 700 on math.

      Superscored 1510! Thank you SO much, Barton and Student Den.

      You’ve been such a great help. Let me know when I can start as an EmpowerMate.

      I really owe you one. :)”

      Andrew (AJ) B.
      Boca Raton, FL
    • “If you are looking for SAT prep, I highly recommend the Student Den. My son did SAT prep there and did awesome on his test. One and done! We will be using them for the upcoming college application process. Highly, highly recommend!”

      Loretta G.
      Boca Raton, FL
    • Angelo Questo has been and remains my favorite colleague. His experience brings a wealth of knowledge to any student he works. He highly competent in all areas of school counseling, but his true passion is college advising. He is humorous, compassionate and relatable to all those around him. His reputation is extraordinary and his hard work consistently results in positive student outcomes. I most admire that Angelo incorporates a family approach when working with students; he treats his clients as if they were his own family. That says a lot about his character and the trust he develops with those he works with. I would highly recommend him to any high school student seeking the advice from a man who knows his way around the college landscape.

      Melissa,
      B.S. School Counseling, PhD
    • Mr. Questo has been a tremendous help through the entire college process so far. His connections, competency, experience and advice have gotten me so much farther than the college counselor that is provided by my school. He and I literally spent 4 hours in one session to get as 3 applications completely done. When I left our meeting, I felt relieved that I had finally begun the process of applying to college and will be hearing from the colleges soon. We only have a few more applications and essays to finalize, so I should be done by the middle of October. Thanks to him, I can rest easy knowing that I have represented myself in the best possible light. He is with you every step of the way from essay revisions to application submission. I feel very fortunate to work with Mr. Questo and would definitely recommend him to my friends.

      Samantha
    • Mr. Questo started as my guidance counselor, but ended up becoming much, much more. I would consider him my friend. While he worked at my high school, he was someone I would easily be able to access if I needed help with something academically, socially or emotionally. Without Mr. Questo, my high school experience would have been much more difficult. I was upset to see him retire this year, but knew his work with students was far from over. If you
      decide to work with Mr. Questo, he will totally engage with you and help you attain your college goals. As soon as I began the college application process, I reached out to him and he responded to me immediately. Before I knew it, we had completed 4 applications in which I am now awaiting decisions and it was only the middle of September. He is a firm believer in getting the application in as early as possible. Whatever the question or whatever time of day I always get an answer right away. Mr. Questo has significantly made a difference in my life in many ways, especially with helping me navigate through the college application process. I am very appreciative of his knowledge, expediency, and his concern for my personal well-being. I would enthusiastically recommend him to any high school student seeking admission to college.

      Jake
    • “I got 1480: 780 on reading and writing and 700 on math.

      Superscored 1510! Thank you SO much, Barton and Student Den.

      You’ve been such a great help. Let me know when I can start as an EmpowerMate.

      I really owe you one. :)”

      Andrew (AJ) B.
      Boca Raton, FL
    • “If you are looking for SAT prep, I highly recommend the Student Den. My son did SAT prep there and did awesome on his test. One and done! We will be using them for the upcoming college application process. Highly, highly recommend!”

      Loretta G.
      Boca Raton, FL
    preload imagepreload image