I hear that question so many times.  Many times it comes from a parent considering homeschooling who has had to field that question over and over again; other times it comes from those who just don’t understand homeschooling at all. Read More

But ask any homeschooler and they will tell you the same thing: it is a misnomer to think that your child will not get the socialization he or she needs just because you are homeschooling.

In fact the opposite is true.  In homeschooling, your child will receive a stronger and much better socialization experience than their peers in school.  Why?  Because in homeschooling, “socialization” does not mean spending your day with a room full of kids the same age.  Instead, it means “socializing” with people of all ages and stages in life.  This is real life.  Where in life other than school do you ever spend all of your time with peers of the exact same age?   And how is that training a student for success?

When you homeschool your child you will likely get involved in a homeschool support group, a community club or activity, local classes. . . these will become part of your day.  And when they do, your child will begin to socialize with individuals of all ages.

That socialization will mean that your child will learn from those who are older, will be a leader to those who are younger and will have the opportunity to socialize in a much more realistic environment.

If you seek ministry and community service opportunities, your child will begin to work with adults as well as students of all ages.  If you get him or her involved with a local drama group, church, music school, etc., you will see many opportunities for “homeschool socialization.”  And you will begin to see your child mature as he or she takes on leadership roles and develops his or her talents and abilities.

Why “the homeschool way” for socialization is better

Did you know that college admissions officers say that homeschoolers are much more prepared to interact with adults and professors at an intelligent level than those coming from public and private schools?

Why? Because homeschoolers are interacting with individuals of all ages all the time!  Therefore it is nothing new when they move on to the responsibilities of college or university.  In addition, many have been leaders and mentors to those who are younger for so long that their leadership skills are already well developed.

And this kind of real socialization is making them more successful.  In fact, many business owners are actively seeking homeschoolers to help them succeed..

Chick-Fil-A is a prime example.  Did you know that this restaurant chain makes a concerted effort to hire high school and college aged homeschoolers?   Andy Lorenzen, who is in charge of recruiting front line workers for the chain of restaurants  says that his success depends on the quality of his hires.  That is why prefers to tap into homeschoolers.   “They’re smart, ambitious and very driven,” Lorenzen says of his homeschooled employees. “They have a high level of loyalty to the business, are diligent and have a good work ethic.”

Homeschoolers are also finding their niche in college and the workplace, in internships and entry-level professional jobs.  They also often become entrepreneurs.

Statistics verify that homeschoolers are far more prepared academically—in fact they score 25% higher on standardized tests than those who attend school.  But their success is in more than just academics—their unique socialization opportunities are making them successful beyond academics.

Bottom line–homeschool socialization is a non-issue–don’t let it become one for you

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My answer: you don’t.

As a mother, you have been the primary teacher to your child from the moment the doctor laid that precious baby in your arms.  It was you who taught them to say “please” and “thank-you”; it was you who taught them to walk, to talk, to get dressed, to be respectful, to obey rules, to eat . . . You taught them how to accept disappointment and to handle victory.

Did you ever consider switching roles between mother and teacher then?  Of course not! It was all in a day’s work and it has been rewarding!

This is how you must approach homeschooling.

You are a mother.  And as a mother, you have been a teacher for many years.  Perhaps you wonder how you can be effective as an academic teacher without teacher training?  If so, click here and read my post on Homeschooling Certification. Bottom line is, you can do it because you have been doing it! And as you will see in the certification post, you can do it better!

• So don’t stress about switching between mother and homeschool teacher.
• Don’t plan to have them call you “Mrs ____” during homeschool hours;
• Don’t try to recreate a classroom as you remember it.

Just be you.

• Look for teachable moments throughout the day.
• Adjust to your student’s needs, interests, passions.
• Laugh with them and encourage them to keep trying when the going gets tough.

Remind them that you too struggled in school and don’t be afraid to share those struggles with them.

And most of all, remember why you are doing this.  For many of us it is to provide a solid foundation for our children in addition to strong academics.  For others it is to allow for a more flexible schedule.  Still others seek to ensure that their learning disabled student is getting the best education possible.

All all motivated by love and commitment. And when this is your motivation, you will not fail.

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But I also develop a lot of techniques and ideas right here at home. And guess what?  Because I am working with the same kids year after year, I am much more effective.  I don’t have to learn the dynamics of my classroom each year; I don’t have to figure out who the leaders are and where the trouble makers sit; I don’t have to seek out the advanced kids or the strugglers and find ways to meet their needs.  I already know who they are and I already know what works.

So I can focus on meeting those needs and I can adjust to the fact that they are improving; they are getting stronger; and they are developing more and more skills each year.

So, did I need this certification to be an effective teacher?  Absolutely not!

And you know what?  Homeschoolers are always standing out among their peers so I can say with confidence that the parents out there who are teaching their children don’t need it either.

If you are faced with the certification question, pass on this article, which addresses the facts about certification and success and tell the questioner to read up on what the research says.

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This blogger was once one of those fearful parents, and she has done an outstanding job of capturing the many reasons why parents are unsure that they can homeschool.

If you are struggling to make a decision, be sure to visit this link Your reason is more than likely listed.

Let me add my own encouragement–I have yet to meet a homeschooling parent who at first thought they couldn’t do it that cannot say, “I am so glad I tried it!”

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Despite his assertion that “home schooled children . . . are typically badly deficient in science education,” the facts tell another story. In fact, Mr. Lessenberry, statistics indicate the exact opposite:

In 1990, the National Home Education Research Institute issued a report entitled “A Nationwide Study of Home Education: Family Characteristics, Legal Matters, and Student Achievement.” This was a study of over 2,163 homeschooling families.

The study found that the average scores of the homeschool students were at or above the 80th percentile in all categories. The homeschoolers’ national percentile mean was 84th for reading, 80th for language, 81st for math, 84th for science and 83rd for social studies.

He continues with the usual blather . . . homeschoolers aren’t adequately socialized, parents should be qualified to teach, homeschoolers aren’t up to date with computer technology . . .. All of these comments clearly demonstrate his lack of experience with homeschoolers.

Let me provide my responses based on fact, not opinion. Just taking from the last three graduating classes, each year Bridgeway Academy homeschool students have received full scholarships to college, have qualified as national merit scholars, have been highly involved in volunteer efforts, have served local politicians, have established their own businesses while still in high school (including computer services such as programming and web design), have been highly recognized athletes, and have served on the mission field.

These students come from homes of all different backgrounds, but they have two things in common: a desire for excellence and a drive that takes them there.

Are all of Bridgeway’s students this exceptional? No. We also work with struggling students who have not received the help they need from their local public school. We have worked with adults who hit a brick wall personally and financially because they lack a high school diploma and are now motivated to do the work to obtain one. (By the way, every one of the American born adults dropped out of public school–not home school). And we have worked with students who seek an alternative to failing educational system in their local public school. But all of our homeschool students, no matter where they are when they enroll, exceed the standards of their local public school system by the time they graduate from Bridgeway Academy.

Many of our students come from families who seek a strong Biblical foundation for their children. A growing number do not want the Biblical element. Others are looking for a combination of both. Either way, the homeschooling community is much larger than Jack seems to realize.

So what is my point? Despite the uninformed anti-homeschooling blather of people like Jack Lessenberry (who by the way is married to a public school teacher), homeschoolers are sought out by colleges and universities, are impacting their communities and are outdoing their public school counterparts.

Look out public school graduates! The leaders of tomorrow are educated in the homes of today!

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