Structured Homeschooling Gets an A+

[didymus]

Science Daily:

Structured Homeschooling Gets an A+

ScienceDaily (Sep. 8, 2011) — “There’s no place like home,” an iconic line uttered by Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, might apply to learning the ABC’s, math and other core subjects. A new study from Concordia University and Mount Allison University has found that homeschooling – as long as it’s structured or follows a curriculum – can provide kids with an academic edge.

“Structured homeschooling may offer opportunities for academic performance beyond those typically experienced in public schools,” says first author Sandra Martin-Chang, a professor in the Concordia Department of Education, noting this is among the first nonpartisan studies to investigate home education versus public schooling.

Published in the Canadian Journal of Behavioural Science, the investigation compared 74 children living in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick: 37 who were homeschooled versus 37 who attended public schools. Participants were between 5 and 10 years old and each child was asked to complete standardized tests, under supervision of the research team, to assess their reading, writing, arithmetic skills, etc.

“Although public school children we assessed were performing at or above expected levels for their ages, children who received structured homeschooling had superior test results compared to their peers: From a half-grade advantage in math to 2.2 grade levels in reading,” says Martin-Chang. “This advantage may be explained by several factors including smaller class sizes, more individualized instruction, or more academic time spent on core subjects such as reading and writing.”

 

[Rich_Olszewski]

Science Daily:

A sample of 74 children is meaningless.

 

[rlg94086]

A sample of 74 children is meaningless.

hslda.org/docs/nche/000010/200410250.asp

In 1997, a study of 5,402 homeschool students from 1,657 families was released. It was entitled, “Strengths of Their Own: Home Schoolers Across America.” The study demonstrated that homeschoolers, on the average, out-performed their counterparts in the public schools by 30 to 37 percentile points in all subjects. A significant finding when analyzing the data for 8th graders was the evidence that homeschoolers who are homeschooled two or more years score substantially higher than students who have been homeschooled one year or less. The new homeschoolers were scoring on the average in the 59th percentile compared to students homeschooled the last two or more years who scored between 86th and 92nd percentile. i

This was confirmed in another study by Dr. Lawrence Rudner of 20,760 homeschooled students which found the homeschoolers who have homeschooled all their school aged years had the highest academic achievement. This was especially apparent in the higher grades. ii This is a good encouragement to families catch the long-range vision and homeschool through high school.

Better?

 

[vz71]

:clapping:

 

[Rich_Olszewski]

hslda.org/docs/nche/000010/200410250.asp

Better?

Certainly. The first sample meant squat.

By the way, one of the basic reasons homeschoolers do better is the one-to-one teacher/student ratio that the teaching method provides, given a good teacher. My own children have been homeschooled, have gone to Catholic parochial school, and to public school. I see strengths and weaknesses in each method.

 

[rlg94086]

Certainly. The first sample meant squat.

By the way, one of the basic reasons homeschoolers do better is the one-to-one teacher/student ratio that the teaching method provides, given a good teacher. My own children have been homeschooled, have gone to Catholic parochial school, and to public school. I see strengths and weaknesses in each method.

Agreed. Not all homeschooling is equal. If done right, it can be an overall fantastic method (not just academically).

 

[Rich_Olszewski]

Agreed. Not all homeschooling is equal. If done right, it can be an overall fantastic method (not just academically).

Yes, it can be. That’s why my wife and I never objected to having our children tested to see to it that they were doing well in comparison to other honeschoolers and to PS pupils. My wife with her Master’s degree in Education and many years of teaching experience in the U.S. and abroad is a different piece of work than a mother who, though wholly sincere, hasn’t but 10 or 12 years of education. I’d hope that a college degree at least, are among homeschool mothers’ and fathers’ “credentials.”

 

[rlg94086]

Yes, it can be. That’s why my wife and I never objected to having our children tested to see to it that they were doing well in comparison to other honeschoolers and to PS pupils. My wife with her Master’s degree in Education and many years of teaching experience in the U.S. and abroad is a different piece of work than a mother who, though wholly sincere, hasn’t but 10 or 12 years of education. I’d hope that a college degree at least, are among homeschool mothers’ and fathers’ “credentials.”

Nonsense. A college degree is not required. Intelligence is, though.

I’m certain that there are mothers of two without a college degree who did even better than your wife with her Master’s Degree in Education, although I’m not surprised you think your homeschooling was far superior.

 

[Rich_Olszewski]

I’m certain that there are mothers of two without a college degree who did even better than your wife with her Master’s Degree in Education, although I’m not surprised you think your homeschooling was far superior.

Sure. The first is within the realm of possibility, though unlikely. I’ll concede this much - the lack of the degree itself might not be an impediment, but the education of the four years is a necessity.

As to the second, I’ll match my wife’s abilities and proven record in the Brooklyn public schools and in the Bangkok International Schools against any woman’s anywhere any time, and I’m certain she’ll rank in the top half dozen. The proof is in the results. My oldest son won a four year full scholarship to Vanderbilt University.

My daughter, alas, went to Christendom College in Virginia, a pokey little school in the middle of nowhere.

 

[asd72]

I would love to home school, at least in the early years. Not for the academic edge, but to give children a good grounding in Christian values before they face peer pressure in an increasingly agnostic world. Not that I have children, but if I did in the future.

 

[rlg94086]

Sure. The first is within the realm of possibility, though unlikely. I’ll concede this much - the lack of the degree itself might not be an impediment, but the education of the four years is a necessity.

No, it’s not.

As to the second, I’ll match my wife’s abilities and proven record in the Brooklyn public schools and in the Bangkok International Schools against any woman’s anywhere any time, and I’m certain she’ll rank in the top half dozen. The proof is in the results. My oldest son won a four year full scholarship to Vanderbilt University.

My daughter, alas, went to Christendom College in Virginia, a pokey little school in the middle of nowhere.

And, I have met non-degreed homeschooling parents whose kids had full rides to MIT, Harvard and Stanford. Ergo, your wife’s education level is great, but not required. It is admirable that you have pride in your wife, but don’t let it turn into a judgmental elitism against those who did not complete their degrees or teach prior to homeschooling.

 

[Rich_Olszewski]

And, I have met non-degreed homeschooling parents whose kids had full rides to MIT, Harvard and Stanford.

If by non-degreed, you mean folks with no more than a high school - at best - education, I’m amazed for one, and for two, would doubt that such achievement among the students is the norm among homeschool parents.

Ergo, your wife’s education level is great, but not required.

No, not required, but I’ll stay firm in my belief that a college degree or its equivalent is required.

 

[rlg94086]

If by non-degreed, you mean folks with no more than a high school - at best - education, I’m amazed for one, and for two, would doubt that such achievement among the students is the norm among homeschool parents.

I’m sure you would be amazed. It upsets all of your pre-conceived notions.
Rich Olszewski:

No, not required, but I’ll stay firm in my belief that a college degree or its equivalent is required.

And, you are free to believe so. Luckily for homeschoolers, your beliefs have no effect on their abilities.

 

[Rich_Olszewski]

I’m sure you would be amazed. It upsets all of your pre-conceived notions.

Not at all. We belonged to homeschool organizations and did joint teaching with other homeschool parents. Some parents did better than others, some kids did better than others. Most of the kids did better than public schoolers, but there was no trend of kids getting scholarships to big time colleges and universities. Good enough to know that they were prepared for college and prepared well. My experience didn’t include kids with full rides to “MIT, Harvard, and Stamford.” Guess New York kids are too dumb.

Luckily for homeschoolers, your beliefs have no effect on their abilities.

You sound as though you and the wife were in the trenches yourselves to make such a statement. Did your kids homeschool through the end of high school?

 

[rlg94086]

Not at all. We belonged to homeschool organizations and did joint teaching with other homeschool parents. Some parents did better than others, some kids did better than others. Most of the kids did better than public schoolers, but there was no trend of kids getting scholarships to big time colleges and universities. Good enough to know that they were prepared for college and prepared well. My experience didn’t include kids with full rides to “MIT, Harvard, and Stamford.” Guess New York kids are too dumb.

Could be.
Rich Olszewski:

You sound as though you and the wife were in the trenches yourselves to make such a statement. Did your kids homeschool through the end of high school?

Nope. We home schooled for a couple of years. My wife was not well-suited to it. The kids did fine, but she didn’t.

 

[HouseArrest]

Sure. The first is within the realm of possibility, though unlikely. I’ll concede this much - the lack of the degree itself might not be an impediment, but the education of the four years is a necessity.

As to the second, I’ll match my wife’s abilities and proven record in the Brooklyn public schools and in the Bangkok International Schools against any woman’s anywhere any time, and I’m certain she’ll rank in the top half dozen. The proof is in the results. My oldest son won a four year full scholarship to Vanderbilt University.

My daughter, alas, went to Christendom College in Virginia, a pokey little school in the middle of nowhere.

You’re truly upset by the Christendom College choice? Or are you joking?

 

[_Abyssinia]

Have any studies been done on home schoolers who are aged between 15-19?

 

[DeoSalvatoreMeo]

I often see people with a teaching degree, or with someone close to them who is a teacher, make negative statements about homeschooling. I don’t know if there is a feeling of insecurity and competition or an irrational fear that their jobs are threatened. It is usually presented as concern for the homeschooled children but there is a thinly-veiled, I want to say, “arrogance”. I have seen indignation that a parent would dare try to be a teacher when they are not as *qualified *as someone with a teaching degree. I don’t know why there is a need for condescension. To me, it comes across as insecurity. Or is it maybe that it diminishes the value of their teaching degree in their eyes? Maybe they feel that a homeschooling parent is casting judgment on a school teacher’s value. I always wonder about that because I see the hostility but I wonder about the root cause.

 

[Mar044]

I was home schooled from grade 10 and on after my science teacher told me i was a fool for thinking that creative design was real and asked me not to raise my hand or give my opinion ever again. i got up and left the school right then and then, i learned so much more at home where I was safe, could include bible and real world teaching and not be bullied, and I did like the fact that school was 1 min away since I just had to wake up

i think everyone should be home schooled, if you have the power or means to do it.

 

[DeoSalvatoreMeo]

To Rich O:

I have a degree in Political Science. I disagree that a parent needs a college degree to homeschool, especially at the elementary level. There are many people who are self-taught, for whatever reason, and are highly intelligent. If a late-bloomer decides to concentrate their resources on their children’s educations, rather than their own, they should not be impeded because they don’t have a college degree. In fact, I had many classmates in college who managed to show up on graduation day and claim their degree, that had spent four years majoring in alcohol. A degree these days is almost a necessity, but also not so hard to come by (if you have the money to pay for the education). I’d rather a child be taught by a competent, self-taught parent than a parent who has a degree but majored in partying. Is a degreed parent who graduated with a C-average more competent than a self-taught parent with an above average I.Q.?

The fact that my children are homeschooled and are advanced in their studies does not diminish your wife’s value as a teacher. Your wife and I are not in a competition. It’s important not to invest the ego too much in our children’s accomplishments or those of a spouse. As parents, we are there to support them and to help them reach their full potential. It’s wonderful that your children had superior educational resources so that they were able to achieve their potential, i.e. scholarships to college. Please be careful about appearing to be elitist though. A person’s human dignity and value is ultimately not based on worldly success. I would rather my child be a good person without a college degree, than committing white collar crime on Wall Street.