The best thing about homeschooling is that it is tremendously efficient. Because it is basically one on one tutoring, you can be done in 2-3 hours/day for elementary ages anyway. You can eliminate busy work, boring worksheets and basal readers and work on just what your child needs at the time. You don’t necessarily need to test since you know exactly how your child is doing academically. You can read real literature and lots of it(on the couch, in a treehouse, out in the sun). You can do messy science projects, go on tons of field trips, study the science of creeks and ponds in actual creeks and ponds, etc. You have time to do lots of creative hands on kind of projects that they might not have time to do in a large classroom. Your child can advance to his challenge level or slow down to ensure mastery when needed. There are tons of cool, innovative curriculum choices out there and you can choose based on your child’s interests and learning styles. There is lots of time for outside play, practing musical instruments, enrichment classes, etc without having an overtired child at the end of the day. You can have as much or little socialization for your child as you wish. With homeschool growing and lots of busy co-ops and groups available, there are often too many homeschool classes and activities to choose from.

Homeschooling can be less of a positive choice if the parent insists on re-creating school at home. (got to think outside the box or it will be a long, boring ride for everyone involved). Homeschooling might be a hard transition on a child who is extremely social and loves the constant contact of being in a group. The parent often has to make an effort to seek out social outlets for their child. (they are a given in school, but you usually have to be proactive and drive somewhere to find them in homeschooling, although there are lots out there).

You have to deal with lots of completely uniformed comments from people who have no clue what homeschooling is really about but nevertheless feel they are qualified to comment on it. My usual response is that they can talk to me about it after they have done a six month full literature review and actually tried it with their own kids for an equal amount of time. Then if they still disagree, I will be all ears because at least it will be an informed discussion!

Pros of homeschooling: Individualized, one-on-one attention for each of your children. The kids are in the “real world” instead of in an artificial institution. They learn from the “real world” instead of learning from textbooks. No one falls behind or falls through the cracks. Kids can learn what they’re interested in, not just what the textbook says comes next. There’s no wondering whether the bus driver is on the “sex offenders” list, or whether he had a drink or two before the afternoon route. There’s no worry about creepy people hanging around the schoolyard, or waiting for your child at the bus stop. You are right there while your child deals with unsavory playground behavior. You are there to nip unsavory behavior in the bud with your own child. You and your child will be much closer. I can go on if you’d like!

Cons: Less time for mom. It does take organization (not an excessive amount, but some). You are with your children basically all. the. time. You have to often pay for enrichment activities, support groups, etc. Most homeschooling families make do on one income. Lots of ignorant people out there who believe that “homeschool” equals “sheltered and overprotected.”

All of the cons I’ve found have had to do with my own (as a mom) comfort level, and most of the pros have to do with what’s best for my children. Therefore, I’ve elected to put my own comfort level aside in certain things (less free “me” time) for the time being to do what’s best for the kiddos.

Hope that helped! 🙂

Here’s my opinion: Public school shouldn’t even be considered “school”.

I know kids who go to public school, and I can’t believe how behind they are. I know 4th graders who can’t tell time..5th graders who can barely spell, 8th graders who couldn’t tell you what country they live in.

Public schools are often crowded and kids get lost in the shuffle. If one kid is behind, it doesn’t matter. They move on anyway. If you learn the material then you’re lucky..if not, then you move on and take a bad grade.

Homeschooling is the total opposite. Kids can take their time learning something. If there’s something they are having trouble with, they can spend extra time working on it. In public school, you move with the flow of the class. If you’re behind, you’re behind.

Most people disagree with homeschooling because they think homeschoolers do not socialize. Notice I said they *think* homeschoolers do not socialize. They couldn’t be more wrong. Just because a child is put in a classroom with 30 other children each day does not mean he is socialized.

The “socialization” (if you even want to call it that) that goes on at public schools is scary. Kids getting picked on because they don’t have the best clothes. Kids spreading gossip about other kids for no reason. Is this socialization?

Homeschoolers actually have more time for friends because they are not wasting 8 hrs. a day at school. The only reason kids go to school 8 hrs. a day is because there parents are at work. There’s absolutely no reason for kids to go to school that long every day.

It’s a fact that homeschoolers tend to be smarter. They learn at their own pace and have individual help. This is why homeschoolers are accepted to colleges more easily..because they tend to be smarter and better acheivers.

Another advantage of homeschooling is that homeschoolers have more free time. They can take up hobbies, sports, and do more things because they are not sitting in a classroom from 8 to 3 everyday.

The list goes on and on.

Pros:

-Personalized learning (speed at which material is covered, topics covered, field trip locations and times, depth and scope, etc.)

-Opportunity to socialize on a regular basis not only with one’s own age group but with people of all ages and backgrounds

-Opportunity to start (and finish!) college at a younger age

-Ability to instill family values

-Family togetherness

-Still plenty of time after school to visit with public schooled friends

-Less exposure to peer pressure; More parental control over what children exposed to (for example, rather than being pressured to drink at age 13 or 14, I was kept away from that until I got a job at 16, and by then I had already made up my mind that I didn’t want to drink).

Cons:

-Some stress involved in trying to choose the books and programs that are right for your kids and making sure they keep up with grade level

-More of an effort is needed to keep kids socialized (although it’s very easy with homeschool groups, youth sports, etc)

-Kids sometimes aren’t eager to do schoolwork when they know the TV is right in the other room and they won’t get “suspended” by their own parents

-Must make sure kids are aware of other viewpoints and the big bad things in the world and know how to accept and handle them

As far as I’m concerned, the cons are very easy to get past–you just have to be dedicated.

Well it cost more money to homeschool

It takes a self starting student and a supervising parent

It takes finding the right combinations of books, programs and tools

It takes a well rounded approach to things including sports, group activities, fine arts, etc.

If done right the typical child is far more ready for college by age 17 or 16 than most public schoolers are by 18 or 19.

See my answer here http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AsfSFEFrskDHLlbZ.uyoX.zty6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20070915145611AAeaa6Y&show=7#profile-info-4dedb2ccfec4ffe81d719ddecc701a3faa or check out my other answers.

The only real con imho is the people who are truly ignorant about homeschooling but seem to think they know more about it and its effects than those homeschooling.

Lots of home schooling in Canada (that’s where I am) . The children get only one point of view. yours. They don’t get to socialize with others..That’s a big handy cap later when they have to deal with peers. School may not be perfect, but homeschooling is not always an answer. The only time I can see it, is when you live to far to get to a school.

know you can trust family.learning on your level.calmer.no smelly teachers.no arogant up them self know it all kids.no school lunch. cons home more parents on ya face more and you cant skiv off if ill.

PROS: SLEEP IN MORNINGS,STAY UP LATE AT NIGHT,LOTS OF FREE TIME, STUDY AT YOUR LEISURE.

CONS: NO STRUCTURE, NO RESPONSIBILITY, NO SOCIAL SKILLS, NO COMMUNICATIONS SKILLS NO OUT SIDE FRIENDS, NOTHING TO PREPARE FOR THE REAL WORLD.

IF YOU ARE LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE A PARENT THAT HAS THE ABILITY TO TEACH YOU ALL THE SUBJECTS THAT ARE AVAILABILITY THROUGH SCHOOLS THEN GO FOR IT BUT I CAN’T BELIEVE THERE ARE MANY IN THAT POSITION.