Though you might be tempted to skip down to the more "practical" steps, we encourage you to remember that you need a good foundation before you start building.
Take some time to study some of the reasons to homeschool we've listed below. Use them to create your own foundational statement as to why you want to homeschool.
Yes, homeschooling is a wonderful adventure, but there will be difficult days, too. On those days, you can pull out your foundational statement to restore confidence and vision.
Why Should You Homeschool?
Historical Reasons
Home education dates back to the beginning of time
Modern institutional education began only in the last 100 years
America was founded through the efforts of those who were schooled at home or in one-room schools
Famous homeschooled Americans include: George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Thomas Edison, John Quincy Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and many, many more
Academic Reasons
Home-educated students typically score 15-30% points above public-schooled students on standardized academic achievement tests
regardless of parents’ formal education level
regardless of their families’ household income
This academic achievement is not related to
whether certified teachers were involved
the degree of state control and/or regulation
Home educated students typically score above average on SAT and ACT tests that colleges consider for admissions
Social Reasons
The home educated are doing well, typically above average, on measures of social, emotional, and psychological development
Research shows that, at a higher rate than the general population, they
participate in community service
vote & attend public meetings
go to & succeed at college
respond that they are “very happy” with life
Worldview Reasons
All education is built upon some basic worldview foundation that answers important questions like:
Does God exist?
What is right and what is wrong?
You cannot effectively compensate for 30 hours/week of a humanist worldview with 2 hours/week of a Christian worldview
Proverbs 1:7 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.”
Spiritual & Character Reasons
God’s Word needs to permeate every part of our children’s lives
Deuteronomy 6:7 “You shall diligently teach your children My words as you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise up.”
Serving Families Homeschooling in Iowa - Since 1992 Network of Iowa Christian Home Educators - niche@homeschooliowa.org - (515) 830-1614 - (800) 723-0438 in Iowa
