Hacking Home SchoolingThe Rich-Poor Divide Starts With Education?How many Home Schoolers in the USHomeSchooling in CAHome Schooling for Teaching Chinese & LearningCalifornia Homeschoolers | Learning Chinese Language Materials for Kids

Hacking Home Schooling

I have a huge amount of respect for those that are home schooling their kids. It's interesting that home schooling crosses from conservatives to progressives. Good article talking about Home Schooling in Silicon Valley.

For one of my very good friends, college came later in his life, and he knew more than his teachers did about computers and programming. A genius. Unfortunately, he never found a job that paid him for his huge ability, so he felt the need to get credentialed.

The Techies Who Are Hacking Education by Homeschooling Their Kids - Wired

Labels: home schooling

The Rich-Poor Divide Starts With Education?

I don't agree with this, since I see a lot of Asian students, who's parents were not rich or educated, do amazingly well in school. I believe the home environment with high expectations is a huge factor in the educational achievements of children. Money is helpful for tutors and such, but it does not create the necessary attitude. I have seen some very rich kids, who do so so in school.
And many lower achieving school districts actually get more money per student than others (such as Diamond Bar where my daughter went), but achieve less. And home schooling can also have some amazing results.

The Rich-Poor Divide Starts With Education - Atlantic Mobile

Labels: Best Schools, home schooling

How many Home Schoolers in the US

I was curious on the numbers of home schooling students in the US. The statistics vary depending on who is giving them out.

What I found:

Home Schooling is growing. Per one statistic home schooling is growing at 7% per year, with the total school population growing at 1% per year.
Total student population in the US is 85 Million for students age 5-17 years old.
Home schooling estimates range from 4% of the student population 1%
350,000 to 2 Million kids are home schooled.
States use different methods of measuring numbers of home school students
20% (estimated) of home school students enroll in public schools at least part time
Some states allow home school students to participate in some activities at public schools (sports, etc.)
20% of private school students may be home schooled

References:
http://www.edweek.org/ew/issues/home-schooling/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_the_United_States
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homeschooling_international_status_and_statistics
http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7315029490266806661
http://www.christianexaminer.com/Articles/Articles%20Feb11/Art_Feb11_23.html
http://school.familyeducation.com/home-schooling/alternative-education/56352.html
http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2009/2009030.pdf

Labels: home schooling

HomeSchooling in CA

Recently a CA court overturned their ruling against Home Schooling in California. Court reverses, declares home schooling legal in Calif. This is great news! The initial ruling was you had to have a teaching credential in order to home school. And my guess is the next step would have been requiring a teaching credential in each area.

The school my daughter went to for Kindergarten was a Christian School that had heavy involvement with a lot of home schoolers whom we met at the yearly talent show. I also got a nice order for some Learning Chinese Textbooks from a Home Schooling family. I also have a section that is focused on Home Schooling Learning Chinese Resources including lots of free stuff.

And I do have a teaching credential in two areas (Business and Social Studies for grades 7-12) in California. My opinion is there is so much unnecessary junk in the teaching curriculum that is there to look good, but does not really teach you how to teach. Teach for America is an example of what can be done without going through a teaching credential program and get amazing results.

Labels: home schooling

Home Schooling for Teaching Chinese & Learning

This article mentions one of the students is Learning Chinese. Home-school parents battle towns, state (and I thought California had problems with home schooling).

I have created a section for Teachers and Home Schoolers. Teaching and Home Schooling Resources for Learning Chinese & China's Culture

Labels: home schooling

California Homeschoolers

Homeschoolers' setback sends shock waves through state - Due to an unexpected court case, the entire areas of home schooling in California has been thrown into doubt.

Since there are a lot of home schoolers in California, I expect this to get fixed pretty quickly. I am not sure why the California Teachers Association is involved, I don't see it as a win win situation for them at all since home schoolers will be seen as the underdog (family verses the state). The case this came out sounds messy with allegations of child abuse.

More from Joanne Jacobs

Labels: home schooling

Saturday, February 14, 2015