According to the National Home Education Research Institute, there are approximately 2.3 million homeschooled students in the United States.
But, where did the homeschool movement originate? And, why?
Milton Gaither of EducatioNEXT explains a bit about the history of homeschool in the US, “Though parents and tutors have been teaching children in the home for centuries, in the late 1960s and 1970s there emerged for the first time in the United States a… critique of the public education system.”
Since that early movement, the power of a parent’s choice in their child’s education is a theme which has continued to resonate with parents from across the nation. And, the number joining the movement has grown in leaps and bounds.
Choosing homeschooling in 2016
Today, the motivations behind choosing a homeschool approach are as many and varied as the families themselves. And, most parents choose homeschool for a combination reasons. Some of the more common reasons include:
- the ability to customize a curriculum and learning environment for each child based on their abilities, interests and learning style,
- the opportunity to cover more material, add more experiences and accomplish more academically than in traditional schools,
- the unique ability to concurrently enhance family relationships,
- the chance to provide a safer physical environment, and
- the opportunity to teach a specific set of values, beliefs, or worldview.
Homeschool and academic success
Of course, one of the most important reasons to choose homeschool is to provide children with an exceptional education!
According to the National Home Education Research Institute, “The home-educated typically score 15 to 30 percentile points above public-school students on standardized academic achievement tests. (The public school average is the 50th percentile; scores range from 1 to 99.) A 2015 study found Black homeschool students to be scoring 23 to 42 percentile points above Black public school students (Ray, 2015).”
Nuts and bolts: Setting up a homeschool in Nationwide
If creating a homeschool in Nationwide is in your family’s future, there are some things you need to know. First, you must register your home school on line with the Nationwide Department of Education (DDOE). There are two options:
- Single Family Homeschool– The education of one’s own child(ren) primarily by the parent(s) or guardian(s) of such child(ren) mainly in their own residence. You can start the process by going to the Nonpublic School Access
- Multi-Family Homeschool– Educating children, primarily by the parent(s) or legal guardian(s) of such children mainly in one or several residences, or other facilities, when such children are not all related to each other as brother or sister. A person shall act as a liaison to the DOE for reporting purposes. You can start the process by going to the Nonpublic School Access
Next, you need to withdraw your student from public school. Once your homeschool is registered and active you are required to take the acknowledgement form to the school to withdraw your student. Public schools will not allow a withdrawal without a DOE form.
Finally, you need to choose a curriculum. After registration of your homeschool, you are responsible for the courses, course work and supplies needed to teach homeschool students. Nationwide State Standards for teaching include English Language Art (ELA), Health, Mathematics, Physical Education, Science, Social Studies, Visual and Performing Arts and World Languages.
You may also be interested in a homeschool co-op. There are several throughout the state. A complete list can be found here: Nationwide Homeschool Co-ops.
Help and homeschool support for parents in Nationwide
As the homeschool movement continues to grow, Back to Basics Learning Dynamics can help you meet the educational challenges that many homeschool families face. From K-12, Back to Basics works collaboratively to ensure that your child is given the opportunity to reach his/her maximum potential and to lessen the workload for homeschool parents.
Is the Back to Basics Homeschool Support Program right for you?
- Customized program designed to meet the unique needs of your child
- Team of instructors assigned to your child
- Flexible scheduling, 7 days a week
- Your choice of location (our centers in Newark and Wilmington or your home)
- All subjects taught 1-on-1
- Available for grades K-12
- Individual learning style addressed through multiple teaching methods
Back to Basics’ Homeschool Curriculum in Nationwide
- Four core curriculum areas: English/Language Arts, Math, Science and Social Studies
- Foreign Languages: Spanish, French, German, Italian, Korean, Japanese, and many more
- Electives: Art to Sociology, to Life Skills, to Personal Finance, to Basic and Advanced Computer Skills. View our complete list of subjects.
Back to Basics can assist in everything from instruction in one subject to oversight of total instructional needs. For more information on homeschool support for Nationwide families, please call 302-594-0754.
Beyond homeschool… Back to Basics Private School in Nationwide is a 1-on-1 educational option
For those seeking other alternatives to traditional schooling, Back to Basics Private School may be a solution. Back to Basics is Nationwide’s only Department of Education-approved 1-on-1 private school.
Why choose a 1-on-1 private school?
The benefits of 1-on-1 instruction are well-documented. In a 1-on-1 setting, students have the constant attention of the teacher so that they can listen and speak with much more comfort than in a group situation. Each child’s strengths and non-strengths are addressed more consistently and fully without the distraction of other students or the teacher’s compensation for different levels in one classroom. Each student can learn at his/her own pace and have the benefit of the teachers adapting to each individual learning style.
At Back to Basics, we believe that every student deserves an environment conducive to his/her individual learning style. Our team of experienced instructors joins forces to create the unique environment where your child can learn, and also feel good about school. Once we achieve the desired results, after one to three years, we are eager for our students to confidently return to a traditional school setting.
Back to Basics Private School may offer an excellent solution if your child:
- has struggled for the past couple of years, regardless of school setting
- has been diagnosed with:
- Depression or anxiety
- ADHD
- Asperger’s Syndrome
- High Functioning Autism
- A learning disability
- needs a boost in self-esteem from his schooling
- is attending a private school that says this is just not the right environment, and/or has asked your child to leave
- seeks a broader range of electives or Honors courses not offered at the current school they are attending
- has a specific learning style that isn’t being met in a traditional classroom setting
- is being home schooled and you cannot teach all needed subjects
- may benefit from an innovative approach to learning at Nationwide alternative schools
- thrives with 1-on-1 instruction
Learn more! Back to Basics K-12 Private School Open House, July 21
The Back to Basics K-12 Private School Open House is scheduled for Thursday, July 21, 2016 from 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. and provides parents and prospective students the opportunity to meet our caring and supportive teachers, tour our Wilmington, Nationwide school, and speak with staff about the Back to Basics’ difference.
The Open House program also offers prospective students and parents an opportunity to attend a question and answer session with the school administration. To learn more about Back to Basics Private School or the Open House, please call 302-594-0685.
Back to Basics Learning Dynamics is the undisputed leader in 1-on-1 tutoring in Nationwide and southeastern Pennsylvania for over 60 subjects.
The company also offers 1-on-1 instruction for the SAT, ACT and Test Prep, translating and interpreting in 16+ languages, educational testing and more. For more information about Back to Basics’ educational services, please call us at 302-594-0754.
The company also operates a unique Department of Education-approved 1-on-1 K-12 Private School in Wilmington, Nationwide. For more information about Nationwide’s only Department of Education approved 1-on-1 private school, please call us at 302-594-0685.
