What Is Homeschooling? A Complete Guide for Parents

Homeschooling, also known as home education, is a learning approach where parents teach their school-aged children at home instead of sending them to public or private schools. This form of education allows the child to learn in a way that works best for them. It takes into account the child's interests, pace, and learning style.

Understanding What Is Homeschooling

A Brief History of Home Schooling in the U.S.

Most kids were educated at home before regulations made it compulsory for them to go to school. Home education was especially prevalent in rural areas, where families relied on parents or tutors to teach their children. In addition to homeschooling, children also attended private academies, dame schools, and charity schools, which provided alternative learning opportunities. Education was rooted in religion, family values, and practical skills. 

Formal education in traditional schools became the standard with the rise of the industrialized educational system. However, the homeschooling movement itself gained popularity in the 1960s and 1970s. It was started by both liberal educational reformers, like John Holt, and other conservative families who wanted to get away from what they thought was the moral decline in public schools.

Today, homeschooling has grown significantly, and is supported by organizations like the Homeschool Legal Defense Association (HSLDA), and fueled by people's discontent with public schools.

Home Schooling vs. Distance Learning: What’s the Difference?

Homeschooling and distance learning are quite different, even though people occasionally use the terms interchangeably. Distance learning follows a public or private school's curriculum, and is taught by qualified teachers who work from home.

Homeschooling, on the other hand, involves parents (or tutors they employ). They choose what and how the children learn, which is usually based on their religious beliefs, educational philosophies, or the child's interests. It’s a more independent way to teach kids.

Why Parents Choose to Homeschool Their Children

There are as many reasons for homeschooling as there are families who do it. Some parents choose to homeschool their kids because they want to have control over what they learn. Others express their dissatisfaction with the public school environment because of worries about safety, bullying, peer pressure, and lack of attention to education.

Many parents also desire to teach their kids in a way that works best for them. They might be unhappy with the one-size-fits-all approach that’s used in most traditional schools. They believe that homeschooled students do better when they can learn at their own pace with less pressure.

Parents of children with learning disabilities also prefer homeschooling, since it allows them to customize their instruction to support the growth of their child. In situations like this, a home education program can be more effective than what conventional schools might offer.

Pandemic-Era Shifts and the Rise of Home Schooling

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the school-age population. A lot of schools switched to online learning with little preparation. This left parents with no choice other than to manage their child's education from home. As a result, many families experienced homeschooling for the first time.

The National Center for Education Statistics and the Washington Post both said that homeschooling grew significantly during the pandemic. Some families who initially chose homeschooling as a temporary fix realized that it aligned better with their ideals and way of life, so they decided to leave public schools for good.

Religion, Safety, and Academic Concerns

One of the oldest reasons parents choose to homeschool their kids is to teach them about religion. Many religious families, like Roman Catholics, believe that school curricula don't fit with their values. These parents uphold their beliefs and worldview by homeschooling their kids.

Other parents cite worries about their child's education. Some think that the academic instruction in both public and private institutions is either slow or not strict enough. Concerns about violence and drugs in schools also fuel the decision to homeschool.

How Homeschooling Requires a Different Lifestyle

Time Commitments and Daily Responsibilities

Parents must put in a lot of time, energy, and commitment to homeschool their children. Unlike traditional school, where parents send their kids off and wait for their progress reports, homeschool parents are fully responsible for their child's education.

Depending on the curriculum used, a homeschool teacher (typically a parent) could spend several hours each day planning lessons, teaching, grading work, and organizing field trips or other activities. This is something that takes hard work and dedication.

Financial Costs and Homeschool Program Expenses

Homeschooling can be less expensive than private school tuition, but it’s not without cost. Families must purchase curriculum, materials, and even enroll in online programs. Costs can vary based on the family’s approach and the resources used.

Parents should also consider the indirect financial impact. Homeschooling sometimes requires one parent to scale back on work or leave the workforce entirely, which might affect the family’s income. However, many parents believe the expense is well worth it for their child’s education and growth.

Legal Requirements by State

Every state in the US has its own laws around homeschooling. Some states require regular reports, approval of the curriculum, and standardized testing, while others don't keep an eye on things at all. Parents should learn about the rules in their school system to ensure responsible home education.

Luckily, some organizations help parents understand and meet these requirements by giving them legal advice and information. If you don't follow the law, you could lose your privilege to homeschool or even be accused of neglecting your education.

Homeschool Programs and Educational Methods

Structured vs. Unstructured Approaches

Homeschooling offers a wide range of educational styles. One of the most important choices homeschooling parents must make is whether to employ a structured or unstructured method.

Structured homeschooling is like a regular school in that it has a set curriculum, lesson plans, and test schedules. This method can be useful for parents who are new to homeschooling or those who wish to keep a close eye on their child's progress by using measurable milestones.

Unstructured homeschooling, also called unschooling, lets kids learn on their own based on what they are curious about and interested in. It supports self-directed learning and puts more value on experiences than on books. A lot of families use a mixed style to get the best of both approaches.

Popular Educational Philosophies (Montessori, Charlotte Mason, etc.)

A lot of families that homeschool use well-known educational ideas as the basis for their programs. These methods can change how students learn:

• Montessori: Supports a child's natural psychological growth, encourages independence, and hands-on learning.
• Charlotte Mason: Emphasizes reading good books, studying nature, and developing habits of focus and discipline.
• Classical Education: Uses the trivium (grammar, logic, and rhetoric) to help students think critically and express themselves clearly.
• Unit Studies: This method combines different subjects around a single theme or topic, which helps students study more deeply.
• Eclectic Homeschooling: Combines many methods and resources to provide a learning experience that’s unique to each student.

Each philosophy provides options for parents to personalize education and respect their child's own pace and interests.

Hybrid Models and Co-Ops for Social Interaction

Homeschooling doesn’t mean children have to learn by themselves. A lot of families use hybrid models or homeschool co-ops, which blend home instruction with learning in a group.

Students in hybrid programs can go to local or private schools for a few days a week and then complete their education at home. Co-ops are groups of parents that get together frequently for classes, field excursions, and social events.

These settings make homeschooling more fun as they allow kids to meet other homeschoolers, thus encouraging teamwork. They also support mental growth by helping children connect with peers and build social skills.

What Homeschooled Children Learn at Home

Core Subjects vs. Interest-Led Learning

Kids who are homeschooled often learn more than they would in public or private schools. The core disciplines include math, science, reading, writing, and social studies. Most homeschool programs provide these basics so that students are on the same level as their peers in public school and can take standardized tests when needed.

The chance to learn based on your interests is what makes homeschooling different. Parents can teach their kids things that are based on their interests, which will help them embrace learning. A child interested in flying might learn physics by studying how planes work or math by figuring out how fast planes fly.

Learning based on interest motivates students to actively seek knowledge, resulting in better retention and increased excitement for school.

Customizing the Curriculum to Suit Learning Styles

One of the best things about homeschooling is that you can customize your lessons to fit how each student learns best. Some kids learn better by seeing things, some by hearing them, and others by doing things with their hands.

Homeschooling allows you to teach each student in their own way. If a child has trouble reading but is good at telling stories, you can change the lessons to use audiobooks and oral presentations. Homeschooling families don't make their kids follow a strict school schedule. Instead, they change the pace and delivery to fit each learner.

This kind of customization is almost impossible in regular schools. Teachers have to follow a set curriculum for large groups.

Extracurriculars, Life Skills, and Informal Learning

Homeschoolers do extracurricular activities outside of schoolwork, such as athletics, music, art, robotics, and more. A lot of them are involved in community activities, groups, or competitions, and they often do better than their public school colleagues when it comes to leadership and innovation.

Homeschooling also naturally teaches skills that are useful in everyday life, such as cooking, budgeting, maintaining a home, and managing your time. In public schools, these important skills are generally not taught.

Informal learning is a big part of competent homeschooling. Learning is driven by real-life situations, not strict schedules.

Homeschooled Children vs. Public School Students

Academic Performance Comparison

How do homeschooled kids compare to kids who go to public school? The solution is complicated, but it looks good for the homeschool community. Many education statistics show that kids who are schooled at home do better than kids who go to public school, especially in reading and writing.

A 2015 study by the National Home Education Research Institute (NHERI) found that homeschooled students, on average, scored in the 80th percentile on standardized academic achievement tests. This is compared to the 50th percentile average for public school students, highlighting the academic advantages of homeschooling. One reason for this is that students can learn at their own pace with personalized guidance. This is a huge benefit over the strict framework of a typical school.

But the effects can be different. The results depend on how involved the parents are, how good the education is, and how long the student has been homeschooled. The same study notes that homeschoolers who don't get much structure or consistent education are likely to do worse in test scores.

Socialization and Emotional Development

People who don't like homeschooling often say, "But what about socialization?" The notion that homeschooled children are socially deficient is ancient and widely denied. Homeschooling families frequently report that their kids are happier and have even better relationships with their peers.

Homeschooled kids meet people of all ages through field excursions, co-ops, sports, church groups, and other activities outside of school. They don't have to exclusively talk to kids their own age, which is more like how things are in the real world.

Research shows that the psychological development of homeschooled children is comparable to or even superior to that of their public school counterparts. Studies, such as those conducted by NHERI, indicate that homeschooled children often have stronger family bonds, greater self-confidence, and higher levels of respect for adults compared to their peers in traditional schools.

Transitioning From or Back to Public School

Some students go to public school first, then switch to homeschooling later. Others do the opposite. With the right planning and help, both changes can be successful.

When parents who homeschool their kids decide to send them back to public school, they have to get their kids' school records, portfolios, and sometimes even take tests. Fortunately, many school districts now have rules in place to make this easier.

Communication is the most important thing in either direction. Talk to your local school district, find out what they need, and help your child get used to things emotionally and socially.

How to Homeschool Children: A Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners

If you're new to homeschooling and want to know how parents get started, this guide breaks it down into manageable steps. It could seem hard to start a home schooling program, but if you do it the proper way, you'll feel confident in no time. 

1. Meet State Requirements

Each state in the U.S. has its own rules about how to responsibly educate children at home. Some states, like Texas, are easy to homeschool in and don't have a lot of rules. Other states, like New York and Pennsylvania, have stricter rules, such as obtaining curriculum approval, having yearly assessments, and taking standardized tests.

The first thing you should do is go to your state's Department of Education website. Find out:

• If you need to tell your school district
• If there are specific compulsory school attendance laws
• What subjects you need to take
• If standardized tests are required
• Requirements for preserving records for school year paperwork

2. Choose the Right Homeschool Program

Next, you need to choose the homeschool program or method that works best for your child. Think about your child's age, how they learn best, what they like to do, and your personal schedule.

Common options include:

• Pre-made lesson plans
• Interactive technologies for online learning platforms
• Mixing materials from multiple sources in an eclectic way
• Programs based on faith for people who want to learn about religious instruction

Tuttle Twins Academy is also a solid option. It’s an online homeschooling curriculum designed for teenagers, focusing on conservative and libertarian values. While it's not a standalone curriculum, it serves as a valuable supplemental resource to enrich existing homeschool programs. The academy includes animated video lectures, quizzes, and other materials to engage students and help them develop critical thinking skills, financial literacy, and an understanding of key societal principles. Explore more and enroll today at Tuttle Twins Academy.

Regardless of the program you choose, ensure that math, reading, writing, science, and social studies are all part of the curriculum. A lot of homeschool programs also have electives and activities outside of school.

3. Set a Schedule That Works for Your Family

Flexibility is one of the best things about homeschooling. You can create a program that works with your family's schedule. Some families stick to the regular school year, while others choose to go to school all year with breaks in between.

Scheduling options include:

• Block plans for daily topics that are focused (like science on Mondays)
• Loop scheduling, where subjects rotate based on when they finish, not on days
• Four-day workweek, with Fridays set aside for field trips or catching up
• Pacing led by students, which is especially effective for learning on their own

Make time for reading, exercise, and creativity. Remember to spend time with your family, rest, and attend events with other homeschoolers.

Tuttle Twins: For Your Homeschooling Resources

The Tuttle Twins series has become a popular choice for homeschooling parents who want materials that align with their ideals. This brand focuses on helping kids become independent thinkers who know what's going on in the world.

What Are The Tuttle Twins Books?

The best-selling Tuttle Twins books are a series of illustrated stories that make difficult subjects in economics, civics, entrepreneurship, and political philosophy easier for kids to understand. Each book talks about big ideas like the golden rule, inflation, or individual rights in a style that’s interesting and easy for kids in school to understand.

Connor Boyack, founder of Libertas Institute, wrote these books from a perspective that makes people question government overreach and teaches them the importance of freedom, personal responsibility, and free markets.

How the Series Supports Homeschooling Families

Tuttle Twins content promotes the kinds of ideas many homeschooling families care about, including freedom, family, and foundational principles.

Here’s why Tuttle Twins Books work so well:

• Liberty-minded content not found in public and private schools
• Encourages critical thinking and logical analysis
• Reinforces educational leadership through individualized instruction
• Supplements standard subjects with real-world context
• Aligns with classical, Charlotte Mason, and unit study approaches

If you're using a homeschooling method like unit studies or classical education, the Tuttle Twins books can seamlessly integrate into your home education strategy.

Check out our collection of children's resources today and give your kids the tools they need for a meaningful learning experience! Don’t forget to complement their learning with fun activities like the Tuttle Tales Family Card Game to reinforce key concepts in a playful, interactive way.

Using Tuttle Twins in Your Home School Curriculum

Incorporating the Tuttle Twins into your homeschool program is easy:

• Get our exclusive bundles, there's a book for every age and interest
• Assign a new book monthly for discussion
• Use the parent guides and workbooks for comprehension activities
• Pair with community college classes or real-life experiences
• Join Tuttle Times, a monthly magazine filled with activities
• Use the animated cartoon series for visual learners

These materials help children learn at their own pace while developing a worldview rooted in liberty and common sense.

FAQs

What Does It Mean When You are Homeschooled?

Being homeschooled means your primary education takes place outside of a traditional classroom setting, usually at home, under the guidance of your parents or a designated homeschool teacher. You follow a home education program rather than attend public school or private school, and your learning pace, schedule, and curriculum are customized to suit your needs and your child's unique interests.

What Is the Meaning of Home Learning?

Home learning, often used interchangeably with homeschooling, refers to the process of educating children outside of conventional schools. It can include structured lessons, hands-on activities, extracurricular activities, or informal learning through real-life experiences. It's a flexible and personalized approach that emphasizes responsible home education and respects each student’s education journey.

What Is the Hardest Part of Homeschooling?

For many homeschooling parents, the toughest part is time management. Balancing lesson planning, household duties, and sometimes working a job can be exhausting.

There’s also the emotional weight of ensuring your child’s education is comprehensive and competitive with public school peers. Social opportunities, staying consistent, and combating educational neglect are other challenges many parents also face. However, support networks, co-ops, and well-designed homeschool programs help ease these struggles.

What Is the Best Homeschooling Method?

There’s no single best homeschooling method. It all depends on your family’s values and your child’s interests. Popular choices include:

• Charlotte Mason
• Montessori
• Unschooling( self-directed learning)
• Classical
• Unit Studies

Most homeschool families combine elements from multiple methods to form their own approach. The best method is one that fosters learning, curiosity, and joy in your child.

Conclusion

Homeschooling takes dedication, but the rewards are immense. With personalized instruction and flexible pacing, students can explore subjects they’re passionate about. It’s an opportunity to create a strong family bond, focus on character, and build long-term confidence in a way that traditional schooling often can’t.

The homeschooling movement is growing as families seek solutions to issues like school violence, peer pressure, and overcrowded classrooms. Due to greater flexibility, value alignment, and empowerment, more parents are choosing homeschooling, marking a shift toward a more freedom-based approach to education.

Note that homeschooling can be challenging with responsibilities like staying organized, ensuring legal compliance, and balancing teaching roles, but with a positive growth mindset, solid resources, and support systems, you can overcome these challenges.

References

• National Home Education Research Institute (NHERI). (2015). Homeschool Academic Achievement and Standardized Test Scores.
• National Home Education Research Institute (NHERI). (2015). Psychological and Social Development of Homeschooled Children.