homeschooling short essay

45,000+ students realised their study abroad dream with us. Take the first step today

Meet top uk universities from the comfort of your home, here’s your new year gift, one app for all your, study abroad needs, start your journey, track your progress, grow with the community and so much more.

Verification Code

An OTP has been sent to your registered mobile no. Please verify

Thanks for your comment !

Our team will review it before it's shown to our readers.

• School Education /

Essay on Home Schooling in 150, 250 and 400 words

• Updated on  
• Jan 8, 2024

Homeschooling refers to the practice of education at home or any other place outside the school premises. Over the years, the popularity of homeschooling has increased quite a bit. It is much more convenient for both students as well as parents. It saves time, is efficient, and de-stresses children, unlike normal schools that distress children. But just like everything else, along with the pros, homeschooling too has some cons. 

A lot of people believe that education in homeschooling is confined to home boundaries only. These students are not able to develop social skills and find it hard to socialise with others. Some of them become introverts too. These are just misconceptions. We have provided below samples of essays on homeschooling. Let’s have a look at them.

Table of Contents

• 1 Essay on Home Schooling in 150 words
• 2 Essay on Home Schooling in 250 words
• 3 Essay on Home Schooling in 400 words

Also Read:- Importance of Internet

Essay on Home Schooling in 150 words

Homeschooling is a concept that has been becoming quite popular over the years. Especially in times of natural calamities and pandemics such as COVID-19, it has gained quite a reputation for being an alternative to traditional schooling. Some of the benefits of homeschooling include convenience for both, children as well as parents. It provides tailor-fit learning education to children as every child has his/her own learning pace. 

Homeschooling de-stresses children, unlike schools that distress them. But just like any other thing, homeschooling too has some drawbacks. One of the drawbacks that most concern parents is that their child would not be able to have social interaction. Children need to have social interaction in the early stages of childhood to develop their minds. Hence, it’s up to each child and parent whether to take up homeschooling or not. 

Essay on Home Schooling in 250 words

One of the aspects that has been gaining quite a lot of attention and popularity is homeschooling. Over the years, it has been gaining quite a reputation of becoming an alternative to traditional schooling. Homeschooling is a good way to deliver tailor-fit education to children as every child has his/her own pace of learning. 

So for children who are unable to cope with the pace of school education, homeschooling is a great option for them. Homeschooling is extremely convenient for both, children as well as parents. It saves time and money as well. The children who are homeschooled have to deal with less stress as traditional schooling gives them a lot of stress. By tracking the progress of their child on their own, parents get to understand their child better and hence make necessary adjustments for them. 

But just like any other thing, homeschooling too has some drawbacks. One of the major drawbacks is that children who are homeschooled lack social skills. Having social international for children in their early stages of childhood is essential for developing their minds. Children who are homeschooled may even become introverts. Parents might find it stressful for them in the long run to have to homeschool their child if they do it on their own.

They might also not be able to have any time for themselves. Homeschooling is a choice that requires assessing the situation. It might be suitable for some, while others may not find it fit for them. Hence, the decision to homeschool should be made judiciously.

Also Read:- Essay on Pollution

Also Read: How to Prepare for UPSC in 6 Months?

Essay on Home Schooling in 400 words

Over these past few years, the concept of homeschooling has gained quite a lot of attention. Especially in a time like the COVID-19 pandemic, it has become an alternative to traditional schooling for many parents. Parents can hire a tutor for the same or can even teach their children themselves. Homeschooling has a lot of pros for both, parents as well as children. 

Pros of Home Schooling

Homeschooling is much more convenient than traditional schooling. It also saves commuting time and a little money too given what the situation is. Homeschooling allows parents to tailor-fit education for their child. This is great because every child has his/her own learning pace and this way they can easily cope with the learning. In traditional school, all have to learn at the same pace irrespective of whether or not they are learning. 

Also for many students, the school environment can become quite stressful making it difficult for them to get comfortable and hence causing them stress. Homeschooling, on the other, de-stresses children. They are safe from even getting bullied and have the comfort of their own home. Parents get a chance to track their child’s progress and hence, get to know them better. Such a thing generates positivity all around. 

Cons of Home Schooling

But just like any other thing, homeschooling too has some drawbacks. One of the major drawbacks that concern parents the most is that their children would not be able to have proper social interactions. Social interactions are very important in the early stages of childhood to develop a child’s mind properly. 

Failure in that can even lead to a child becoming introverted. Some of the homeschooled children also face problems in mixing with others. For parents, depending on the situation, homeschooling can turn out to be costly as the tutors they hire may charge high fees from them. Parents may also find that they are not able to have time for themselves, which, in the long, can become quite stressful for them.

The decision of homeschooling shouldn’t be just opted for the convenience of it. Parents should take into account every scenario of their current as well as to some extent, their near future situations to make a correct decision. Hence, it would be fitting to say that the decision to homeschool should be made judiciously.

Related Reads

Homeschooling is much more convenient than traditional schooling. It also saves commuting time and a little money too given what the situation is. Homeschooling allows parents to tailor-fit education for their child. This is great because every child has his/her own learning pace and this way they can easily cope with the learning. In traditional school, all have to learn at the same pace irrespective of whether or not they are learning. Also for many students, the school environment can become quite stressful making it difficult for them to get comfortable and hence causing them stress. Homeschooling, on the other, de-stresses children. They are safe from even getting bullied and have the comfort of their own home. Parents get a chance to track their child’s progress and hence, get to know them better. Such a thing generates positivity all around. 

Some of the benefits of homeschooling include convenience for both, children as well as parents. It provides tailor-fit learning education to children as every child has his/her own learning pace. Homeschooling de-stresses children, unlike schools that distress them.

In some aspects, homeschooling is better than traditional schooling. It is more convenient, children can learn at their own pace, it de-stresses them, etc. but on the other hand, it does have some cons too such as no social interaction which can lead to less developed minds, no healthy competition, etc. 

This brings us to the end of our blog Essay on Homeschooling. Hope you find this information useful. For more information on such informative topics for your school, visit our essay writing and follow Leverage Edu.

Deepansh Gautam

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Contact no. *

Connect With Us

45,000+ students realised their study abroad dream with us. take the first step today..

Resend OTP in

Need help with?

Study abroad.

UK, Canada, US & More

IELTS, GRE, GMAT & More

Scholarship, Loans & Forex

Country Preference

New Zealand

Which English test are you planning to take?

Which academic test are you planning to take.

Not Sure yet

When are you planning to take the exam?

Already booked my exam slot

Within 2 Months

Want to learn about the test

Which Degree do you wish to pursue?

When do you want to start studying abroad.

January 2024

September 2024

What is your budget to study abroad?

How would you describe this article ?

Please rate this article

We would like to hear more.

Have something on your mind?

Make your study abroad dream a reality in January 2022 with

India's Biggest Virtual University Fair

Essex Direct Admission Day

Why attend .

Don't Miss Out

• Education & Teaching
• Schools & Teaching

Sorry, there was a problem.

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required .

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

Image Unavailable

• To view this video download Flash Player

Follow the author

Slow Homeschooling: Short Essays About Mindful Homeschooling Paperback – November 20, 2017

• Print length 99 pages
• Language English
• Publication date November 20, 2017
• Dimensions 6 x 0.23 x 9 inches
• ISBN-10 1521817359
• ISBN-13 978-1521817353
• See all details

Product details

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Independently published (November 20, 2017)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 99 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1521817359
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1521817353
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 7.2 ounces
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.23 x 9 inches
• #5,190 in Parenting & Family Reference
• #14,225 in Homeschooling (Books)

About the author

Milva mcdonald.

Milva McDonald is the mother of four and grandmother of three. She started homeschooling in 1991, after reading an essay by John Taylor Gatto and realizing school and the PTA weren’t for her. For three decades she worked for The Boston Globe and boston.com, writing and reporting about arts and cultural events in Boston. Other pursuits included running a folk music coffeehouse, organizing countless field trips, facilitating creative writing groups, passing hors d’oeuvres at fancy parties, and serving on city committees. She sings in The Halalisa Singers and blogs at apotlucklife.com.

Customer reviews

• 5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 5 star 64% 36% 0% 0% 0% 64%
• 5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 4 star 64% 36% 0% 0% 0% 36%
• 5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 3 star 64% 36% 0% 0% 0% 0%
• 5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 2 star 64% 36% 0% 0% 0% 0%
• 5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 1 star 64% 36% 0% 0% 0% 0%

Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.

To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.

• Sort reviews by Top reviews Most recent Top reviews

Top reviews from the United States

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. please try again later..

• About Amazon
• Investor Relations
• Amazon Devices
• Amazon Science
• Sell products on Amazon
• Sell on Amazon Business
• Sell apps on Amazon
• Become an Affiliate
• Advertise Your Products
• Self-Publish with Us
• Host an Amazon Hub
• › See More Make Money with Us
• Amazon Business Card
• Shop with Points
• Reload Your Balance
• Amazon Currency Converter
• Amazon and COVID-19
• Your Account
• Your Orders
• Shipping Rates & Policies
• Returns & Replacements
• Manage Your Content and Devices

• Conditions of Use
• Privacy Notice
• Consumer Health Data Privacy Disclosure
• Your Ads Privacy Choices

• Publications
• Get Involved

The Academic and Social Benefits of Homeschooling

Homeschooling works. The roughly 2 million children who currently learn at home join a millennia-old practice supported by many government officials, scholars, college officials, and employers.

While mainstream America has embraced homeschooling as a viable and positive educational option—and as 55 million K-12 students and their parents have been thrust into “crisis-teaching at home”—the angst of some academics over homeschooling has abruptly emerged.

Professors Elizabeth Bartholet of Harvard University and James Dwyer of William and Mary School of Law organized a summer meeting to “focus on problems of educational deprivation and child maltreatment that too often occur under the guise of homeschooling, in a legal environment of minimal or no oversight.” In a highly controversial article in Harvard Magazine , Erin O’Donnell advanced Bartholet’s arguments in favor of a homeschooling ban.

Yet, what does the evidence tell us about homeschool educational and social outcomes? Is there any sound corpus of evidence that homeschooled children are actually educationally deprived or maltreated? And what worldview drives anti-homeschoolers such as Bartholet and Dwyer?

Most reviews of homeschooling research reveal generally positive learning outcomes for children.

Joseph Murphy and Brian Ray provide quite optimistic reviews, while other appraisals present positive, albeit more tentative , conclusions. A one-of-its-kind review of only peer-reviewed research by Ray revealed that 11 of the 14 peer-reviewed studies on academic achievement found that homeschool students significantly outperformed conventionally schooled children. Both of the publicly available state-provided data sets showed higher-than-average test scores for homeschooled children.

A similar pattern emerges for the social, emotional, and psychological development of the homeschooled.

The clear majority of peer-reviewed studies show that homeschoolers often have better parent-child relationships and friendships than conventionally schooled children. Homeschoolers are happy, satisfied, and civically engaged .

A growing body of research indicates that graduates of home-based education excel. Eleven of the 16 peer-reviewed studies on success into adulthood (including college) showed that homeschoolers had better results for political tolerance, college GPA, and college retention than students in conventional schools. After reviewing the relevant literature, Gloeckner and Jones concluded that the “comparative results of the studies reported in this review, combined with the data collected from college admission officers provide evidence that homeschooling is an effective alternative path to college for the children of many families.”

Homeschoolers are not being educationally deprived, maltreated, or abused. On the contrary, the research literature suggests that rates of abuse (e.g., physical abuse, sexual abuse, neglect) are lower among homeschoolers than institutionally schooled children.

Although there are certainly cases when homeschoolers are abused (and such cases should be prosecuted), banning homeschooling is not the answer, nor will it improve education or make children safer.

As a society we do not, for example, close public schools when a child is abused there. When scholars like Bartholet, Fineman and Worthington, and Dwyer and Peters advocate for a total or presumptive ban on homeschooling, they do so without solid support from the empirical literature. When Bartholet and others advocate for forcing children to enter the public school system, they are ignoring evidence that only approximately 40 percent of conventionally schooled students are at, or above, proficiency in reading and mathematics.

Certainly, many public educators are engaged in terrific efforts to provide high-quality education, but it is also clear that the public school system has significant limitations.

Why, then, do some academics want more government control and restrictions on homeschooling? We think it is not hard to perceive: They do not approve of the values and beliefs of the parents who choose to homeschool.

One of us partially addressed the answer in a scholarly journal some years ago. Ray identified four classes of negativity toward parent-led home-based education. Some scholars make theoretical arguments that government schools are the gold standard of education that advances the common good, while private schooling is bad for society. A second group argues that homeschooling is an attempt to “cocoon” one’s children from ideas and people that the parents disdain. Another category holds that homeschooling harms children philosophically, psychologically, religiously, physically, and educationally. And the fourth group goes against homeschooling by theorizing why the state should have more domination over children and their parents.

In the end, however, all of those categories of opposition are founded on different values, beliefs, and presuppositions than those at the core of parent-led homeschooling. Dwyer and Peters , for example, presuppose that “[t]he state must have the ultimate authority to determine what children’s interests are” and that the state is the entity that shall decide over what aspects of a child’s life his parents have authority.

In a similar vein, Bartholet argues that the state, not the parent, shall have the ultimate authority to decide what and how children shall be taught. Parents, in her world, must prove to the state that they deserve permission to educate their children outside of the government’s control. Fineman’s philosophical zeal is so clear that anything other than state-funded and state-controlled education must be banned by the government.

These kinds of ideas simply stem from their philosophical and religious worldviews. It is “natural” for them to conclude that the civil government must control children’s teaching, training, and indoctrination. It is natural because their worldviews cannot comprehend or tolerate a worldview such as classical liberalism or Christianity that holds the state should not control boys’ and girls’ educational formation, unless parents are abusive.

While the relevant research has limitations , scholarly research shows that homeschooling has positive outcomes for children. There is certainly no body of clear evidence that homeschooling undermines children’s academic and social development and should be restricted. Certain academics’ agitation over homeschooling appears to be based on their perspective that the state—and not parents—should control the education of all children.

Compared to conventional students, homeschool graduates are more likely to

• have higher college GPAs,
• be politically tolerant,
• be agreeable and conscientious,
• have a more positive college experience, and
• be self-employed.

In summary, opponents of homeschooling lack empirical data for their arguments, and judges and governmental officials consistently hold that parents have the right to educate their children at home.

Those arguing for state domination lost their major battles in legislatures, courts, and the public mind in the 1980s and 1990s. Homeschooling advocates have strong support in protecting their freedom to educate outside state-run systems.

College personnel, employers, and independent business advocates should be glad about homeschooling. It is a form of free enterprise. It costs taxpayers less than public schooling and its graduates are well-equipped to be the next generation of entrepreneurs, leaders, parents, householders, creators, and everyday citizens. In summary, we agree with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s analysis of this issue: “The risk to children is not from homeschooling. The risk is from radical leftist scholars seeking to impose their values on our children.”

Brian D. Ray, Ph.D., is president of the National Home Education Research Institute and is internationally known for his research on homeschooling.

Carlos Valiente, Ph.D., is a Professor in the T. Denny Sanford School of Social and Family Dynamics at Arizona State University.

May 13, 2020 › Academics , Politicization

More Articles

› Academics , Politicization

Fearless Homeschoolers

How to write a compelling college application essay as a homeschooler.

There are more applicants than ever, making acceptance more difficult than ever.

With schools like University of Pennsylvania, Swarthmore, and Bucknell spending only 4 minutes total on each application, it is imperative that your application pack an immediate punch.

Your Personal Statement is the perfect opportunity to set yourself apart in a pool of stat-driven students, who tend to look alike.

I know what you’re thinking. How do I begin?

Breathe life into your homeschool college application with the perfect essay topic.

Give Yourself Time

Be patient with yourself. This is a soul-searching process. By the time you complete the final draft, you should not only delight in how you see yourself, but you should also delight the reader.

However, this is not a quick and painless journey. You will feel uncomfortable and vulnerable. That’s okay. The more transparent you are in your essays, the easier it is for the admissions committee to see that you are a good match for their institution.

Remember, this is one of the most important essays that you’ll ever write. And here’s the good news! There are no time limits. This isn’t an AP or SAT or class-assigned essay. You have the opportunity to start as early as you’d like!

Consider the Big Picture

Think about the Common Application as a puzzle. When Admissions Officers are looking through your application, they are trying to piece together who you are, and they don’t have much time to do it. So collect all of your application pieces in one spot - write it out, print it out, cut it out. Literally put the pieces of your life, your application together.

• As a whole, does it reveal all of you?
• What does your activity list say about you?
• What will your supplements and Why Us essays say about you?
• What does your transcript say about you?

Let me explain. Your Common App Essay should reveal “you” in a way that can be found nowhere else in the application. Be strategic about what you want your application to say.

When all of those puzzle pieces are put together, is it being said, quickly, with impact?

Related: How to Boost Your Homeschooler’s College Chances

Do not worry about choosing the prompt first! The prompts are broad enough that your topic will fit in with any of them.

Brainstorm and Connect Themes

Are you struggling to find that perfect topic? I feel you. Below find a strategy that works to get those creative juices bubbling.

Here’s the deal. You must give yourself the headspace to do this. If you are authentically engaged in this process, not only will you see ideas more clearly, but you will see yourself more clearly.

Take a week - at least a few hours! - to brainstorm themes that are woven in your life story.

• What events, challenges, stories, objects, or daily routines best reflect who you are?
• How do these stories define how you look at life, other people, and yourself?
• Most importantly…why is this significant?
• Which themes seem to keep emerging?
• Which themes/values/character traits do you want to convey in your application?
• Which events, challenges, stories, or objects display those themes?

Don’t cheat yourself and spend only 30 minutes on this process. Let the story of your life and who you are sink in. Spend a week (or two or three) reflecting and embracing all of the bits and pieces that made you who you are today. How do they shape who you want to be in the future? Write them down, outline them, draw them, discuss them.

Writer’s block? Note to self:

“No one ever gets talker’s block” – Seth Godin

Talk things out. Write the way you talk.

Write at least 10 short, positive phrases that are associated with who you are.

These can be quirks, character traits, funny stories. Here are some examples:

• I am brave.
• I can wiggle my ears.
• I wear the same hat every day.
• People laugh at my laugh.
• I fainted while watching Macbeth in class.
• My middle name is Woodruff.
• I am fiercely loyal.

You get the picture. Can any of those phrases connect with each other? Can they connect with the stories or themes from above?

Now write. And write recklessly for another few hours (not in one chunk, of course!)

Ask yourself thoughtful, intelligent questions about each connection, each evolving theme. Then write some more. When you are finished, choose the 3-5 topics that you like most. Share them with friends and family who will challenge you and help you narrow it down. Your topic should reflect an important piece of who you are…something that no one else, but you, could have written.

It’s a messy process, I know! Brainstorming and free-writing seem disorganized and ineffective. But it is exactly the process that brings to the surface the story within your story.

Homeschooling As a Topic

By now, you probably know why homeschooling, in general, isn’t a great topic. It’s mentioned in the application already - in the School Profile, the Course Descriptions, the Counselor Recommendation letter. Maybe you’ve also mentioned homeschooling in a supplemental essay or “additional information” box.

It doesn’t mean your homeschool experience cannot be woven into the essay to elaborate on something else. But as a general topic, explaining that homeschooling has allowed you to take ownership of your education? Nah. That piece of you has already been covered.

But Remember This.

Any topic can be remarkable and memorable, as long as it isn’t cliched and generalized in a way that any other homeschooler or athlete or service-trip goer can write.

The following topics are typically a no-go. Be careful if you choose one of them. Be focused and unique. Avoid telling the reader that you learned the value of teamwork, even though your baseball team lost the championship. Avoid claiming that you learned more from the disadvantaged than they ever learned from you.

Dig deeper. See smaller. Memorialize the moments.

• Extra-curricular activities
• Mental Health Issues
• Controversial topics
• Service trips

Now it’s time to write!

Be honest. Be authentic. Be likable. Be vulnerable. The reader wants to be moved.

Isn’t that what happens when you read a great piece of writing? You become different in that moment; you come to know and like the writer so much that you are changed because of it.

Your essay doesn’t need to be filled with great obstacles. It does, however, need to be filled with a great moment. Seize the moment that reveals the true you. The one you wish everyone knew. The one that the admissions committee would like to know.

TIP: The first sentence should grab the reader! Jump right into the story with a short, powerful hook. You want the reader to question where your story is heading, so they stay engaged and continue reading.

Show don’t tell

You’ve heard it before. Don’t just tell the reader; guide them through the inner workings of your mind. Allow them the honor of seeing your thought-process as you’ve transformed, grown, changed your perspective, and ultimately, acted differently because of it.

Don’t explicitly say that you’ve changed; let the story do that for you. The prompts are meant to expose all of this good stuff, so leave room for it! The last third of the essay should reveal your turning point, your a-ha moments, your reflection. It should leave the admissions officers nodding their heads.

TIP: Read your essay aloud. Listen to others read it aloud. Does it flow? Does it reflect the best of who you are? Is it easily readable and understandable? Is there too much fluff?

Admissions officers read thousands of essays each application season - it is easy to sound like all of the other applicants out there. Start early, take your time, and choose wisely. This is your moment and your story to tell.

Remember: The admissions committee will remember you by your topic, not your name. What do you want them to say about you?

What topic is your homeschooler considering for their college application essay topic? Share in a comment below!

I'm Lisa Davis, Founder of Fearless Homeschoolers and proud member of IECA. As a college admissions consultant who's worked with hundreds of homeschool families, I believe you should know exactly how to go through the homeschool to college journey without second guessing yourself. Join me and I'll show you the way...

Shop for Transcript Templates & More!

An Introduction to Homeschooling

Homeschooling is an educational option that allows parents to teach their children at home instead of sending them to school. There are today a wealth of resources and opportunities available to homeschooling families, and in a landscape of increasing school choice homeschooling has become more and more accepted by the public at large. Parents choose homeschooling for a variety of reasons. Modern homeschooling began in the 1970s and 1980s, championed by progressive educational reformers hoping to free children’s inner creativity and conservative evangelical leaders concerned about the environment of public schools. There are now around two million children being homeschooled, and in the early twentieth century homeschooling has become increasingly diverse, both in terms of race and class and in terms terms of parental motivations. See Homeschooling Numbers and and Homeschool Demographics .

Parents choose homeschooling for a wide variety of reasons. Some parents have concerns about the social environment or academic quality of local public schools. Some want to ensure that their children are educated in accordance with their religious beliefs. Some believe their children will learn better through child-directed learning outside of a classroom setting. Some have children who were bullied in school or have health problems or demanding practice schedules. A growing number of families enjoy the flexibility homeschooling offers, and many children may find that homeschooling is a good fit for their natural learning styles or personalities. If there is one thing that can be said about parental motivations for homeschooling, it is that they are anything but monolithic. For more, see Reasons Parents Homeschool .

While homeschooling is legal throughout the United States, the level of oversight for homeschools varies from state to state. Most states require parents to notify state or local education officials of their intent to homeschool, and half of all states have some form of assessment requirement. Most states have days of instruction or subject requirements and a smaller number of states have parent qualification and bookkeeping requirements. Some states require none of the above. The patchwork and often woefully inadequate nature of homeschool oversight means that there are few protections in place safeguarding the interests of homeschooled children. For more, see  Current Policy .

Research has shown that children who are homeschooled can succeed academically, especially when given support and resources from their parents. Many homeschool parents are driven and motivated, and are extremely involved in their children’s education. They educate themselves as they go along and seek out resources, tutors, or classes for those subjects they may not be able to teach themselves. In many ways these parents are more facilitators or coordinators than teachers. However, while homeschooled children can succeed academically, that success is not guaranteed. In cases where homeschool parents are not driven and motivated or do not place as much importance on their children’s academic progress, homeschooled children may struggle academically or even not receive any education at all. For more, see Academic Achievement .

Homeschooled children are typically involved in an array of social activities, including homeschool cooperatives, dance and music lessons, church and Sunday school, field trip groups, and other classes, clubs, and groups outside of the home. With the networking potential of the internet and the greater social acceptance of homeschooling, the opportunities available to homeschool families have grown in recent years. If parents put in the effort to find social outlets for their children, homeschooled children can be well socialized and can integrate well into society. In contrast, if parents do not ensure that their children have adequate opportunities to meet their social needs, homeschooled children may be lonely, develop social phobias, or have difficulty integrating into society. For more, see Homeschooling & Socialization .

An increasing number of states allow homeschooled children to enroll in public school part time to take individual classes or to participate in public school athletics and other extracurricular activities. Some studies have found that as many as 20% of homeschooled students enroll in public school part-time.  Some states have public school at home or public or charter correspondence programs that allow children to be taught at home while receiving benefits from enrollment in public school. “Cybercharters” have become popular among some homeschoolers, and a number of charter schools have developed programs where children come to an actual school for classes once or twice a week and are otherwise educated at home. In an increasingly educationally diverse world, homeschooling offers a variety of flexible and creative options.

Feedback from the first generation of homeschooled students, now in their 20′s and 30′s, indicates that those who are homeschooled responsibly frequently do well in college and professional life while those who were neglected or subjected to an abusive homeschooling environment often face low-wage job prospects, poor integration and connection with their communities, and struggles with poverty and dependency that could have easily been prevented. For more, see Homeschool Outcomes and Abuse and Neglect . The quality of a child’s homeschool experience depends almost entirely on the parents’ dedication to providing a functional, nurturing environment with optimal conditions for education and healthy child development.

Read more about homeschooling:

• What Is Homeschooling?
• Homeschooling by the Numbers
• Who Homeschools?
• Motivations for Homeschooling
• Academic Achievement
• What about Socialization?
• Homeschool Outcomes
• What Scholars Say
• A History of Homeschooling
• Our Research
• For Parents
• For Policymakers
• For Researchers
• Abuse & Neglect

Stay Informed

• Make a Gift
• Take Action
• Bill of Rights
• Find Your State
• Homeschooling’s Invisible Children

Copyright © 2024 · All Rights Reserved · Coalition for Responsible Home Education

Nonprofit Website by GivingPress · RSS Feed · Log in

Home — Essay Samples — Education — Educational System — Homeschooling

Essays on Homeschooling

When it comes to homeschooling, essay writing can be a valuable tool for students to develop critical thinking and communication skills. However, choosing the right topic is crucial to ensure that the essay is engaging, informative, and relevant to the homeschooling experience. In this article, we will discuss the importance of selecting appropriate homeschooling essay topics and provide a detailed list of recommended topics for students to consider.

Choosing the right homeschooling essay topic is essential for several reasons. Firstly, it allows students to explore and express their thoughts and opinions on relevant homeschooling issues, which can contribute to their personal and academic growth. Secondly, a well-chosen topic can make the writing process more enjoyable and meaningful for the student, leading to a higher quality of work. Lastly, the chosen topic should be relevant and engaging for the intended audience, whether it's the student's teacher, classmates, or the wider homeschooling community.

When selecting a homeschooling essay topic, students should consider their personal interests, experiences, and knowledge. It is essential to choose a topic that is meaningful and relevant to the student's homeschooling experience. Additionally, students should consider the audience and purpose of the essay, as well as the availability of credible sources and research materials. By carefully considering these factors, students can choose a topic that will allow them to showcase their critical thinking, writing, and research skills.

Recommended Homeschooling Essay Topics

If you are looking for some interesting homeschooling essay topics, you have come to the right place. Below is a list of 30 different topics structured by categories, to help you find the perfect topic for your essay.

Educational Benefits of Homeschooling

• The impact of individualized learning on homeschooling students
• The role of parents as educators in the homeschooling environment
• The benefits of homeschooling for students with special needs
• Comparing the academic achievements of homeschooled students to traditional school students
• The effectiveness of homeschooling in fostering creativity and critical thinking

Social and Emotional Development in Homeschooling

• The socialization of homeschooling students in comparison to traditional school students
• The impact of homeschooling on the development of social skills and emotional intelligence
• Addressing the misconceptions and stereotypes surrounding homeschooled students
• The role of extracurricular activities and community involvement in homeschooling
• The influence of the homeschooling environment on mental health and well-being

Homeschooling Curriculum and Methods

• Comparing different homeschooling curriculum options
• The benefits and challenges of online homeschooling programs
• The impact of technology on homeschooling education
• Exploring alternative teaching and learning methods in the homeschooling environment
• The role of field trips and hands-on learning in homeschooling

Homeschooling and Legal/Social Issues

• The legal requirements and regulations for homeschooling in different states
• The impact of homeschooling on the public education system
• The influence of cultural and societal attitudes towards homeschooling
• The rights and responsibilities of homeschooling parents and students
• The role of homeschooling advocacy and support groups

Personal Experiences and Reflections on Homeschooling

• The impact of homeschooling on family dynamics and relationships
• Challenges and successes of transitioning from traditional school to homeschooling
• The role of self-motivation and discipline in homeschooling education
• Personal growth and development through the homeschooling experience
• Addressing misconceptions and stereotypes about homeschooling through personal narratives

Global Perspectives on Homeschooling

• The prevalence and acceptance of homeschooling in different countries
• Comparing homeschooling practices and policies in different cultural and social contexts
• The impact of globalization and technology on homeschooling education
• Exploring the role of homeschooling in addressing educational inequality and access to quality education
• The influence of international trends and movements on the homeschooling community

Parental Involvement

• The role of parents as educators in homeschooling
• Challenges and benefits of homeschooling for parents
• Effective communication between parents and children in homeschooling
• Parental support for extracurricular activities in homeschooling
• Balancing work and homeschooling as a parent

Cultural and Diversity Perspectives

• Homeschooling in different cultural contexts
• The impact of homeschooling on religious and cultural beliefs
• Addressing diversity and inclusion in homeschooling
• Homeschooling and multicultural education
• The role of language and heritage in homeschooling

These essay topics should give you a good starting point for exploring the various aspects of homeschooling. By considering these categories and the suggested topics within each, students can identify a relevant and engaging topic for their homeschooling essay. Whether they choose to explore the educational benefits of homeschooling, reflect on their personal experiences, or delve into legal and social issues surrounding homeschooling, there are ample opportunities for students to showcase their critical thinking and writing skills in the context of homeschooling.

Homeschool Vs Public School: a Comparison

Homeschooling and traditional education: advantages and disadvantages, made-to-order essay as fast as you need it.

Each essay is customized to cater to your unique preferences

+ experts online

Benefits and Advantages of Homeschooling Children

Why homeschooling is better than public schools, home schooling: today’s need, exploring homeschooling as an alternative to public education, let us write you an essay from scratch.

• 450+ experts on 30 subjects ready to help
• Custom essay delivered in as few as 3 hours

Why Homeschooling is The Smartest Way to Teach Kids Today

Advantages of homeschooling as a holistic approach to education, homeschooling as an alternative educational method, homeschooling: the best or worst idea ever, get a personalized essay in under 3 hours.

Expert-written essays crafted with your exact needs in mind

What Are The Positive Effects of Homeschooling?

Home schooling positive efficacy, intergenerational effects of residential schools on indigenous people, homeschooling vs. public schooling: navigating educational choices, disadvantages of homeschooling: a comprehensive analysis, homeschool vs. public school: educational choices, homeschooling vs public schooling: a debate, public school vs. homeschool, homeschooling vs public schooling: a comparison and contrast, the advantages and disadvantages of homeschooling: a comprehensive analysis, argumentative about homeschooling, relevant topics.

• Middle School
• High School
• Online Vs. Traditional Classes
• Extracurricular Activities
• Single Sex Schools
• Academic Challenges
• Critical Thinking
• College Experience
• Stem Education

By clicking “Check Writers’ Offers”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy . We’ll occasionally send you promo and account related email

No need to pay just yet!

We use cookies to personalyze your web-site experience. By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy .

• Instructions Followed To The Letter
• Deadlines Met At Every Stage
• Unique And Plagiarism Free

Project Types We Cover

• Admissions Essay
• PowerPoint Presentation
• Research Paper
• Book Reviews
• Personal Statement
• Ph.D Dissertation
• Proofreading

Academic Fields & Subjects

• Programming
• Computer Science
• Other projects we help with
• Our Experts
• Plagiarism Checker
• Writing Tips

The Relevance of The Effects of Homeschooling Essay

By: Tasha Kolesnikova

The level of academic achievement of home schoolers exceeds the average level of student achievement in classical schools of the same age (approximately 15-30%). This is evidenced by the results of independent research conducted in the United States in different years. These and other interesting facts about homeschooling are attracting the attention of a growing number of American families. This type of private school is becoming a broad field for research and essays. Check out an example of such an essay for college students and a guide to writing it.

The Effects of Homeschooling Essay Example

What are the possible homeschooling topics and how to reveal them, general recommendations for writing an essay about homeschooling.

Traditionally, about 3% of American students study at home, but this year the figure could rise to 10%. This is due to a new reality - a global pandemic. Homeschooling was allowed in 1980 and is fully regulated by the local government of each state. Therefore, the requirements for children and parents, the system of support and testing may differ. Let's focus on the benefits of homeschooling and its disadvantages.

In some US states, to transfer a child to homeschooling, it is enough to write a statement to the principal and indicate that you have a plan. At the same time, you do not report to anyone exactly how you plan to teach. The main requirements in Texas - that you have visual aids: textbooks, that your program includes reading, writing, grammar and, of course, math. A similar procedure exists in Illinois. There is no obligation to report on the child's progress. Parents can buy a special test to check the result of their pedagogical work.

However, the USA has states with stricter requirements for homeschooling. For example, in Pennsylvania, parents are required by law to keep all records related to child's education, including information about how much time is spent on education, samples of work performed, test scores, annual assessment of the child's knowledge, and the like. To make sure that the child receives an adequate education at home, his or her knowledge is annually checked by a special commission of teachers and psychologists. Also in 3rd, 5th and 8th grades, homeschooled students have to take standardized tests with the rest of the students.

However, it is worth talking about the negative effects of homeschooling. One important argument is that not all children are able to learn on their own. After all, such training requires great maturity and responsibility of homeschooled children. And for homeschooling parents, studying at home is hard daily work. In addition, parents are not always able to properly assess their child's knowledge. Many children return to school after homeschooling and show significant knowledge gaps.

Patience with one's own child is also a great challenge for parents. Harvard University published an article investigating the problem of possible domestic violence against children, which could increase in the country due to the transition of many families to homeschooling. In addition, parents often do not realize how different modern education is from the one they studied.p

Homeschooling is definitely a good opportunity for many families. However, traditional schools have more advantages. Children often tend to repeat their parents' position instead of forming their own opinion. At school, students have the opportunity to hear different opinions on the problem and then develop their ideas about a particular issue.

• Theory and practice of homeschooling. Refer to the history of family education - it is closely related to the name of John Holt, the most famous specialist in this field, the author of many works on the theory and practice of homeschooling.
• Laws governing family education in the United States. Homeschooling is officially allowed throughout the country. As a rule, in order to apply a child for family education, you must contact the school education department of the district in which the child lives - the County school district, and fill out a special form - Assurance of Consent. By signing this document, the parent agrees to follow the state's schooling program. Usually, once or twice a year, parents are required to report their child's progress to the district school department. Moreover, parents have the opportunity not to wait until the end of the six months and transfer their child to homeschooling at any time. In general, laws on family education vary from state to state, and quite significantly.
• Types of homeschooling. Among the pedagogical directions, the most common are distinguished: classical education; school exemption; radical unschooling. Explore these types of children's education.
• Home education as an equivalent substitute for public school. Analyze the position of philosophers, educators, and practitioners who have studied the problem of homeschooling. Among them: the ideas of J. Holt, R. Moore, D. Moore, and D. Sayers. What they have in common is the conviction that every family wishing to independently provide their children with an education that is not inferior to the quality of a school one can quite cope with this task.
• How and why homeschooling arose. Many factors contributed to the emergence of homeschooling. These were mainly shortcomings in traditional schools. For example, one of the negative factors inherent in modern American education is the high level of peer pressure and violence in schools (many parents were frightened by incidents with the use of firearms in the high school).
• Differences in homeschooling in different states. Investigate the differences in aspects of homeschooling across states. For instance, in Oregon, family schools are quite tightly controlled: children who are schooled at home must take the standard exams for grades 3, 5, 8, and 10 on an equal basis with children from public schools. Arkansas' law also requires children to pass common achievement tests in grades 5, 7, and 10, and it is specifically stipulated that the "home" student must not be more than 2 years older than it is established for this class. In Texas, there is practically no control over family education.

Decide on a position. In the essay you need to take a clear position. For example, your goal may be to convince the reader of the positive effects of homeschooling, or, conversely, to focus on its negative aspects. Or you can compare the pros and cons of studying at home. Either way, you need to prove your point with arguments.

Choose arguments. Arguments are your main tool of persuasion. So approach their choice responsibly and carefully.

The arguments for the benefits of homeschooling might look like this:

• An increasing number of publications highlight the results of research that students who study in a family environment have a much lower level of problems and deviations in behavior, more stable self-esteem, they easily master higher education and are successful in adult life (among them are very rare unemployed, people who need social security).
• According to research conducted in the United States and Canada, homeschool graduates are twice as happy and satisfied with their lives as regular school graduates. Pupils in homeschooling are also more involved in extracurricular activities, voting in elections, attending church more often, and more than half of them intend to teach their own children at home.

For arguments, provide statistics, research results and surveys:

• Today, the number of supporters of home education is constantly growing. According to a survey by the Phi Delta Kappa/Gallup Poll Study , 24% of parents in the United States believe that it is necessary to fund alternative education systems, including homeschooling.
• The level of education of homeschool parents and the total family income do not affect the academic achievements of home students. This was revealed in a study by Dr. Brian Ray , president of the non-profit National Home Education Research Institute.

Decide on tactics. Yes, tactics play an important role in the results of your essay. You can choose a calm narrative tone about the history of homeschooling, or you can be radical about the shortcomings of such an education system.

You can choose such an interesting tactic in your essay: debunking the myths about the negative impact of homeschooling. Example:

Opponents of homeschooling often use the argument of poor socialization of homeschooled students. However, there are studies that show that such children are happier and more cheerful. Richard G. Medlin (Stetson University) found that home students are more satisfied with their lives. Home students acquire social skills through their involvement in cooperation with the community and public sports. This is evidenced by research by the National Home Education Research Institute .

Follow the general rules. Do not forget about the general structure of your essay: in the introduction express your own vision of the issue of home education in the form of a thesis (while interest the reader in something extraordinary); give an argumentative base in the body; in conclusion, reassure the reader with a brief statement of the weight of your arguments. Check the text for literacy and no plagiarism.

Feel that you need help to deal with the essay? Ask Studybay! Our experts provide writing services and online tutoring for students.

We help students with:

• essay proofreading
• essay editing
• assignment in different subjects

User ratings:

User ratings is 4.6 stars.

4.6 /5 ( 6 Votes)

Content Writer

I studied sociology and marketing at Europa-Universität Viadrina (Germany) and Universidade da Beira Interior (Portugal). When I was a sophomore, back in 2018, I decided to put what I've learned into practice, so I got my first job in digital marketing. I currently work in the content marketing department at Studybay, building strong, effective, and respectful communication between the platform and our clients.

Add Your Comment

We are very interested to know your opinion

Upgrade your writing skills!

Try our AI essay writer from Studybay today!

• Skip to primary navigation
• Skip to main content
• Skip to footer

Essentials in Writing

Where learning to write well has never been so easy

Different Types of Essays for Homeschoolers to Learn

Homeschool students should practice various styles of writing , both formal and informal, to prepare them for professional, personal, and civic responsibilities after high school. This article will discuss the differences between formal and informal writing and give some tips and guidelines for writing four of the most commonly assigned types of essays : expository, personal, persuasive, and compare/contrast. Mastering these different types of essays will set your homeschool student up for success in college and in his or her adult life.

What is Formal Writing?

Formal writing is used in academic and business settings or in other situations when the writer does not have a personal or familiar relationship with the recipient of the piece of writing. Formal writing should be used when writing essays for an academic assignment, business letters and emails, and any writing done for legal purposes. In these situations, the writer uses language, conventions, and style to make the best possible impression on the audience.

Specifically, the writer should maintain a sense of formality by:

• * choosing language and sentence structure that creates a respectful tone
• * avoiding use of first and second person singular pronouns (in most cases)
• * omitting contractions, slang, and abbreviations
• * organizing and developing each paragraph with purpose and attention to proper structure
• * carefully editing for correct spelling, punctuation, and grammar

What is Informal Writing?

Informal writing is used to communicate in a personal or casual context. In informal writing situations, the writer, in most cases, is already on familiar terms with the recipient(s) of the writing. This type of writing might be used in a personal email or letter to a friend or family member, in text messages, or in social media posts done in a personal context. In general, informal writing is conversational and less concerned with proper paragraph and sentence construction.

In informal writing, the writer may:

• * use contractions, abbreviations, and slang to communicate in a style that resembles oral language
• * use first and second person
• * pay little attention to spelling, grammar, or general editing
• * deviate from traditional sentence and paragraph structure

How to Write Different Types of Essays

There are many types of essays , and each requires a slightly different approach. When writing essays for an academic assignment, the first step is to carefully read the prompt or instructions for guidelines or requirements given by the teacher. From there, the writer will want to consider the purpose and audience of the piece of writing when making choices regarding the style and content.

Most essays follow the same basic structure: introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. While the styles of writing are different with each type of essay, the structure of a formal essay is as follows:

Introduction : The introduction should begin with a hook to capture the reader’s attention. The middle sentences of the introduction should contain some general discussion or context about the topic, but any specific details should be saved for the body paragraphs. The thesis statement, the sentence that communicates the main idea of the piece of writing, is usually the last sentence of the introduction.

Body Paragraphs : There are generally three body paragraphs in a formal essay, although depending on the nature of the assignment or level of the student, there may be more or fewer body paragraphs. Each body paragraph should be centered around a topic that supports the thesis and that is identified by the body paragraph’s opening sentence. The middle of each body paragraph should contain details and examples that develop the topic. Each body paragraph should end with a closing sentence that signals the end of discussion on that point and then transitions to the next body paragraph. 

Conclusion : The conclusion, or final paragraph, should restate the thesis, add some elaboration, and end with a thought-provoking ending statement.

Expository Essays

An expository essay is written in order to explain or inform an audience about a topic. The writer should take care to present facts and details without including persuasive tactics. Expository essays, like most other essays, should include an introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion.

Introduction : The introduction should begin with a hook that captures the audience’s attention. For an expository essay, a startling statistic or interesting anecdote related to the topic works well. At the end of the introduction, the writer should include a clear and concise thesis that states the main idea of the essay. Often the thesis will come directly from the prompt, so students should read it carefully for clues about what should be included in the thesis.

Body Paragraphs :   The body of an expository essay should be organized so that each body paragraph  centers on one main aspect of the overall topic. Each body paragraph should start with an opening sentence that identifies the subject of the paragraph. Within each body paragraph, the writer should include details accompanied by specific examples and explanations that inform the audience and help them have a deeper overall understanding of the topic. The writer should take care to order the information in a logical sequence so that the reader can easily follow the ideas.

Conclusion: The conclusion of an expository essay should restate the thesis and provide closure for the topic in an engaging way. The conclusion should not provide any new information.

Personal Essays

A personal essay is a specific type of expository essay explaining something from the author’s life or perspective. Because of the personal nature of the writing, first person pronouns (I, me, etc.) are permissible in this type of composition. 

A personal essay should include an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each section should be developed as follows:

Introduction : The introduction should start with a hook that generates interest about the topic. Many writers like to begin a personal essay with a vivid description, thought-provoking question, or a glimpse of the action to come later in the essay. The thesis should directly state the main idea or main event that the essay will discuss.

Body Paragraphs : The body paragraphs of a personal essay should include an explanation of the thoughts and feelings of the writer about the topic. If the personal essay is narrative, the writer should also include a descriptive account of the events that occurred in chronological order and use transitions to help the reader understand the sequence of events.

Conclusion : The conclusion, or final paragraph, should restate the thesis and include some final thoughts about the event or topic.

Persuasive Essays

A persuasive essay seeks to make an argument to move the audience to act, believe, or feel a certain way. In a persuasive essay, the writer takes an arguable position or stance on a particular topic and provides evidence to convince the audience to agree with that position. The writer should approach the introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion as follows:

Introduction: The introduction should begin with an engaging hook, such as a thought-provoking rhetorical question or a surprising fact or statistic that provides an entry into the topic followed by some general background information about the topic. The thesis statement should clearly state the writer’s position on the topic using language that provides a sense of urgency to the reader. In order to successfully persuade his or her audience, the writer must establish the topic as something worthy of time and attention.

Body Paragraphs: The body paragraphs should each be centered around a point related to the thesis that the writer seeks to prove with evidence and examples. The writer must interpret the evidence to show how it connects to the point he or she is trying to make. The writer should use strong language designed to appeal to the audience’s logic and emotions in order to persuade them to agree with the writer’s position. At the same time, the writer should take care not to overdo in this department so that he or she doesn’t inadvertently create a comical tone instead of a passionate one. The closing sentence of each body paragraph should connect the point made in the opening sentence to the overall thesis of the essay. 

Conclusion: The conclusion of a persuasive essay is incredibly important to the success of the essay. The writer should restate the thesis and include a call to action that tells the audience exactly what they should do now that they have been enlightened by the writer’s argumentation. The conclusion should also provide the “so what?” — the reasoning that motivates the audience to care about the topic and to act accordingly.

Compare/Contrast Essays

A compare/contrast essay is another specific type of expository essay and, as the name implies, involves a study of two subjects and explains their similarities and differences. Generally the writer chooses points of comparison and explains how the two subjects are similar and different in regard to those points. The writer should not feel pressured to provide an equal amount of development on both the similarities and differences. Like other essays, a compare/contrast essay should include an introduction, body, and conclusion.

Introduction: The writer should start the introduction with a hook that captures the audience’s attention and brings the subjects into focus, such as a vivid description or an interesting anecdote. The middle sentences should elaborate on the subject and lead into the thesis, which states the writer’s intent to explain how the two subjects are similar and different. 

Body Paragraphs: Each opening sentence should introduce a point of comparison or contrast between the two subjects. The middle sentences should provide details and examples that support the comparison or contrast, usually through the use of concrete details and descriptions.

Conclusion: The conclusion should include a restatement of the thesis and any final thoughts or insights the writer wishes to share about the two subjects.

If you’re looking for a complete homeschool writing curriculum , consider giving Essentials in Writing a try! With EIW, you’ll get the complete package: engaging video lessons that show how to write many types of essays with step-by-step instructions and modeling, student-friendly text examples and explanations, practice activities, and expertly-designed writing prompts with accompanying rubrics and checklists. Offering curricula for grades 1-12, EIW makes at-home writing instruction a breeze for parents and a pleasure for students. Check out our level wizard to find the curriculum that best fits your child’s needs.

Kristy Robins

Try Before You Buy

Still unsure whether Essentials in Writing is a good fit or not? Try it before you buy it!

Writing Courses

• Level 1 (ages 6-7)
• Level 2 (ages 7-8)
• Level 3 (ages 8-9)
• Level 4 (ages 9-10)
• Level 5 (ages 10-11)
• Level 6 (ages 11-12)
• Level 7 (ages 12-13)
• Level 8 (ages 13-14)
• Level 9 (ages 14-15)
• Level 10 (ages 15-16)
• Level 11 (ages 16-17)
• Level 12 (ages 17-18)

Literature Courses

• Level 7 (ages 12–13)
• Level 8 (ages 13–14)
• Level 9 (ages 14–15)
• Level 10 (ages 15–16)

Other Services

• Scoring Services
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Home School Resource Center
• Supplemental Writing Program (18-week plan)
• Summer Writing Program (10-week plan)
• EIL Corrective Plans
• Charter Schools
• Homeschool Heroes
• Giving Back
• International Customers
• Terms of Use

(417) 256-4191

93 Homeschooling Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

🏆 best homeschooling topic ideas & essay examples, ⭐ good research topics about homeschooling, 📝 simple & easy homeschooling essay titles, ❓ homeschooling research questions.

• Home School Versus Public School These two types of schools are also similar in that most of the subjects taught in public schools and home schools are the same.
• Homeschooling is a Viable Alternative to Public School General information: In public discourse, homeschooling can be seen as inferior to mainstream education and criticized as unregulated and ineffective from the standpoint of socialization.
• Is Homeschooling Better? The points forwarded by the proponents of homeschooling like flexibility, excellent performance and individualized learning should be disregarded since it is not in conformity with government’s policy on education.
• Home Schooling From the Nursing Perspective Much to the credit of both sides, one must admit that the proponents of homeschooling and the supporters of the traditional teaching approach act on behalf of the child and in the latter’s interests.
• Sociology: Home School Environment Homeschooling may also cause stress in a child because when the contents get tough, the child may have no peer to talk to, and the guardian is not suitable for such talks.
• Homeschooling Is Changing in America Such a publication seems to be relevant for the ongoing study because it sheds light on the diversity of homeschooling in the United States to a great extent.
• The Success of Homeschooling and How the Program Can Be Increased One of the first steps to undertake is to develop a proper assessment framework in order to identify the strengths and weaknesses of current homeschooling methods.
• Homeschooling Growth in the United States and Its Legalization In a recent study in America, it was found that eighty-five percent of parents enrolled their children in home schools because of fear about the environment of other schools.
• Selection of Literature on Homeschooling The main achievement is the explanation of the very essence of the term homeschooling. The current culture is fighting for the fulfilment of the educational standards.
• Homeschooled Kids in the U.S. The increase in the amount of interest is due to the increased number of homeschoolers in America. This paper aims to understand this growing trend in the US and the reason behind the increasing popularity […]
• Home Schooling and Public Schooling Comparison Before the introduction of compulsory education laws in the 19th century, education of children was conducted mainly in their homes and families.
• After-School Program and Homeschooling: Comparison Visits to cultural sites and memorials to encourage the knowledge of history and the education of spirituality an hour and a half.
• Public School Access for Homeschoolers First of all, there should be enough space for homeschool students in the class, and a teacher should be able to provide them all with the necessary materials.
• Homeschooling, Its Advantages and Disadvantages Nowadays, education is extremely important because it provides the representatives of the general public to receive the knowledge needed to live an independent life to the fullest.
• Homeschooling as a Valid Alternative to Formal Education One of the main questions that should be examined is the academic performance of children who were educated in this way.
• The Significance of Home Schooling This article examines the concept of home schooling. 4, 2002, p.197.
• The Arguments and Debates of the Home Schooling System The learner and the facilitator are able to twist or manipulate the learning times in a way that satisfies their comfort and schedule.
• Positive Development: Home School vs. Public School The decision on whether to home school or take a child to a public school is vital to the future of the child.
• Homeschooling Factors in America A number of people fathom that the only way to restore the value of education in reference to the requirements of Christianity is when people home school their children.
• Homeschooling as an Option for Formal Education This is because of some of the disadvantages that come with homeschooling. This is because of the challenges that come with it.
• Homeschooling and Depriving Children of Social Development
• Homeschooling vs. Public School: Which Is More Beneficial
• High School Kids and Homeschooling: Stereotypes and Perks
• Social Factors That Affect Homeschooling
• The Misconception About Homeschooling and the Benefits of Learning at Home
• Preference for Homeschooling Over Traditional Schooling
• Homeschooling: Alternative Education and Independent Study
• Compelling Reasons for Homeschooling
• Homeschooling: Left Behind, Jumping Ahead
• The Benefits of Homeschooling – Education and Public College
• Homeschooling: Academics, Socialization and College
• Homeschooling: Education and Supervision
• Ethical Questions Regarding Homeschooling
• Homeschooling Versus Public Schooling
• Reasons Why Parents Are Choosing Homeschooling
• Differences Between Homeschooling and Public Education
• Homeschooling Prepares Students for College
• Homeschooling and the Community
• Homeschooling and Family Education
• Technology Business Opportunity for Homeschooling
• Homeschooling and Saving Children From Destruction
• Homeschooling and Its Effect on Children
• The Benefits and Factors of Homeschooling
• The Legitimacy and Advantages of Homeschooling
• Good Homeschooling and Public School in the United States
• Homeschooling and Childhood Socialization
• Should Homeschooling Replace Regular Schooling
• Homeschooling: Are Parents Really Helping Their Children
• Homeschooling and Traditional Education: Advantages and Disadvantages
• Public Education and Homeschooling: The Best Known Techniques
• Homeschooling Advantages and Disadvantages
• Public Schools Should Take Ideas From Homeschooling
• Homeschooling Laws What You Should Know
• Tips for Successful Homeschooling
• What Homeschooling Can Do for Public Schooling
• Homeschooling Pros and Cons
• Positive and Negative Aspects of Homeschooling
• Homeschooling: Solution for Educating Girls in Afghanistan
• The Homeschooling: Mom Needs to Socialise Too
• Homeschooling – Not the Better Choice
• Does Homeschooling Deprive Children of Social Development?
• How Can Homeschooling Get You Into a Lot of Trouble?
• What Does Homeschooling Mean to Me?
• Homeschooling: Yes, No, Maybe So?
• What Are the Pros and Cons of Being Homeschooled?
• What Are the Disadvantages of Homeschooling?
• Is It a Good Idea to Be Homeschooled?
• What Is Homeschooling, and How Does It Work?
• Is Homeschool Expensive?
• Is Homeschooling Free?
• Why Shouldn’t You Homeschool Your Child?
• What Do Psychologists Say About Homeschooling?
• Are Homeschoolers Socially Awkward?
• Are Homeschooled Kids More Confident?
• Is Homeschooling Better for Mental Health?
• Are Homeschoolers Happier?
• Are Homeschoolers More Successful?
• Is It Too Late to Start Homeschooling?
• Is Homeschooling Difficult?
• What Are the Five Benefits of Homeschooling?
• Is Homeschool Better Than Public School?
• What Is the Biggest Challenge of Homeschooling?
• Are Homeschoolers Brighter Than Public Schoolers?
• Can You Go to Harvard if You Were Homeschooled?
• Do Colleges Prefer Homeschooled Students?
• Is Homeschooling Good for Anxiety?
• Why Is Homeschooling a Controversial Issue?
• Are Homeschoolers More Likely to Be Abused?
• Why Does Germany Not Allow Homeschooling?
• Why Do Parents Choose to Homeschool?
• Classroom Management Essay Topics
• School Violence Ideas
• Children’s Rights Research Ideas
• Philosophy of Education Paper Topics
• College Students Research Ideas
• International Studies Ideas
• Online Education Topics
• Pedagogy Topics
• Chicago (A-D)
• Chicago (N-B)

IvyPanda. (2023, September 26). 93 Homeschooling Essay Topic Ideas & Examples. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/homeschooling-essay-topics/

"93 Homeschooling Essay Topic Ideas & Examples." IvyPanda , 26 Sept. 2023, ivypanda.com/essays/topic/homeschooling-essay-topics/.

IvyPanda . (2023) '93 Homeschooling Essay Topic Ideas & Examples'. 26 September.

IvyPanda . 2023. "93 Homeschooling Essay Topic Ideas & Examples." September 26, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/homeschooling-essay-topics/.

1. IvyPanda . "93 Homeschooling Essay Topic Ideas & Examples." September 26, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/homeschooling-essay-topics/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "93 Homeschooling Essay Topic Ideas & Examples." September 26, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/homeschooling-essay-topics/.

Homeschool High School Writing — Tips and Curriculum Reviews

Overview: Read my best homeschool high school writing curriculum recommendations and tips for how to grade your teen's writing and how to approach SAT / ACT essays. Note: May contain referral links.

Writing has been a sore spot in my career as a homeschool teacher since day one.  It's hard to be objective about your little one's poem about a flower; you know what I mean?

And it only gets worse as they get older and the writing assignments become more in depth — and the writing itself becomes more personal. It's like you're reading a bit of their heart. How is it possible to take a red pen to that?

And actually giving a grade that has any authority behind it? Forget it! I'm too busy giggling as my teen tries to persuade me via a five-paragraph essay that they should receive an ipod for Christmas. Or I'm battling tears as they describe a favorite event from their childhood.

I've often felt like I could not give them any meaningful feedback about their high school writing, because I was too closely connected to them — and therefore to it. Ya know?

Over the years, however, we've come across a few gems of curriculum that have helped with this dilemma, and I'd like to share them with you today.

But first, some general suggestions about homeschool high school writing:

Let me first just say that since all of our homeschool graduates who have gone to college so far did successfully complete college freshman writing courses — despite my limitations — I have come to the conclusion that (no shocker here, if you know me at all) high school writing doesn't have to be that hard.

1) The big thing is just to get the student to write and to play with language. Help them to not be afraid of writing by giving them many opportunities to put their thoughts on paper.

Related: Episode 51 — How to Make Writing More Fun for Your Homeschooled Teen

2) Also, make sure they have access to lots of great books , so they are exposed to great writing all. the. time. It does rub off, believe it or not.

3) I will also say for the record that I do think thorough and fairly demanding grammar instruction — yes, into the high school years — is definitely in order.  No one can be a great writer who cannot handle grammar and spelling. More on that a little further down the page.

4) When it comes to GRADING the writing, you don't have to get super specific.   These days I often just assign a number of total points for a given assignment and deduct as I see things that are not working — such as poor grammar/spelling, a flimsy introduction or conclusion, not supporting their opinion, poor transitions, etc.

But mostly I am fairly generous; in fact, I have been known to add points for a particularly effective turn of phrase or creative spin. Obviously, in high school there is a certain minimum standard to expect from their writing; but on the whole I want it to be a positive experience so that they will continue to enjoy putting their thoughts on paper.

UPDATE: After writing this article, I discovered an amazing thing called a RUBRIC. More on that in a minute.

Now for some homeschool high school writing curriculum we've used successfully:

WriteShop is a homeschool high school writing option that is VERY user-friendly. It helps your teen work on the writing process step-by-step, and it also provides a LOT of support for whoever is doing the grading (that's you, mom!).

WriteShop provides a rubric (i.e., grading checklist) for each assignment, so there is no more guessing about how to grade your precious little lamb's writing. I love this, because it removes the subjectivity that we moms tend to have towards our own kids and gives us a very objective way to evaluate their work.

WriteShop also provides UMPTEEN other resources to help both mom and kid feel confident about the writing instruction that is happening in your homeschool.

The high school level curricula for WriteShop is WriteShop I & II. You can see them here: Write Shop I and II for high school.  

Also, I've written an in-depth review of the WriteShop curriculum for high school which includes two videos so you can see the product and hear me wax eloquent about it, LOL. Click here: Write Shop Curriculum for Homeschool High School .

Bravewriter — Help for High School

This course is specifically geared towards homeschool high school students and has been a big help for us. We found it after my eldest, who has a great vocabulary and grammar, received only a so-so score on her ACT writing. I realized it was because she didn't use the format that they were expecting to see.

Help for High School  remedied that. It teaches the student how to write an expository essay.

What's so neat is the way it's done. The first several chapters are called “Preparation for Essay Writing”, and they are filled with ideas and exercises designed to get your child to just start writing. Topics are ones the kid is familiar with, such as his own life experiences, and these chapters guide the student in getting something on paper that has creative words and sentence structures. The student also learns to look at different sides of an argument. And one of the neatest things is that they learn to look at their own writing and communicate about it.

The second and larger section of the book gives them the tools they need to craft an expository essay. They learn how to choose a topic and analyze it, how to write a thesis statement, how to design and execute supporting paragraphs, and how to write an effective introduction and conclusion.

The entire course is written to the student , so it is suitable for independent learning — although the parent will need to give feedback on writing samples on a regular basis.

And therein would be my one difficulty with the course:  there is not a lot of information for how the parent is to evaluate the student's efforts. There was a rubric about how to comment on your child's work, but I confess that I was hoping for something a little more concrete.

I did write the author about this at one point, and she was very helpful. She told me to not stress too much about the grades but to concentrate on looking at the overall quality of the given paper. The examples in the book were A papers, and I could compare my child's to those, if that was helpful.

I do see this as a valid grading philosophy, but for myself I prefer the objectivity of a rubric such as is found in WriteShop .

Rod & Staff 9 & 10 (Communicating Effective ly Boo ks 1 & 2)

These are  primarily a grammar curriculum .  As I said, I think grammar is über-important, even at this age. (We love this curriculum .  See my mini-review here .)

However, they do also include writing. There are several chapters (alternating with the chapters that focus on grammar) that deal with different types of writing — persuasive, descriptive, etc. These contain thorough instructions about how to write each genre.  

What I really like is they provide a detailed grading scale for the teacher AND the student. So the teacher knows exactly what to look for, and the student knows what to work towards.

If you are new to Rod & Staff, though, it might be best to start at a lower level.  The 9th and 10th grade books might be a bit overwhelming if you have not already been using their grammar curriculum . Their 7th and 8th grade books are both very high level grammar, also, and to my mind they would be sufficient for a solid grammar foundation.

And we know that as homeschoolers we don't have to be dependent on a number to tell us what level is best for our child. If it is challenging to your high schooler and they spend an appropriate amount of time on it, you can count it as high school credit. :-)

Lightning Literatur e

Any of Hewitt's Lightning Literature courses are a great way to include literature (which is often required by colleges) in your child's high school curriculum . (I've written short reviews on two of their courses here .)

Lightning Literature courses don't FOCUS on writing, but most of the assignments given require some type of writing.  What I like is how creative they get with their assignments. They might ask the student to write a poem about a theme in the book, or describe the setting in their own words, or write a scene from a different character's perspective. In this way the student is not bored, so they tend to write more creatively and spontaneously.

Again, there's not much help with the grading end of it; but I focused mostly on whether the child got their point across, used language in a colorful and effective way, and avoided grammatical errors.

More on conquering the SAT/ACT essay:

I confess that when my eldest got that mediocre score on her ACT writing, I was somewhat surprised. I read her essay, and while it wasn't amazingly fantasmagorical, it wasn't super poor, either, like they seemed to think.

But the fact is that those scorers truly are looking for a very specific format and for very specific literary devices; and if you don't do it their way, they don't like you. Which is ridiculous, really, but we must be practical and realize that these scores, however stupidly come by, are important to colleges, for whatever reason!

Related: Episode 52: How to Prepare your Homeschooled Teen for College Writing

So we did a google search on “how to write an SAT [or ACT] essay.” There are a gazillion articles out there that are very helpful with concrete, specific tips for how to conquer the beast. To practice with these tips, I had my kids take a sample SAT prompt and write an essay with a 25-minute timer at least twice a week during the last part of the semester that they took the Bravewriter course mentioned above.

UPDATE: We have since learned even more about how to write the type of essay the ACT/SAT scorers are looking for. Read The Five-Paragraph Essay: What, Why, and How for Homeschoolers for more information.

Teaching writing in your high school homeschool isn't necessarily easy — but it doesn't have to be difficult, either. I hope these suggestions have helped! 

• Recent Posts

• The Secret to Finding God's Will for Today - March 25, 2024
• Our Main Reason for Homeschooling: Character Development - January 18, 2024
• Homeschool Transcript Essentials: what you need and DON'T need! - January 13, 2024

Related Posts

Good Clean Books for Teens – Fiction, Mystery, Christian, Non-Fiction

Overview: It can be hard to find good clean books for teens that are interesting AND appropriate. Here is my list of books I'm not…

How to Help Teens Who are Struggling Spellers

Overview: Contributing writer Sara Dennis shares ideas to help struggling spellers in high school. This can be discouraging for them, but here are several options…

SchoolhouseTeachers.com Review – why it’s the best Christian homeschool curriculum online

Overview: A SchoolhouseTeachers.com review that identifies all the reasons it is the best Christian homeschool curriculum currently available. Note: This article was sponsored by SchoolhouseTeachers.com…

6 thoughts on “Homeschool High School Writing — Tips and Curriculum Reviews”

The quest for finding the perfect writing homeschool curriculum requires a great deal of research to determine the best one for you and your kids. Great share, thank you

You’re welcome, Lisa. Thanks for stopping by! :-)

Thank you for all of the information that you provided. I was wondering if you used Brave Writer, Rod and Staff and Lightning Literature as one combined course for English that would give one credit?

Hi Susan, Great question. NO I DID NOT. It is not necessary to pile on all the different aspects of Language Arts, all of which alone might be worth a credit in themselves, and then call the conglomeration only one credit. BraveWriter was a half credit, Rod and Staff was a full credit, and Lightning Lit was a half credit. Sometimes my kids were taking two English courses at the same time, which means they were earning more than one credit at a time. More on this whole question of what constitutes an English credit here: https://www.notthathardtohomeschool.com/homeschool-high-school-english-curriculum/ . Hope this helps, and thanks for stopping by!

Thank you so much for responding. Thank you for clearing up the credit question and I guess I’m still confused on the 3 parts of Language Arts. I hear so much about needing the literature portion as well as reading the classics. My son has been doing the IEW and Fix It for the past two years and I had him read literary classics from our Notgrass history and he did the questions they provided. I counted all of that as one credit each year. My son is not interested in college but wants to attend a trade school. He is not interested in the literature learning but has enjoyed some of the books. This fall is his senior year and do I need to even included a literature curriculum? It is not something he is interested in and not a strength of his for sure. Most of the language curriculum I’m interested in seems to be a full credit so I don’t want to overwhelm him. I will check out the link you provided and really appreciate all of the resources that you have provided. It has been extremely helpful. :).

Susan, maybe this is what you need: What does a high school English credit include?

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

• Skip to right header navigation
• Skip to main content
• Skip to primary sidebar

Never let your schooling interrupt your education.

• Homeschooling 101: What to Teach and When to Teach It
• 10 ways you’re making your homeschool day harder than it needs to be
• 10 things every new homeschooler should know
• How to homeschool: Links to help you get started
• I want to homeschool, but don’t want the responsibility
• Audiobook Deal Directory
• Jamie’s recommendations
• Meet the Contributors
• Most Recent Posts
• Jamie’s Writing
• family time
• field trips
• home maintenance & management
• inspiration
• methods & philosophies
• a mom’s education
• organization

Teaching Writing in Your Homeschool

August 23, 2022 //  by  Melissa Camara Wilkins //   2 Comments

At our house this year, we’ll be homeschooling two high schoolers, one middle schooler, and an elementary schooler. Our oldest kiddo graduated from college last spring, and our next oldest has just moved back to school for his second year of college.

Which means I’ve been homeschooling one or more of our six kids for every one of the last seventeen years. Oh my.

Alongside our homeschooling adventures, I’m also an author – Have you read my book, Permission Granted ?  (afflinks). My husband was an English Literature major once upon a time, too. We’re all about words and language around here.

Not every one of our kids is going to grow up to be a writer, of course, but they all get to practice using their words in the meantime!  Here’s how we’ve helped our kids on their homeschool writing journeys.

8 Tips for Teaching Writing in Your Homeschool

1. read lots of everything.

Reading is the best way that I know to teach writing.

Kids are learning about story structure and characterization and plot from reading, sure, but they’re also learning grammar, and spelling, and vocabulary, and sentence structure, and how to listen for the musicality of language. They’re absorbing so much, whether you’re reading aloud or they’re reading to themselves.

Our kids read all kinds of things: fiction, poetry, nonfiction, news (when they’re teenagers), even product packaging and advertisements (a form of persuasive writing!). They learn to write by seeing it done well first.

For kids who are still learning or who struggle with reading to themselves, audiobooks count as reading. Following along in a physical book as they listen can be helpful, too.

2. Take Dictation

Kids don’t need to know how to write their letters to be able to write stories or letters or ideas.

If your kids are still learning handwriting, or if the act of writing letters is still difficult, let them dictate their stories while you write them down.

Or try a dictation app or setting on your phone/computer. (Tip: read over the dictation app’s translation for accuracy—kid voices can be tricky for apps to understand, and those apps know a whole bunch of words that your kindergartener doesn’t. I’m just saying. ;))

3. Encourage Writing Just For Fun

Buy (or make) fun stationery or cards and encourage your kids to write letters to friends and relatives. Let them write stories on printer paper or in journals.

Or suggest that they create a story out of pictures, and then tell you what’s happening in each drawing.

4. Play Word Games

This could include word searches or Scrabble or Banangrams or Boggle, but also games like the license plate letter game: on the road, make up a phrase using the letters on a license plate as the first letters of your words. (Ignore the numbers.)

RDW in the middle of a plate becomes rhinos dancing wildly, or robots devouring wetlands, or raspberries dunking on wildebeests. You’re teaching your kids that words are tools they can use to create, even if they’re just creating quick, funny images.

5. Decide What They Need to Know

By the time my kids finish high school, we want them to have experience writing lots of different things, like short fiction, poetry, informational essays, persuasive essays, literary analysis, and MLA-style bibliographies.

But your goals might be different. Maybe you want to be sure your kid understands business communication. Maybe writing plays and skits is more important to your kid than writing short stories. Choose what’s important for your own family’s goals, and start there.

Please notice that I said by the time my kids finish high school! We don’t try to learn everything at once. And when they’re younger, reading and playing with words is our whole goal.

6. Use a Curriculum, or Don’t

We’ve tried a few different types of homeschool curricula for writing, and I’d love to hear about your favorites. But we haven’t found one that sticks for us.

We’re usually more comfortable deciding together what to learn next, then finding resources for learning that type of writing and giving it a try. Our resources might come from books, online videos, or just a parent explaining.

7. Expect Messy First Drafts

When we’re learning to do something new, we don’t do it perfectly the first time. Of course not!

So make sure your kids know they’re not meant to know how to do this yet, and that getting words (any words!) on the page is the first goal.

After that, they can decide how to revise to bring what they’ve written closer to their vision. But the first step is just to get anything out.

8. Edit Respectfully

Remember that writing is subjective, and that—unlike arithmetic—there’s no one right answer when it comes to a writing project.

Try to see what your writer is trying to create, rather than judging it against your ideas of what it should be. Praise the stuff your kids are doing well before pointing out what needs more work.

Not sure what to praise? Maybe point out their creative ideas, their voice, their interesting word choices, or even their careful spelling.

Our Favorite Writing Supplies

Want even more ideas? Here are our favorite writing supplies that may also come in handy as you’re teaching writing in your homeschool.

For Encouraging Play With Words

• Story cards: Create a story using images, like the ones on these fairy tale themed cards or on these animal village cards
• Story dice : Roll the dice and make up a story using the icons on the dice
• Letter dice : Make up sentences where each word starts with the letters you’ve rolled
• A library card, for checking out lots of different kinds of books

Wordy Board Games

• Sight Word bingo
• Bananagrams

Poetry Supplies

• Silly poetry books, like Shel Silverstein’s or Jack Prelutsky’s or the mischievous I’m Just No Good at Rhyming .
• Or poetry collections, like The Random House Book of Children’s Poetry .
• Magnetic poetry for the fridge or on a magnetic board. Take photos of your favorite creations.

For Young Kids (or Parents) Who Want More Structure

• Building Writers , a series of writing instruction workbooks from the same company that produces Handwriting Without Tears
• Wordly Wise for vocabulary (Though for a kid who struggles with words, this could easily feel overwhelming. Use your best judgment.)

For Middle Schoolers Who Want a Plan

• Everything You Need To Ace English Language Arts

For Kids Who Want to Be Writers

• Gail Carson Levine’s Writing Magic
• Spilling Ink: A Young Writer’s Handbook
• Avi’s A Beginning, A Muddle, and An End

For Teenagers

• Our friend Kara S. Anderson recommends this book for college prep: Wordsmith Craftsman
• To start learning to dissect what we read, try Reading Like a Writer , by Francine Prose, or the more accessible How to Read Literature Like a Professor: For Kids
• Khan Academy’s SAT Prep : Essay writing instruction and automatic essay scoring
• Spark Notes : Instruction and prep for writing literary analysis and for AP English tests
• Write the World is a free non-profit ( writetheworld.org ) for ages 13 – 19 to explore free writing prompts and join monthly writing competitions.

For High Schoolers Who Want an Online College Prep Class

• UC Scout offers accredited or self-study classes for English 9 – 12, AP English Language, and AP English Literature

How about you? How have you handled teaching writing in your homeschool? What are your favorite writing-related resources? Share with all of us in the comments!

This post contains affiliate links, which means Simple Homeschool receives a small commission from some of the links on this page.

What’s Your Child’s Learning Style? Take Jamie’s new quiz now  and set yourself up for homeschooling success by understanding the way they learn best!

About Melissa Camara Wilkins

Melissa Camara Wilkins is the author of Permission Granted: Be Who You Were Made to Be and Let Go of the Rest . She lives with her husband and six (homeschooled!) kids in Southern California.

Reader Interactions

Leave a reply cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

7sistershomeschool.com

Homeschool Help and Curriculum

Homeschool Essay Curriculum for ANY Kind of Writer

• Facebook 99
• Pinterest 6

Essay writing is an essential skill for homeschoolers these days- for high school students and even for those in middle school.

Homeschool Essay Curriculum

Too many students are either bored or intimidated by the challenge of writing essays.

Those who are intimidated need a homeschool essay curriculum that will explain the process clearly and in a friendly way. They need assignments broken down into manageable pieces so they don’t feel overwhelmed. They need to understand the thinking process that is required for developing good support for an essay thesis.

Those who are bored need topics that are meaningful to them personally. They need the freedom (even the encouragement!) to write with passion, to write with humor, to write with examples that are out of the ordinary.

Homeschool essay curriculum from 7sistershomeschool.com is designed to meet the needs of the intimidated as well as the bored student…and students who actually don’t MIND essay writing enjoy it, too!

Geared to give your student a successful experience, our  Guides to Essay Writing , by Marilyn Groop, will introduce essays to your homeschool in this user-friendly, no-busywork format.

Presented in a 10-week, 4 days per week, format these downloadable pdf  guides will teach your homeschooler the steps to writing a coherent essay including:

-Basic essay format -Persuasive essays -Literary analysis -Compare/contrast essays -Editorials/letters to the editor -Tips for taking a short-answer essay test)

The Guides include 3 essay rubrics that you can use to grade the essays, as well as an answer key to the short-answer essay test.

For more posts about essay writing, check these out:

Middles School guide to Essay Writing 

Middle School Essay Writing Help for Your Homeschool 

Take advantage of the great writing resources Vicki Tillman has pinned to her High School Writing Pinterest Board , too!

Click here to see what the Washington Post has to say about why Americans can’t write.

7Sisters email subscribers receive periodic practical encouragement, special offers and NO SPAM EVER.

Click the image above to periodically receive real homeschool value in your inbox.

Sabrina Justison

Hi Ashley, That’s an excellent question. If your 8th grader needs some remediation, it might be good to start with a freebie: Reluctant Writer Research Paper (it teaches young folks a report-style format). Homeschool moms and struggling writers have been working through the project together with good result. https://www.7sistershomeschool.com/product/research-paper-help-reluctant-writers-homeschool/ Then have some fun with Middle School Fairy Tale Writing Guide $7.99 https://www.7sistershomeschool.com/product/middle-school-short-story-writing-guide-fairy-tales/ Or Research Paper Readiness for more serious academics: $9.99 https://www.7sistershomeschool.com/product/research-writing-readiness/ Also, don’t forget to join 7SistersHomeschool Facebook group where you can share questions and experiences.

I have an 8th grader that needs some writing remediation. How much is your program?

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Complete Guide to Homeschool Writing Curriculum for Every Budget and Age

Looking for a homeschool writing curriculum that will educate and motivate your child to write with excellence?

It can be a hard road, Homeschool Mama!

Writing is one of the three core subjects (reading and math are the other two) that form the basis of a solid education – which is why it can be so stressful for the homeschooling parent!

We feel the pressure to develop strong writers, but we also want our kids to love writing. It can be hard to achieve both of those things.

Blessedly, there is a mountain of homeschool writing curriculum out there that can fit any homeschool style, education philosophy, budget, and family size!

This blog post is going to be your complete guide to the 12 best and most loved homeschool writing curriculums on the market.

Think of it as a one-stop-shop to explore curriculum you’ve heard of but don’t know that much about – or to discover new curriculum that is just right for your homeschool!

Enjoy and happy homeschooling!

Ultimate Guide To The 12 Best Homeschool Writing Curriculum Options

Below I have provided quick reference information for each curriculum in terms of grade level, materials needed, price, and details. 

Price is for new curriculum and according to prices available to me as I write this. 

1. IEW (Institute for Excellence in Writing)

For Grades : 1st grade – 12th

What You Need : Teacher’s Guide and Student Book

Price : $55

Details About IEW:

This was the first homeschool writing curriculum that we tried, and I think it truly set an excellent foundation for my then 3rd grader. 

Our co-op at the time taught it every year, but I sat down and did the actual lessons and writing with her during the week. 

I loved that it did such a thorough job teaching kids how to put a keyword outline together for a structured, low-stress writing experience. As a writer myself, I understand how important an outline is to keep you organized and productive!

IEW is also very big on teaching vocabulary words and encouraging students to use more “interesting words” in their writing. To this day, my daughter still includes lots of adjectives and “strong verbs” in her writing because of her experience with IEW. She also carefully avoids using the “banned words” like “big” and “good” – why use those words when there are so many other more descriptive and colorful word choices out there!

Another fun part of IEW is that you can choose what theme you want your child to use for the year. For example, grades 3-5 can pick from “ Fables, Myths, and Fairy Tales ,” “ Bible Heroes ,” “ Ancient History ,” or” All Things Fun and Fascinating .”

If you are looking to build a strong foundation in writing, I would recommend IEW for an excellent beginning. It was easy to teach, reasonably priced (definitely use the above links to check for used prices on Amazon), and solid.

I have not used the higher levels, but I have often heard it discussed as the gold standard for homeschool writing. 

Keep in mind that the IEW grammar program is sold separately.

2. BJU Writing & Grammar

What You Need : Teacher’s Guide and Student Workbook

Price : $110

Details About BJU Grammar and Writing:

BJU Writing & Grammar is the next writing program we tried. When our co-op shut down for the pandemic, I realized I was on my own for teaching writing.

We shifted gears to BJU Press because it bundled together grammar and writing, which would be a big time saver. 

My favorite thing about this homeschool writing curriculum is that it teaches the writing process perfectly. My then 4th grader learned the steps of Planning, Drafting, Revising, Editing, and Publishing – steps that she still uses today.

I loved that my kid was being taught to draft an entire piece in one day and that it didn’t need to be perfect! She could just pour out her thoughts on paper or “make the dough” as we called it. And then we would shape the dough during revising and editing later in the week.

This helped very much with her paralysis with writing, because she felt overwhelmed with it being perfect. 

She still uses these writing process steps for her writing today and I even still make her editing checklists similar to what the book had so she can edit her own work. 

I would strongly recommend BJU Grammar and Writing for strong grammar, time-saving, and high-quality writing.

3. Writing With Ease/Writing With Skill

For Grades : 1st – 12th

What You Need to Buy : Writing With Ease (elementary level) only requires a student workbook. Writing With Skill will require a student workbook and Instructor Text (teacher’s guide).

Price : $25 – $50

Details About Writing With Ease and Writing With Skill:

I love this super gentle writing curriculum from A Well Trained Mind and written by Susan Wise Bauer. 

I am on my second round of using Writing With Ease (the elementary level) with my younger children, and I absolutely recommend it as a beautiful introduction to writing. 

Every week I read sections of classic stories to my daughter and I ask her listening comprehension questions that she has to answer in full sentences. She thinks it’s just a fun story and talking time with mom, but there is a specific purpose. 

This process teaches her what a complete sentence is and what a fragment is – which is key information before you sit down to write.

There is also copy work of classic literature, grammar instruction, and writing original thoughts.

I haven’t used the next levels of this writing program from Susan Wise Bauer yet, but if this quote from The Well Trained Mind is any indicator, you need to check it out!

“We offer a variety of easy-to-use resources for teaching the vital skill of written communication. Our Writing With Ease series teaches elementary students how to transform thoughts into coherent paragraphs. Writing With Skill adds many other skills for middle and high schoolers, such as outlining, research, citation, and the construction of full-length essays in history, literature, science, and other subjects. The Creative Writer helps them write a best-selling novel that will get turned into a worldwide blockbuster movie starring Benedict Cumberbatch, which will enable them to support you in your old age.”

There are four levels of Writing With Ease and three levels of Writing With Skill . 

4. WriteShop

For Grades : K – 12th

What You Need to Buy : WriteShop Primary (ages 5-9) requires an activity pack and a teacher’s guide. WriteShop Junior (ages 8-13) can pick from a number of things or bundle them all together: activity pack, teacher’s guide, fold-and-go grammar guide, and time-saver pack. WriteShop 1 & 2 (Middle School/High School) requires a student workbook, teacher’s guide, and dictation/copy work guide.

Price : $41 – $110

Details About WriteShop:

WriteShop is a homeschool writing curriculum that I’ve had my eye on for a long time. In all of my homeschooling blogging circles, I seem to always hear buzz about how incredible this writing program is!

I have done some homework, and it is beautifully laid out, colorful, and so engaging from first sight. It is known for fun activities, engaging writing assignments, and its step-by-step, incremental approach to teaching writing skills.

And as an added bonus, WriteShop focuses on teaching the homeschool parent how to teach writing – in an easily understandable way.

The lower levels enjoy fun, hands-on writing activities to get kids excited about writing! I love that there are supply lists in the teacher’s guides (all regular things you’d have in the house) to teach a writing lesson! 

And the assignments would catch any kid’s attention: science fiction, adventure, and mystery story writing!

There are also additional resources on the website that you can use alongside WriteShop or as a writing supplement to your current curriculum. Check out StoryBuilders and Writing Prompts for some fun springboards for creative writing!

The higher levels allow students to work more independently, and there is even a video course offered.

It may be difficult to know which level you need to start with, so definitely check out the WriteShop placement test .

To find out more about Writeshop, head on over to their website or check out this full review from MeaningfulHomeschooling .

5. BraveWriter

What You Need to Buy : BraveWriter offers bundles of their curriculum that covers multiple kids, but they are very relaxed about what you “need.” It is cheaper overall to buy the bundle, but you can also just start out with one of their books, and go from there. Online classes are also offered. They are taught by homeschool parents, who are also published authors.

Price : $50 – $229 (bundle price)

Details About Brave Writer:

Brave Writer is definitely the most unique writing curriculum that I have researched yet.

This writing program was written by Julie Bogart, a homeschool mom who has 5 homeschool graduates to her credit. 

Brave Writer promotes a “Brave Writer Lifestyle” that focuses on raising kids in a language-rich environment where they will learn to not just be a good writer – but to love writing. There is a large focus on reading great books aloud and a weekly poetry tea time (I love that!), and less of a focus on structured lesson plans and “you have to write this many sentences.”

Parents are encouraged to purchase one bundle and adapt it to teach all the grades in their homeschool. That is a huge time saver!

Learn more at the Brave Writer website or check out this full review at This Simple Balance .

6. Wordsmith

For Grades : 4th – 12th

What You Need to Buy : Each level only requires one book. Level 2 suggests buying a helpful teacher’s guide.

Price : $18

Details About Wordsmith :

Wordsmith is an economical homeschool writing curriculum from Janie B. Cheaney, a published author of six books. 

She provides a simple, easy-to-use curriculum that is broken up over three main books.

Wordsmith Apprentice (4th-6th grade) :

“All the practicality, humor and fun of Wordsmith, but written for the younger student, ages 9-12. An easy to use writing course encouraging students to develop their writing skills as they participate in every role on a newspaper staff: editor, reporter, writer, etc. Children develop a love for writing as they express themselves through sentence and paragraph writing, persuasive writing, and much more. The third edition has a larger font and cleaner type for easier reading. With added examples and delightful new illustrations, developing writing skills is made fun and easy.”

Wordsmith: Building Skills (6th-9th grade) :

“Confidence is what most young writers lack, and  Wordsmith   is designed to lead them to the place where they can read over their own work and think, “Hey—that’s pretty good!”  Wordsmith  is the core book in the series, the one that every student from age 12 and up should complete, especially if their writing skills lag behind the recommended level.”

Wordsmith Craftsman (9th-12th grade) :

Part Three of  Wordsmith Craftsman  is a master class on The Essay, pulling together thought, organization, logic, personal connection, and style.  A well-written essay is rightly considered the mark of an educated, thoughtful man or woman. A student will learn how to apply the TOWER process (Think, Organize, Write, Evaluate, and Rewrite) to a variety of essay types, namely  descriptive, narrative, expository, critical , and  persuasive . The expository section includes a primer on the all-important first step in writing research papers (which will save a lot of freshman-comp angst later!).

There are sample lessons for all three of their books. Hop on over to the Wordsmith website to check them out and see if this homeschool writing curriculum best fits your homeschool!

7. Clear Water Press

For Grades : 6th – 12th

What You Need to Buy : Student Kit and matching DVD or Cloud Access

Price : $258 – $343

Details About Clear Water Press :

ClearWater Press is the perfect writing curriculum for aspiring authors! Students are taught this creative writing course through in-depth video lectures while they work on year-long writing projects.

Below are the details of their three main curriculum books.

Cover Story (6th-9th grade) :

“The  Cover Story magazine writing program works  with your student, not against them. Award-winning author Daniel Schwabauer takes 6th–9th graders on a creative journey writing their very own magazine through engaging videos. The optional grammar lessons make Cover Story a full English Language Arts!  Choose to watch Cover Story lessons on Cloud streaming or DVDs.”

One Year Novel (9th-12th grade) :

“Author Daniel Schwabauer takes 9th–12th graders under his wing to write their own compelling original novel—for a high school English credit! His unique approach begins where many writing courses don’t go at all, with an exploration of how Story works . A creative community and support resources help students thrive. Video lessons now available on Cloud streaming only.”

Byline Journalism and Essay Writing (9th-12th grade) :

“In the Byline journalism and essay writing program, students step into the role of a 1930s-era newspaper reporter, training under Editor-in-Chief Daniel Schwabauer, who takes them under his wings to teach them everything he knows. Before they even realize it, they master the dreaded high school essay! Choose to watch Byline video lessons on Cloud streaming or DVDs.”

Head on over the Clear Water Press website to find out more information and see sample lessons !

8. Writers in Residence: Apologia

What You Need to Buy : All in One Student Text and Workbook, answer key, additional workbooks for teaching more than one child

Price : $21 for one student

Details About Writers in Residence :

I have to be honest with you all, I had no idea that Apologia offered anything besides science! Apparently, they do offer a full language arts program through their Writers in Residence series!

I love that it is designed to be used with multiple children at the same time – a huge time and money saver for homeschoolers with multiple kids!

Your students will learn about everything from sentence structure to short stories to persuasive essay writing – all through a Christian worldview lens.

“Thorough and systematic, six units and twenty-four modules are included, with lively and colorful lessons building on previously-taught concepts, skills, and terms. The easy-to-use, “all-in-one” Student Text and Workbook features an engaging tone that’s written directly to the student. Each unit opener includes a focus on a Christian writer, unit overview, and rubric; units include models from professional writers for students to study and use as an inspiration for their own writing. Modules integrate clear, engaging instruction with sidebar notes and a variety of exercises. Assignments cycle through four types of writing tasks: I Remember: assignments focused on the personal narrative I Imagine: creative writing assignments such as short stories, poetry, and novels I Investigate: research skills assignments I Think: tasks that teach opinion and argument writing, including persuasive and argument writing”

To find out more, check out Rainbow Resource, Christianbook.com, or Amazon for reviews, sale prices, and more details!

What You Need to Buy : Student Text and Teacher’s Guide

Price : $45

Details About Jump In :

Jump In is a budget-minded homeschool writing curriculum focused on getting middle school students ready for the expectations of high school writing. It has a gentle, low-stress format that is focused on independent student writing.

“What to do when high school is just around the corner and your middle schooler HATES to write? Jump In: Middle School Composition covers all the basics needed for high school writing in an engaging fashion; humor sneaking in occasionally. Daily lessons will take 5 – 20 minutes to complete. Instruction is written directly to the student and sometimes involves Bible stories or characters. Lessons might start with 10-Minute Writing Plunges that are designed to engage reluctant writers or appeal to eager writers. Or the Plunges can be a break from other assignments or a course by themselves. Plunge prompts are given M-Th with no grading (or turning in). On Friday, the student chooses which one they like best, proofreads it, and gets it ready to hand in.

10. Essentials in Writing

For Grades : K-12th

What You Need to Buy : Student Workbook, Instruction Manual, and access to video lessons

Price : $69-$89

Details About Essentials in Writing :

Essentials in Writing is a video-based course that will take a lot of stress off the busy homeschool parent or the parent who is intimidated to teach writing. 

The format is rather simple. The student watches a video (DVD or streamed) and then completes the corresponding workbook pages. The parent is responsible to look over the work and discuss it with the child.

There are also fun hands-on activities, such as time capsules, that will get kids excited and engaged with the writing process. 

“Looking for a complete English course for all grade levels that is well organized, thorough in explanation, effective in teaching and easy to use in a homeschool or group setting? Then consider Essentials in Writing! Video instructor Matthew Stephens taught English at the elementary and high school levels for years, and he used his experience to good effect in authoring this course. Video lessons featuring Mr. Stephens are the essence of the course, with supporting workbook activities as follow-up. Mr. Stephens is doing the heavy lifting of presenting and explaining the material, leaving only clarification and follow-up questions to the home instructor. Lessons are presented in bite-sized chunks, so each day’s lesson features one main point. The quality of the video and audio is good, showing Mr. Stephens teaching in front of a classroom on a white board. For younger grades, the teacher and student would watch the videos together, then discuss to make sure that the student grasps the main ideas of the presentation. Students at more advanced grades can watch the videos on their own (as the instruction is always directed to the student), leaving only follow-up discussion of the material and assignment to the teacher. Of course, the instructor should preview the video material to ensure knowledge of the material and consistency of approach in working with the student.”

Check out the Essentials in Writing website for more information, sample lessons, and videos!

11. Writing Strands

For Grades : 5th – 12th

What You Need to Buy : One Student Book and One Teacher’s Guide (One teacher’s guide covers all 6 levels of Writing Strands)

Price : $40

Details About Writing Strands :

Writing Strands is a full language arts and writing curriculum from Master Books. It is a newly revised edition that has streamlined and improved on the older version.

The curriculum includes a Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced level and has a Christian Worldview.

You will find clear daily schedules, opportunities for independent work, and writing lessons based on the analysis of literature and scripture.

Here is a snippet of the curriculum description for Writing Strands Book 2:

“This resource covers 180 days of instruction and includes a weekly lesson schedule, student worksheets, and an answer key for the objective questions in the reading lesson portion. Each week alternates between writing lessons and reading lessons; for their reading, students will read biblical passages as well as books chosen and assigned by the parent. A weekly lesson schedule is also included. This comprehensive approach will help students begin to develop a solid foundation in communication as they focus on basic, creative, organizational, and descriptive writing skills. This course alternates a week of writing exercises with a week of reading and discussing books and ideas.”

12. Writing & Rhetoric

For Grades : 3rd and up

What You Need to Buy : Student Edition and Teacher’s Edition

Price : $40 (for one semester)

Details About Writing and Rhetoric :

Writing & Rhetoric is an award-winning series of writing curriculum books.

Each book will only cover one semester, so if you stay on track, you will be doing 2 books per year.

Books 1-6 are for grades 3-6. Books 7-12 are marked for grades 6 and up. 

Here is a description of this overall curriculum:

“Writing needs to be taught just like any other subject, and letting students be ‘free’ to write without a model is often letting them jump in the deep end without learning to swim first! Writing & Rhetoric assumes students learn best by first reading excellent literature and then imitating those writers. Students who complete the entire program will learn to write narrative, expository, descriptive, and persuasive essays while developing their own unique style. Each exercise is designed to teach a skill that can be employed across all subjects. Skills are arranged from simple to complex, and the cumulative nature of each chapter reviews skills from earlier in the book, helping students to build a solid foundation of writing skills.”

Recap: Best Homeschool Writing Curriculum

I don’t know about you, Homeschool Mama, but it’s going to be very difficult to choose between all of these writing curriculums!

I do hope that you found a few that you want to research, dig deeper into, and hopefully use in your homeschool. 

Of course, this is not a complete list of all writing curriculum – I would need a whole book to write out everything that is out there!

Please drop a comment and share if you have a favorite writing curriculum that I didn’t list above!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

• Search Please fill out this field.
• Newsletters
• Sweepstakes
• Raising Kids

All the Pros and Cons to Consider Before Homeschooling Your Kids

Going from traditional schooling to homeschooling is a big step. Weigh the pros and cons of homeschooling before making the decision.

Pros of Homeschooling

• Cons of Homeschooling

Choosing to homeschool your kids is not a new concept, but no matter the era or time period, parents have considered  homeschooling  their children rather than enrolling them in the traditional school system . And right in now, homeschooling is a growing trend: National Center for Education Statistics reports that between 1999 and 2012, the number of homeschooled kids doubled.

There is a wide range of reasons why a family might consider homeschooling in this modern era. Knowing the pros and cons of homeschooling will help you decide what is best for your kids and for the family as a whole. Plus you might also need to know how much homeschooling costs and if you're interested in joining a homeschooling co-op .

We’ve rounded up a list of common advantages and pitfalls you may encounter—with input from real-world homeschooling parents. As you weigh your decision, give some thought to how each of these might impact your own circumstance and trust that whatever decision you make will be the right one for your family.

 Fabio Principe / iStock / Getty Images Plus

Whether you call it self-determination, freedom, or control, one clear advantage of homeschooling is the ability to make your own choices. As a homeschooler, you’ll be able to freely travel or move, include religious teaching in day-to-day learning, and not worry about social pressures or bullying your child may encounter at school.

Plus, in home-based education, all subjects are fair game, from sailing to sewing to science. Practical skills,  volunteering , artistic pursuits, and traditional trades can all fall under the broad umbrella of homeschooling. According to some homeschoolers, teachable moments are always happening and learning isn't limited to school hours.

Flexibility

Who doesn’t like to set their own schedule? By educating at home, you determine the structure of your day. If your child struggles to wake up by 7 a.m., for example, you can start school later. And, since homeschool timing is fluid, you can go ahead and make your child's dentist appointment on a Tuesday at noon. There are many different homeschool schedules to try out.

Individualized education

Every child is different. Unfortunately, in the larger group setting of regular school, teachers can’t always tailor lessons to your child’s unique needs. At home, on the other hand, you can meet your child right where they are, customizing lessons to their particular interests.

Does your younger child need a little extra help with math ? Take an extra 15 minutes to help them understand fractions. Is your older kid into outer space? Start an astronomy unit!

Homeschooling also lets you vary your approach from child to child if you have more than one—in terms of learning styles and grade levels. Plus, you get to celebrate any success or achievement together in real time.

Strong relationships

The more time you spend with your kids, the more opportunities arise for bonding. If you’ve always wished for more hours in the day as a family, perhaps homeschooling is the boon you’ve been craving.

Positive experiences like fun  field trips , a-ha moments in learning, and “recess” at the park can all build closer parent-child and sibling-to-sibling relationships. 

In some cases, homeschooling’s flexible schedule can even allow for more time with both parents—if work schedules usually limit time together on weekends or holidays.

Avoid school stress

For some kids, the anxiety from stepping into the school doors lasts long past the first few days of school. Having a nervous stomach or a few tears is normal when a new school year begins, but when it doesn't go away, you may be dealing with school anxiety.

According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, 2% to 5% of school-age children are impacted with school anxiety. For some kids, this may be part of separation anxiety or general anxiety, but for others, it's a symptom of bullying or learning difficulties.

If school stress and anxiety is debilitating and persistent, homeschooling may be an answer. Many parents who homeschool report that one of their primary reasons for choosing this route is because it also limits their exposure to violence, drugs, and alcohol.

Cons of Homeschooling

In addition to the domestic responsibilities of your role as a parent, you’re now a teacher, tutor, curriculum researcher, and principal.

It’s quite possibly the biggest reason of all not to homeschool: Teaching your kids at home is simply a lot of work, on top of all the other errands and chores that parents are usually saddled with.

Creating, teaching, and grading a day’s or week’s worth of learning on multiple subjects takes serious time and effort. (However, many prepared curriculum packages do exist.) Plus, as delightful as it can be to tailor education to each child’s learning style, this can add to your workload, too.

And if you have younger children at home who aren’t school age, you may also struggle to keep them occupied while you sit down to teach older kids.

Less time for yourself

Not surprisingly, the workload of homeschooling—and kids home all day—is likely to leave you with less time for yourself. Some homeschooling parents say they don’t have time to shower, let alone exercise or take care of their own needs .

For parents who are used to a quiet, kid-free environment during the day, this aspect of homeschooling can be a major adjustment. 

Inability to work 

All the work of homeschooling is guaranteed to take up hours of your day. Therefore, as a homeschooling parent, you may not be able to work outside the home, or you may have to cut your hours significantly. For some households, this may be a financial deal-breaker .

Too much togetherness

While many families find that homeschooling boosts good vibes between siblings and parents, there  is  such a thing as too much togetherness.

You may find that spending all day, every day, with your kiddos (and they with each other) leads to feelings of frustration or confinement. You may also go through an adjustment period as your kids learn how to view (and respect) you as their teacher.

It’s important to work in breaks, both for yourself and your kids. Or, depending on the resources in your area, you might try a homeschooling co-op or enrichment program one day a week to provide your kids socialization with others outside the family.

Missing out on certain opportunities

Despite the enormous flexibility of homeschooling, in some ways, it can limit opportunities for your child. For high schoolers , for example, a homeschool curriculum may not be able to provide the same variety of electives as a large public school. (After all, most of us don’t have a metal shop in the backyard.)

If your child wants to pursue subjects you can’t easily teach at home, you’ll have to be diligent about seeking alternatives and potentially signing up for extra curricular activities outside, like dance classes or sports teams, as your child's interests grows or they decide they want to socialize with a wider range of their peers.

The same holds for social opportunities. As a homeschooler, it’s up to you to provide social interaction your child won’t get from school dances, assemblies, and everyday classroom partner work.

Facing judgments and biases 

Let's be honest: Homeschooling doesn’t necessarily have a reputation for being cool and modern. Unfortunately, plenty of biases and stereotypes exist around homeschooling and the folks who choose it.

You may need to develop a thick skin toward other people’s judgments of your decision to educate at home.

Consider Your Options

When more and more parents are exploring the wide world of homeschooling, it’s wise to look at the many advantages and disadvantages of this type of education.

Do some soul searching and have a serious discussion with your partner about whether this could be the right choice for your child's and family's needs. And don’t forget to find out how your kids feel about the subject! With everyone’s thoughts and feelings on the table, you can determine if homeschooling is best for you and your family.

Digest of Education Statistics 2017: 53rd Edition. US Department of Education. 2019.

Homeschooling and Educational Freedom: Why School Choice Is Good for Homeschoolers . Cato Institute. 2019.

School Refusal . Anxiety & Depression Association of America . 2019.

Research Facts on Homeschooling . National Home Education Research Institute. 2024.

Related Articles

Homeschooling Vs Traditional Schooling

This essay will provide a comparative analysis of homeschooling and traditional schooling. It will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each educational approach, covering aspects such as academic outcomes, socialization, curriculum flexibility, and parental involvement. The piece will explore the growing trend of homeschooling, its legal and practical considerations, and how it compares to the traditional school experience in terms of preparing students for higher education and the workforce. You can also find more related free essay samples at PapersOwl about Family.

How it works

Education is of vital essence in our world today, with most focus directed to making sure all individuals get access to education. Many parents are putting a lot of effort in getting the best education for their kids, as long as they can afford so that they can be successful. One of the most controversial topics in education today is whether traditional schooling or homeschooling is better and if both are equals. Many people have argued against homeschooling because of variety of reasons.

For most parents, traditional schooling is the norm for the society, although some have different views and prefer homeschooling. They are the best way for the future as it provides student centered education, that is adaptive to the needs of the students. This paper seeks to discuss on traditional and homeschooling, and while both have a main goal of producing the best performances, they quite differ in terms of meeting the child’s needs, the learning environment, physical activities, and the aspect of socializing.

Traditional schooling is the oldest educational system that has preferences to homeschooling by some people. The traditional schooling is also termed as public schooling, and the cost for learning here are much less compared to homeschooling. This is because the government pays most of the tuition fees, and the parents are left with little responsibilities like buying uniform’s and maintaining their kids. This kind of education system favor’s all the children from humble and rich backgrounds. Besides that, in public schooling, the level of student socialization is high. The children meet with many kids from diverse background from all parts of the region. From this, they get to know and interact with each other, although their cultural and languages differ. In addition, public schooling sponsors most of extra-curricular activities like sporting, club, and participating in bands, that widens the experience of the kid, making them grow healthy and with enough confidence.

Every child learns, listens and watches different concepts differently (Lips, 2008). Not all of them learn at the same pace. Considering this, homeschooling can be the best as it has many benefits. One of the benefits is; there is a child-based curriculum, tailored to specific needs of the child. This curriculum captures the interest of the child, like for instance, if the child is interested in farming or engineering, they would only be thought specific subjects. In farming, mathematic subject can be thought since there are some calculations like determining the area of land and how much crop can be planted. Traditional schooling on the other hand has one curriculum per class, and the ratio of students to teachers can vary greatly. Some of the students in this curriculum can lose focus easily as they are not drawn to the system. Which if the students could have the curriculum designed specifically to them, they might have a better enjoyment and focus to their education leading to more academic achievements.

Another main factor in learning is the type of environment. The environmental settings can have a great influence to the education of the child and their academic achievements. In comparing the two educational systems, it is evident that pubic schooling could have much more distractions compared to homeschooling. For instance, social peers and popularity contests can bring many distractions to the full potential of the child. For this reason, there is a rise in homeschooling as the parents have increased concerns of their children’s welfare, like peer pressure, academic quality, and violence. Children in homeschooling on the other hand have a very comfortable environment that could lead the students to have a better concentration in academics. Evidence from research suggests the same, and looking at a study by Dr. Lawrence Rudner from Maryland University, the percentage of students achieving well in academics are high in homeschooling, and are about 70th to 80th percentile. (Snyder, 2011). From this study, it is evident that there is immense difference between traditional schooling and homeschooling. The environmental factors have their own benefits, but considering the children produced in homeschooling, they are brilliant and later on successful. Seemingly, not having social distractions like those in public schools’ benefits children who are homeschooling, and they have better odds of academic achievements.

Do the students achieve this much with just pen and paper? Of course not, as there has been a rise in technology that have played a bigger role in the education of the children. Currently, technology is advancing in our world, and homeschooling have become more popular approach in education. Although we cannot question the effectiveness of traditional education, as some are still effective, homeschooling has become the best approach in this case. (Andrade, 2008). It shows best results and its curriculum caters for the needs of the child. In technological advancement, this system can allow the children to access computers used for streaming important information and downloading study software. In some, the students can participate in virtual classrooms, where they meet at scheduled time to discuss ideas and concepts and in the process improving education. Although technological advancements are making approach to traditional schools, they are doing it slow and homeschooling has its claws in technology. It has been documented that it is effective and has shown great strides. With any problem, there can always be improvements and upgrades. We would still be patient to see the improvement of technology in our public schools.

Traditional schooling has many challenges, both to the teachers and to the parents. The parents would constantly worry about the safety of their children, while on the other hand, the teachers have a big work load as they are involved with a higher ratio of children. The high number of children makes it hard to ascertain if they effectively learn. The parents have no accountability to the actions of their kids. Some of the kids might get into fights or get an injury, but the only concern put by the parents are the whereabouts of the teacher. This is not that much effective compared to homeschooling where there is a great deal of advantages. In this setting, the parents have total dedication to their children’s activities. They would be committed in following the kid’s academic progress. Compared to traditional schooling, the performances and grades of the children would always be much ahead. This is because they give much attention to their subjects and they have immediate access to their ‘teachers.’

In meeting the child’s needs, public schools are no better than homeschooling. Most of the child’s necessities and needs can be comfortably met at a home setting compared to public school. Besides, there is family togetherness, where every child grows practicing family values and cultures, and in the process getting rooted to these practices of maintaining discipline, respect and many positive values in the society. In the family, most chores are done together, where one helps the other to achieve a purpose. This in essence is an essential part in the child’s learning. The child is given the opportunity to show his best roles and worth to the family, and in the process making the child feel part and parcel of the family.

Over the years, most of the parents have adopted homeschooling for their kids. There have been rise in controversial topics concerning the same, regarding the effectiveness of the approach to education. In evaluating the effectiveness, we find that that homeschooling is the way for the future. It offers student centered education adaptive to the needs of the individual. It allows the curriculum to be developed according to specific needs of the child and the parents, as well as providing the best environment for best academic achievements. The evolvement of technology has even made it easier as it is easy to track academic work of the child. (Andrade, 2008). Though both traditional schooling and homeschooling posses a lot of similarities and dissimilarities, their differences exceed their similarities. Looking at all the factors surrounding education, currently homeschooling might seem to be the best option for its results. (Isenberg, 2007). In the other hand, traditional schooling is still adored by the majority of the society, as some lack the resources and time to offer homeschooling. I think that when it comes to making the decision, it would be the individual choice to decides on what’s necessary, not forgetting the benefits and delimits of each choice. But as time unfolds, the question still remains, what’s best for our students?

In summing up the quality of education is essential for the country and for the type of developments the county would have. Therefore, much focus should be made towards attaining quality education, whether in traditional schools or home schools. Funds and resources should be directed towards attaining this. The quality off education homeschooling brags with makes it more advantageous to public schools. This implies that this educational system should be much preferred and adopted wherever possible. The greatest investment a parent can make is educating his child. Education comes with more returns and rewards than we can ever imagine. The aim is to produce competent and knowledgeable professionals who would provide solutions to most challenges in the society.

Cite this page

Homeschooling vs Traditional Schooling. (2019, Jul 16). Retrieved from https://papersowl.com/examples/homeschooling-vs-traditional-schooling/

"Homeschooling vs Traditional Schooling." PapersOwl.com , 16 Jul 2019, https://papersowl.com/examples/homeschooling-vs-traditional-schooling/

PapersOwl.com. (2019). Homeschooling vs Traditional Schooling . [Online]. Available at: https://papersowl.com/examples/homeschooling-vs-traditional-schooling/ [Accessed: 31 Aug. 2024]

"Homeschooling vs Traditional Schooling." PapersOwl.com, Jul 16, 2019. Accessed August 31, 2024. https://papersowl.com/examples/homeschooling-vs-traditional-schooling/

"Homeschooling vs Traditional Schooling," PapersOwl.com , 16-Jul-2019. [Online]. Available: https://papersowl.com/examples/homeschooling-vs-traditional-schooling/. [Accessed: 31-Aug-2024]

PapersOwl.com. (2019). Homeschooling vs Traditional Schooling . [Online]. Available at: https://papersowl.com/examples/homeschooling-vs-traditional-schooling/ [Accessed: 31-Aug-2024]

Don't let plagiarism ruin your grade

Hire a writer to get a unique paper crafted to your needs.

Our writers will help you fix any mistakes and get an A+!

Please check your inbox.

You can order an original essay written according to your instructions.

Trusted by over 1 million students worldwide

1. Tell Us Your Requirements

2. Pick your perfect writer

3. Get Your Paper and Pay

Hi! I'm Amy, your personal assistant!

Don't know where to start? Give me your paper requirements and I connect you to an academic expert.

short deadlines

100% Plagiarism-Free

Certified writers

• IELTS Scores
• Life Skills Test
• Find a Test Centre
• Alternatives to IELTS
• General Training
• Academic Word List
• Topic Vocabulary
• Collocation
• Phrasal Verbs
• Writing eBooks
• Reading eBook
• All eBooks & Courses

Home Schooling Essays

by czary Jacek (Poland)

In your essay you have too many ideas which are not supported with reasons or examples. You are better with fewer ideas that are fully explained.

Make sure you brainstorm and plan first. Choose your best brainstormed ideas and then decide how you will support them.

Also, you are asked to give the advantages of both methods. So you should have one paragraph on the advantages of homeschooling and one on the advantages of being educated at school. However, your organisation is a bit confusing.

Also you need to work on your grammar because there are quite a few errors.

Nov 16, 2014

Some believe that it is better to teach children at home whereas the majority of people believe that it is highly recommended to send them to school for their better development. In my opinion it is more appropriate to send children to school instead of teaching them at home. One of the biggest advantages of sending a child to school is to improve his social skill. Children will develop social skills when they are admitted in a school by interacting with their teachers and fellow students. As children’s comes from various family backgrounds and are from different financial status, they tend to learn a lot among themselves more likely by noticing each other. For example, to name a few, a child can learn about other religions or moral practices of his fellow students or he can learn the dressing habits or way of speaking of his fellow students. Secondly, the growth/development of the child is assessed on a regularly basis by conducting exams in a school .In this era of high competition among schools to gain popularity, this process will have impact on students as it will make them become more competent and will make them ready to sustain in the really challenging world. On the contrary, teaching the children at home also has few advantages. If children are taught at home, with complete attention/focus on the only child, he is more likely to understand the subject well. Secondly, children can be taught in a more amicable way and will be more comfortable when they are accompanied by their family at home. The dearest advantage of all discussed so far is, parents are no more required to worry about paying of high fees to schools. It is not required to pay heavy tuition fees, transport charges and purchase any of those school uniforms. In conclusion, both of the approaches has their own advantages but sending the student to school will make him more successful in his life whereas teaching him/her at home might results in lesser fees for education but will not make him competent in the world.

Oct 12, 2015

Why there is no title? Because we want to choose a new,big,good title that no one else has writ it yet. So plz. if you can write to use a titlt just for helping in exams.PLZ

Oct 14, 2015

There is no need for a title in an IELTS essay.

Nov 26, 2015

Task response is very much straightforward from the beginning and illustrations are very logical.

Feb 27, 2016

very good essay

Feb 03, 2017

Very good, nice & interesting Homeschooling essay!!!!!!!!!

Sep 30, 2017

Education is an enabler and every individual should have access to it. Whilst some people believe studying from home is beneficial, others have the opinion that formal schooling is essential for every child. It is certainly true that homeschooling saves lot of time and money. To begin with, on an average 8 to 9 hours in a day are spent out of home for the purpose of schooling which includes the commutation time too. The effective study time is not beyond 4 hours. A lot of time, for instance, is wasted in extracurricular activities like celebrations and picnics. Also, the schools today have become a business center where extremely high fee is charged. Management fee, annual fee, activity fee, infrastructure fee, tuition fee, lab fee etc. are some examples of money charged under various heads by these schools. However there are other benefits for children and society. Firstly, the regimen of going to school develops a sense of discipline in them. At school, also, a series of activities and events one after the other, period after period enables them to multitask as well as consolidate at the same time. Moreover, schooling helps children in making new friends. As a result their maturity and confidence grows enabling a fulfilling life for them. Furthermore schooling provides a healthy competitive environment where children can analyze their strengths and shortcomings with respect to their peers. To conclude, I believe that education is a must for all and attending schools is equally important. Schooling should be encouraged to make a liberal, open and better future for everyone. 262 words

Jan 25, 2018

Education is a vital element of children's development. Nowadays parents are allowed to choose either teach a child at home or sent him/her to public school. Both choices have pros and cons, but in my opinion, attending public school is a better choice for a student then a homeschoolling. On the one hand, benefits of homeschooling cannot be overlooked. Students have flexible timetable and individual approach taking into account special needs of a child. Parents or tutors can adjust method of delivering information and pay attention to topics that student cannot understand. Also, it is known that information obtained in quite environment without any pressure or noise is easy to understand and memorise.Moreover, children in homeschools will not have a bad experience of bulling and unhealthy competition. However, human beings are social beings and children learn from peers and adult how to cope with the social issues. Modern educational curriculum pays lots of attention on developing social and emotional skills. Facing with good and bad examples of behavior children learn what is good and bad and this play crucual role in personal establishment. Also, schools have facilities for extra activities such as sport and art that can help develop child's talents and interests. In addition, school friend are usually become longlife friends. As an illustration, my best friend is my school friend, i know her from preschool and for me she is like sister. In conclusion, parents want to make the best choise for their children,and the method of eduction is the crutual one. So all benefits and drowbacks should be taken into account. But in my opinion, public schools are the perfect place for harmonious development of a child.

Jul 21, 2021

So, first it was good for small children it explains both sides and some good points its good for homework's in 150-300 words but for long essays for higher classes it was not good at all

Jan 18, 2022

So much errors but you have good points.

Click here to add your own comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How? Simply click here to return to IELTS Essay Feedback Forum .

Home Schooling Essay

by Florence Cheng (Hong Kong)

Homeschooling is better than school. Do you agree or disagree? In general, most of the children study in public or private school, which is the formal way we gain knowledge from. However, some other people assert that homeschooling has more benefits. Although there are discussions on both sides, I strongly disagree that homeschooling is better. To begin with, the reasons why people prefer homeschooling consider several benefits. First, the time schedule is more flexible than school. Parents can arrange the time of learning courses freely without the fixed routine. Second, it depends on the children’s interests of what they are passionate to study so they can be more concentrated in the subjects. Third, children do not need to worry about the stress of competition with other students. They can follow and adjust their personal progress to study, thus it is more effective for learning. Despite I agree with some points above, the drawbacks of home learning far outweigh its advantages. Firstly, children are not likely to learn the general knowledge at home if they only focus on certain subjects. Their understanding and knowledge on various fields will be limited. Second, the lack of competition between the peer students will weaken the children’s ability of competitiveness. The less stress of competing with others, the less motivation of improvement and pursuit of better result. As a consequence, the capacity of pressure handling is lower considerably, especially adapting in the working environment in the future. Lastly, children barely have chance to develop the social skills undoubtedly due to the less interaction with the fellow children. They will become more introverted. The potential ability of leadership, communication and problem solving skills are diminished. To conclude, I am not in favor of homeschooling. It limits the children’s whole personal development and a slower learning progress. Studying in formal school is more beneficial in terms of the physical and mental purposes. *** Comment below on Florence's Homeschooling or School Essay in order to help her improve her score for IELTS writing.

	a lot of new words. Academic. I can't understand.

Jul 04, 2015

very useful thanks

Jul 18, 2015

Good explanation and using good vocabulary but in the first paragraph there is one point. That is not getting clear to the readers about what you want to explain. Otherwise your essay is fantastic

Jul 25, 2015

If you strongly disagree to homeschooling, you should not point out it's advantages.

Jul 30, 2015

Very strong and easy Thanks

Sep 17, 2015

very coherent

Sep 17, 2015

If you strongly disagree to homeschooling, you can still discuss it's advantages. You just need to word it carefully to make sure it is clear you are showing other people's views, and not your own. This can be more difficult if you have weaker writing skills. If you are less confident about this and have more difficultly expressing yourself, then you are better to just stick with the disadvantages, as this will be easier.

May 26, 2016

Very strong Thank you

Jan 22, 2019

the essay has new ideas, new words, and coherence. great efort

Apr 09, 2019

I disagree because some people can have problems at school like with reading and writing but the worst part is i am in 6th grade and its the 3 trimester and i'm 98% of redoubling like if i am just tell me for me to be homeschooled. I don’t care about the time but homeschool is better. What do you think?

Learning from Home or School Essay

by Arun Kumar (Dubai, UAE )

Some people believe that teaching children at home is best for a child’s development while others think that it is important for children to go to school. Discuss the advantages of both and give your opinion. Learning from home has been recognised as the best way to develop offspring’s, while some critics suggest that going to school is far more beneficial for children. This essay will discuss the benefits of both methods, and provide statistics revealed by Oxford University recommends studying at the institutes is better-off for students when compared to studying from home. To begin with, there is a myriad of merits of taking classes from home. Firstly, pupils staying in their comfort zone will give more freedom to express their opinions. In schools, students are restricted to talk while the class is ongoing, and young ones are reluctant to say a word; however, at home, they feel very confident to speak. Besides, they save much time travelling to school. At times, going to school can be excruciating to young minds, and they get exhausted before starting their day. This can put their mind off from learning new subjects. So, this travelling time can be spent wisely to learn extra-curricular activities such as sports or learning a musical instrument when they are at home. Nevertheless, this essay thinks that studying at schools will outweigh the benefits of learning from home because of its noticeable benefits. Students tend to learn not only academic subjects but also social and cognitive skills at schools. It is only at the institutes where they can intermingle with other peers, and learn skills such as teamwork, group study, and sharing ideas. These skills are essential to the child’s growth. For example, as per the recent survey by Oxford University revealed that teenagers who studied at schools tend to be more innovative and intellectually competent than the students who studied online. Furthermore, there are a lot of other activities such as sports competitions, and cultural events are conducted at schools, these events can bring out the talents hidden in them. In conclusion, despite the pros of learning from home, this essay believes that studying at schools contributes majorly to their growth. 329 words send feedback to [email protected]

Click here to post comments

IELTS Essay - School versus Homeschooling

by Asmaa (United Kingdom)

School versus Homeschooling

Some people believe that teaching children at home is best for a child's development while others think that it is important for children to go to school. Discuss the advantages of both methods and give your own opinion. Many people are in debate about whether children should be home-schooled or traditionally-schooled, and which of the two methods would be better for the child's development. While studying privately means the child will be getting a more focused and tailored education, traditional schools provide children with social and physical advantages that home-schooling does not. In this essay, I will discuss the benefits of both preferences and explain why I believe that children should be made to go into school rather than being restricted to text-book education. Parents who choose to get private tutors for their children tend to believe that they will be getting a better education and will be smarter than publicly educated children. This is because the one to one ratio means that the child is getting all of the teacher's attention, in comparison with public school where the teacher has to divide his/her attention between twenty or thirty different children. For instance, if a tutor see's that their pupil is struggling with algebra, it would be much easier to identify and address it. Whereas, in public schools the teacher might not know unless it is raised by the student or parent. Even then, it would be difficult to find the time and energy to help the individual student. In this aspect home-schooling might be more advantageous than public schooling. Nevertheless, the other components of child education and development should still be explored. Being taught with other children has numerous advantages that are often overlooked by supporters of home-schooling. One very obvious benefit is social interaction and its importance in dealing with strangers, learning social etiquette, building relationships and much more. Children who are given the opportunity to interact with other children and adults, will be far more socially advanced than those who are secluded to their homes. Furthermore, children who are publicly educated are able to explore and develop more interests than their privately tutored peers. For example, most school goers will play team games with their class at some point during their school years; through this they might find a new interest or hobby, they will be able to learn new skills, interact and experience competition but most importantly enjoy themselves. Through these interactions they also create relationships that extend beyond the school grounds. These are opportunities that can rarely be described for homeschooled children. The social components and fully experiencing childhood is fundamental to healthy development and must not be overlooked when choosing from the two options. In my opinion, the social advantages gained from public school surpass the academic advantages of home-schooling. This is because while the child will learn better if his/her classes are tailored to his or her need, they may never encounter the social experiences from which they can extract skills or enjoy the atmosphere of being with similar aged children. The aim of school is to prepare children for adult life and equip them with the skills they may need at that time, irregardless of whether they progress into academic disciplines or not. Education gaps can be corrected by parents at home or after school tutoring where necessary, meanwhile there is no substitute for the social benefits of school. In conclusion, parents choose which style of teaching best fits their expectations for their children. While some go with home tutoring, others go with traditional schooling; they both come with varying advantages. This essay discussed the main advantage of traditional schooling versus homeschooling in relation to the child’s development. It highlighted the academic benefits of private learning, as well as the social and personal gains of public school education, and explained why I think that traditional methods of schooling are far more advantageous than homeschooling.

Teaching Children at Home Essay

by Marius M

Some people believe that teaching children at home is best for a child's development while others think that it is important for children to go to school. Discuss the advantages of both methods and give your own opinion. This topic is a point of contention amongst parents and teachers in today's ever changing world I think there are many advantages for home schooling one of the most important being a more flexible approach to training a child. A parent is easily able to adjust the difficulty of lessons to cater to the child's learning capacity and level. Home schooling could also involving self-training methods and many success stories in the world today are based on this especially in the world of tech and computer. A good example being silicon valley company founders such as Mark Zuckerberg, Steve Jobs amongst others. The advantage being that sometimes the school curriculum is not quick enough to meet the speed at which areas in tech are moving with. Inspite of the strong points made by parents and tutors as to the importance of home schooling, as with most things, there is a myriad of reasons supporting a child's development from teaching in school. Principal of this being the fact that home schooling is an artificial representation of the real world and hinders children from developing useful skills required to deal with life when they grow. The reality is life does not wait for any one and if kids are made to believe that classes and therefore life will be tailored to their capacities only, then there would struggle to adapt to the real world when they become adults. An example of this can be seen when the children of celebrities who were home-schooled as kids but who struggle as adults and keep away from the outside world. I am of the opinion that schooling for kids is a delicate issue and should be handled with balance. I believe that it would be helpful for kids to attend school during term time, while during vacation period home schooling should come into effect to catch up with any gaps the child has versus school curriculum or advance their learning further. When deemed together, the success stories of home-schooling and the merits of going to school means it serves a better purpose combining the two.

Band 7+ eBooks

"I think these eBooks are FANTASTIC!!! I know that's not academic language, but it's the truth!"

Linda, from Italy, Scored Band 7.5

Bargain eBook Deal! 30% Discount

All 4 Writing eBooks for just  $25.86 Find out more >>

IELTS Modules:

Other resources:.

• All Lessons
• Band Score Calculator
• Writing Feedback
• Speaking Feedback
• Teacher Resources
• Free Downloads
• Recent Essay Exam Questions
• Books for IELTS Prep
• Useful Links

Recent Articles

IELTS Essay: Living with Climate Change

Aug 23, 24 02:37 AM

Grammar in IELTS Listening

Aug 22, 24 02:54 PM

IELTS Line Graph: Governments Expenditure on Research

Jul 23, 24 01:27 PM

Important pages

IELTS Writing IELTS Speaking IELTS Listening   IELTS Reading All Lessons Vocabulary Academic Task 1 Academic Task 2 Practice Tests

Connect with us

Before you go...

30% discount - just $25.86 for all 4 writing ebooks.

Copyright © 2022- IELTSbuddy All Rights Reserved

IELTS is a registered trademark of University of Cambridge, the British Council, and IDP Education Australia. This site and its owners are not affiliated, approved or endorsed by the University of Cambridge ESOL, the British Council, and IDP Education Australia.

Home education: why are so many parents choosing it over mainstream school?

Education Research Assistant and PhD Candidate, Anglia Ruskin University

Disclosure statement

Lucie Wheeler does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) provides funding as a member of The Conversation UK.

View all partners

There has been a notable rise in parents choosing to home educate their children over recent years, and particularly since the COVID pandemic.

Elective home education – carrying out a child’s education at home, outside the school system – is a legal right in the UK .

The number of families home educating is not known. There is no legal requirement to register with a local authority in England, nor is there any other register for parents choosing to home educate. This means relying on data from organisations carrying out research to gain an idea of these numbers.

The Association of Directors of Children’s Services reported that there were around 81,200 children receiving home education in England in 2021. Charity Education Otherwise reported a similar number of 83,974 in April 2021.

More recently, the Department for Education has begun conducting its own research on home education, from data reported by local authorities. It found that in January 2023, around 86,200 children were being home educated in England – and that this had risen to around 92,000 in autumn 2023.

Ways of home schooling

There are several routes that families take when choosing an educational pathway for their children.

If a child in England is already at mainstream school when their family decides to home educate, the parents must de-register their child before beginning home education. To do so parents need to send a letter of de-registration, requesting the school to remove the child from their roll.

In Scotland, a parent needs the local council’s permission to withdraw their child from school.

If a child is not at school and has not been entered into the schooling system, there is no requirement to alert the local authority and they can simply continue to education how they want.

Some parents may choose a combination of school and home education. This is known as flexi-schooling : the child attends school part time and learns at home part time. However, this is not a right and in England, requires the agreement of the school’s headteacher.

Other educational options available to families when their children are struggling in the mainstream system include “education other than at school”. In this case, the school remains responsible for the child’s education but it is provided either at home or within a specialist provision, such as a special school.

Alternatively, a child may be educated in alternate provision . In England, this might be in a Pupil Referral Unit. This is a type of school that caters for children who are unable to attend mainstream school. This could be for a range of reasons such as illness, behavioural difficulties or neurodiverse learning styles.

Choosing home education

There are many reasons parents choose to home educate their child.

There are those who reject the mainstream way of educating and opt for a more “unconventional” approach. The parents want to focus on nurturing their children and want to be at home learning with them.

Some families talk of being unhappy with the school curriculum . They choose to home educate so they can teach the curriculum they wish and give their child or children a personalised education .

Families may choose home education because it fits best with their own lifestyle. Work and life commitments can dictate how the children learn and some families choose to do it while travelling, which is known as roadschooling or worldschooling .

Some families feel they do not have a choice but to home educate. They have been termed in some research as “last resort” home educators.

Their child might have special educational needs or disabilities that their school is unable to meet adequately. Their child might be being bullied at school, or they might be highly gifted, meaning that they or their parents feel the school curriculum isn’t suitable for them. Some young people may refuse to attend school due to overwhelming anxiety or what is known as “emotionally based school avoidance” .

A study that explored why parents in the UK chose to home educate found the most common reasons were that parents were disappointed with the education and schools (31%); they had always planned and had the intention to home educate (30%); their child was being bullied (25%) or the child was sick, exhausted or depressed (24%).

Social media – whether through homeschooling families’ Instagram accounts or sites such as the Not Fine in School Facebook page, where parents discuss the challenges their children face in mainstream education – has played a powerful role in expanding knowledge of home education. More parents may be making this choice because they know it is an option available to them.

The challenge is to ensure adequate support is in place for the children who may want to remain in school but feel they cannot, as well as for those whose families wish to take this route.

• Young people
• Youth mental health
• Homeschooling
• mainstream schools
• Home education
• Keep me on trend

Director of STEM

Community member - Training Delivery and Development Committee (Volunteer part-time)

Chief Executive Officer

Finance Business Partner

Head of Evidence to Action