Home Learning and Study

Home education is a growing concept among families as more parents choose to take their children out of public school and teach them at home. Children who receive an education at home comprise up to 4 percent of students in the United States. There are further numbers of students who take advantage of homeschooling curricula as a resource to boost their knowledge and abilities outside of the classroom. The increasing availability of online courses also provides options for students through the use of media and interactive study that was once not possible. Various types of home educational programs exist, with many options for parents to gain support, information and resources.

Supplemental Home Study

Some students who attend public or private schools choose to study at home with additional materials. Many supplemental home study programs are designed to provide tutoring, extra learning help or simply additional learning experiences for students along with working in the classroom. Supplemental home study may also be an option for some students who choose to independently study some subjects in order to develop a well-rounded background in preparation for college. These types of programs can enhance learning skills, raise grades and provide an enriching experience for many students who choose this route.

A2 Curriculum: Worksheets, books, illustrations, CDs and other materials that students can use at home to boost their knowledge of classroom studies.
Alternative Education: A California school that works with students who would like to participate in independent study for some classwork. The school provides educational materials for students and support for parents.
Bayside School Services: A company that provides tests for students to take at home for admission into post-secondary institutions. Testing materials are geared toward residents of North Carolina and may be used by home educators or for students in public schools to prepare for advanced education.
Brain Child: An article about the concept of part-time home schooling, a situation where students take part of their classes within public or private schools and part of their classes at home.
eTutor: An online tutoring program that allows students to find help with homework and studies. Offered through several learning modules such as language arts, math, science and social studies.
Home School Arts: Art applications for students to practice their skills and talents in addition to concepts learned at school.
Math Score: Math curriculum that works to tutor students in math concepts. The program is geared for homeschooling families, but may also be used as educational materials to supplement schoolwork.
Preschool Homeschooling: An article about supplemental educational activities for children who are at the preschool age and have not started traditional school.
Right Start Mathematics: Lessons for home or the classroom to boost students’ understanding of math concepts. The goal is to meet or surpass state standards in this subject.
Wowza Brain: A coaching system for families that includes podcasts, games and videos that parents can use at home to supplement their child’s school education.

Complete Home Education

Many families choose home education as a method of teaching their children. Parents have options of buying teaching packages and various forms of curricula to educate their children, or other programs may be performed with an online instructor. Providing a complete home education requires that a family follows the laws and statutes regarding education for their child that is specific to each state. It also entails motivation, encouragement and creativity in order to teach a child and give them an education similar to or ahead of those in public or private schools.

Arbor Academy: A private, educational institution that offers independent study for students taking classes at home.
Classical Education: An article about this type of teaching method that matches the educational process with a child’s age. Curriculum is focused on the written word instead of imagery, and many homeschool programs are adapted to this type of system.
Clonlara School: A home-based educational curriculum that provides materials for kindergarten through eighth grade, and online and internship opportunities for older students that are the equivalent of high school credit.
MU High School: A home high school program through the University of Missouri that provides independent study for high school curriculum in order to fulfill college requirements.
National Home Education Research Institute: A report about the progress of homeschooled students that move on to college.
NFC Academy: A Christian-based distance learning program that offers online instruction with the work of the parent at home. The method begins for students in the third grade and has classes for students until 12^th grade.
Oak Meadow: A home study that focuses on college preparatory materials for high school students to pursue distance study. The program offers both print and online materials for curriculum.
Self Design Learning Foundation: An independent learning program that fosters nurturing and studying in a learner-based methodology. The company is based out of Canada but may be used by students throughout the world.
The Teaching Home: A description of some of the more commonly used methods of homeschool education, including the classical method, traditional textbooks, the unit approach and others.
The Well-Trained Mind: An article describing the three stages of classical education as it is used in homeschool curriculum.

Helpful Resources

Some parents who are considering the benefits of home-based education may be unaware of the various resources available for starting this type of educational method. Many organizations provide curriculum for supplemental or complete home study, as well as offer advice and tips for getting started. Some support groups exist for families to connect and share experiences of home-based or independent study. Additionally, some organizations provide extracurricular activities that are specifically geared toward home-educated students in order to foster a well-rounded background, provide an outlet for hobbies and interests, and to meet other students in the same situation.

Actden: Software tutorials and online courses in the areas of math, science and writing for students working from home.
Design A Study: A guide for homeschooling parents that sets learning objectives but allows parents and students to tailor the learning process to their needs to obtain credit. Unit study guides are available in such subjects as composition, spelling and math.
Escondido Union School District: An outline of the benefits of homeschooling and support for parents who choose this method of education who live in the Escondido Union School District.
Family Learning Organization: A Washington organization that provides support, advocacy and networking opportunities for homeschooling families.
Handwriting Without Tears: Providing hands-on materials, workbooks and musical resources to improve handwriting and develop skills for school. The program serves students from pre-kindergarten through grade five.
Homeschooling 101: Information about the Community Home Education Program, which supports parents who want to educate their children at home. The program is offered through the Orange County Department of Education.
Homeschool Association of California: An explanation of the legal options to begin homeschooling in the state of California.
Home Education Magazine: Frequently asked questions about homeschooling, including information about legal requirements, how to provide curriculum and the types of testing available.
ThinkWave: A computerized gradebook for teachers or homeschooling parents to keep track of a student’s work and the grades received.

Additional Resources

Further sources give information about the benefits of home study and demonstrate the academic achievements of many homeschooled students. The path to home education is rich with ideas, materials and support for families interested in pursuing this option.

Academic Statistics on Homeschooling: Statistical results of academic progress of students who are homeschooled compared with those in the public school sector.
An A for Homeschooling: A comprehensive article about homeschooling that studies why parents choose this option, as well as some statistics of the academic achievements of the homeschooled population of students.
Choosing Curriculum: An explanation for homeschooling parents about how to obtain textbooks and other media to use for curriculum.
Curriculum Services: Providing curriculum to homeschooling parents in the form of text and workbooks available as packaged options depending on parent need.
Home Schooling Parent: A resource guide with information about the various types of curricula available for homeschooling parents in order to guide decisions through the process.
How to “Bee” a Spelling Success: Information about how to prepare for spelling bees to advance to high levels of achievement. Explains some background of homeschooled students who have won awards and offers resources for practicing spelling.
Online Public Schools: Information about online public schooling, a free option for families who want their child to gain an education at home.
Practical Homeschooling: A magazine specifically geared for homeschooling families that provides information about college planning, tips for creativity, connection with other families, games, contests and much more.
The Sanctuary School: A text-based and online study program for independent learners that focuses on environmental harmony and leadership development for students.
When School is at Home: An article about the rise of homeschooling families within New York City and many of their reasons for choosing this course of education.