Posts tagged research/statistics
How Much Screen Time Should Children Have?
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Do you ever worry that your children are spending too much time in front of an electronic screen? I’m not just talking about vegging out in front of the TV. I’m talking about all of the screens that have infiltrated our homes — TV, gaming systems, iPads, computers, even phones. Now, there are even screens for books. Who doesn’t love the ease and convenience of the Kindle or Nook? And if you’ve ever had to wait with a busy child in a doctor’s office, you know the games on your phone can make the whole visit easier.
And not all of these screens are mindless. In our homeschool, I regularly More >
Canadian Study Supports Homeschooling’s Benefits
0In 2011, Concordia University and Mount Allison University published a study showing the academic benefits of homeschooling. While homeschool families have been proclaiming the benefits of homeschooling for years, it seems the general public is finally catching on.
Participants between the ages of 5 and 10 years old were evaluated by standardized test on their reading, writing and math skills. Structured homeschoolers, those who use curriculum, outperformed across the board. Unschoolers didn’t fare as well, scoring lower in all categories.
Although public school children we assessed were More >
College Cost and Debt
0If you are like many parents of teenagers, you are looking with trepidation at college costs. You are researching financial aid, scouring the web for scholarships and comparing different institutions. Basically, you’re wondering how to make ends meet.
On Thursday, March 22, 2012, Rehema Ellis of NBC News reported some pretty sobering statistics about college tuition and the debt students are incurring as a result of it. In the segment, “Degree of Debt,” she reported:
- The Federal Government recently announced that we have $1 trillion in student loan debt in this country, more than Americans More >
10 Good Reasons to Homeschool, Part 2
0In my last post, 10 Good Reasons to Homeschool, Part 1, I began listing several reasons why homeschooling may be a smart choice for your family. Now, let’s continue looking at five more valid reasons for choosing homeschooling as an educational option for your family.
6. Your child needs more one-on-one time to learn
Most of us learn best in a one-on-one, tutorial situation. We can ask questions, take time to digest what we’ve heard and learn at our own pace. For many, a classroom environment is fine. They will continue to learn, but for some, they need the extra attention that comes More >
10 Good Reasons to Homeschool, Part 1
03 months ago
In 2003, National Center for Education Statistics conducted a study on why American families homeschool. You can read the results of those reasons in my post, Why Families Homeschool? But if you are considering homeschooling, it might be helpful for you to look at some specific, real life reasons of why homescholing could work for your family.
1. Your child is academically advanced for his age
Now, we all like to believe that we have baby geniuses living in our homes, but in truth you may have a child who is advanced in one or more areas—a child who can read or do math problems a year More >
Why Families Homeschool?
3It’s interesting to hear different people explain why their family chooses to homeschool. Many assume that the primary reason for homeschooling is religious, but actually, that’s no longer the primary reason. Take a look at these statistics from a 2003 survey conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics:
How about you? Are you considering becoming a home educator? If so, be sure to check out my next post when I’ll share the many reasons I’ve heard that people choose to homeschool.
Preparing for the STEM Future
0As home educators, we can’t help but be mindful of the direction the world is going. If we’re to prepare our children adequately for the future, we have to keep an eye on the indicators. In November, Forbes posted an article by James Marshall Crotty entitled Are Hispanics America’s Next Great STEM Innovators?
If you’re unfamiliar with the acronym STEM, it stands for science, technology, engineering and mathematics. While the article’s point is to show how America’s Hispanic population is set to take this area by storm, there are interesting statistics that all parents can use. And for those More >
How Important is Playtime?
0Last night my husband and I attended the lecture “Playful Learning” by Dr. Kathy Hirsh-Pasek, a child psychologist and author of Einstein Never Used Flash Cards, at the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History. This lecture interested me because I have read of the importance of playtime for children and, but I specifically wanted to know:
- Should children’s play be free or planned?
- For what age is play especially important?
Personally, I have observed a growing trend away from playtime for children. More and more media has become more and more consuming, and more and more children are in More >
Homeschool Laws Revised in South Dakota
0The homeschooling laws have been revised–for the better–in South Dakota. Families no longer need to seek permission from the local school board to begin homeschooling. A recent study revealed that more than 2 million children are homeschooled in the United States, about 4% of total students. Repealing laws like this will make it even easier and faster to get started. Read the whole story here.
Great Homeschooling Articles on TODAY Show.com
0Last week TODAY Show.com ran a series of articles on homeschooling in America. I have enjoyed them and am thrilled to see the subject of homeschooling making it into the mainstream press… in a positive way. Not only should this make it easier for homeschooling families to gain acceptance (fewer blank stares and pursed lips when we admit that we educate our kiddos at home), but it may begin the homeschool discussion for other families. I hope you enjoy them as much as I have.
