HOMESCHOOLING GROUP WORK

DRAMA

What is homeschooling?
 Homeschooling or home schooling, also known as home
education or elective home education, is the education of
school-aged children at home or a variety of places other than a
school.

 Homeschooling or home schooling, also known as home

education or elective home education (EHE), is the education of
school-aged children at home or a variety of places other than a
school. Usually conducted by a parent, tutor, or an online
teacher, many homeschool families use less formal, more
personalized and individualized methods of learning that are not
always found in schools.
The actual practice of homeschooling can look very different. The
spectrum ranges from highly structured forms based on traditional
school lessons to more open, free forms such as unschooling, which is a
lesson- and curriculum-free implementation of homeschooling.
 Some families who initially attended a school go through a deschool
phase to break away from school habits and prepare for homeschooling.
While "homeschooling" is the term commonly used in North America,
"home education" is primarily used in Europe and many Commonwealth
countries.
 Homeschooling should not be confused with distance education, which
generally refers to the arrangement where the student is educated by
 and conforms to the requirements of an online school, rather than being
educated independently and unrestrictedly by their parents or by
themselves.

Benefits of choosing homeschooling

 As Albert Einstein said, "Education is not the learning of facts, but the
training of minds to think." This goal of education can be achieved
through homeschooling and is therefore legal in many countries. There
may be several reasons why parents opt to provide their children with a
more personalized approach to their education through homeschooling.

 Many parents who are ignorant of the benefits of homeschooling may

believe that this method of schooling may deprive their child of receiving an
internationally accredited education or that their child may lack in areas of
socialization, when in fact, this is very far from the truth.

 Even though homeschooling is considered these days as an alternative, it

was once the primary means of education in all households. World-
famous personalities like Abraham Lincoln, Virginia Woolf, Rabindranath
Tagore and Mozart were all homeschooled. So never think your child will
lose out on anything if they are schooled at home.

Some of the benefits of homeschooling include:

1. One-on-one teaching
  This is the biggest benefit of homeschooling: your child gets complete,
undivided attention throughout the phase of teaching. One-on-one
teaching allows the child to receive individual attention which is not
possible in traditional classrooms, where the child often has to share the
classroom with many other students, all of whom have diverse needs.

2. Flexibility
 Sending your child to school means rushing about every morning
to get them ready and to drop them off at school on time.
Homeschooling gives you the freedom to fix your own schedule
and keep it flexible too. If you are busy in the morning, you can
arrange to teach your child in the evening. Your schedule is
entirely up to you to decide. If you choose online
homeschooling, the benefits are that your child’s homeschooling
structure is supported by teachers who can be accessed
immediately. It also means that you can finally take that family
holiday without the guilt of racking up days absent or missing
out on key topics.

3. Eliminates unnecessary competition among

peers
 Even though studying in a school develops peer groups and teaches a
child to socialize, at the same time, it can give birth to unnecessary
negative competition. The race for grades can develop a negative attitude
toward learning and the immense pressure to perform can affect
students’ mental health and social values. Homeschooling eliminates this
kind of intense negative pressure and lets children focus on their subjects
 rather than their grades. In this way, they can develop an in-depth
knowledge of their subjects as well as an appreciation for them.

4. Control over the matter

 Christopher Oosthuizen, Cambrian Student & Mensa member
says, “I like to be taught how to think, and not what to think.”
Homeschooling gives you the freedom and flexibility to teach
your child the way you want to teach. There thus remains no
scope for dissatisfaction about the way in which your child is
being taught by someone else.

5. Saves time
 Homeschooling is a noticeably more efficient way of schooling.
There is far less time wasted on mundane routines, like
assemblies and drive time etc. This means that you can better
invest that time in actual learning and teaching for your child,
where they can be helped by pre-planned, self-guided lessons
that allow them to learn independently. In the long run, your
daily routine can be far better optimized with this kind of
learning.

6. Parent-child bonding
 The parent-child bond can be strengthened through
homeschooling. Since the child’s primary teachers are their
parents, they get to spend quality family time with the people
who care most about them.
7. Safe learning environment
 Parents who are in any doubt about the safety of their children
in schools could consider the alternative option of
homeschooling. Students generally feel safe and comfortable in
their homes with online homeschooling lessons. It keeps them
away from issues like bullying and negative company which may
adversely affect or influence them. Even though these issues do
not occur in every school, online homeschooling still remains a
better option for parents who worry about the safety of their
children.

8. Less pressure on parents

 It may sound somewhat surprising, but homeschooling can
actually lessen some of the pressure on parents. On the one
hand, it is true that homeschooling requires parents to be at
home with the child and focus on their education, which can be
quite time-consuming. But on the other hand, it lessens the
unnecessary pressure put on parents to assist with deadline-
driven projects, tests, homework, assignments and compulsory
extra-mural activities.

Daily homework submissions and weekly project deadlines invariably

create pressure on parents who need to help their children with this work
under time constraints. In the case of homeschooling, you can assist your
children in creative project work at your own convenience and make the
learning process creative and fun, instead of pressurised. Working parents
 also have the convenience of opting for self-help online homeschooling
lessons which further reduces the pressure on them.

9. Focus on child’s talents

 Traditional schools tend to make students only focus on their
studies and academic ranking. This subdues the talents a child
may have within them and there may be no opportunity for that
talent to be discovered or developed.

Homeschooling gives students and parents the opportunity to focus on

the inherent talents of the child and nurture them as well. For instance, a
child who is musically oriented can be given music classes through online
homeschooling alongside their academic lessons, and at an hour
convenient to them. This will widen the child’s education and make it a
more progressive experience.

10. Increases personal interaction of introvert

children
 Another great benefit of online homeschooling is that it offers
the chance for introverted children to interact directly with their
teachers. Traditional schooling methods often ignore the needs
and questions of introverted children who may be too shy to
speak up in class for fear of being ridiculed by others.
In online homeschooling, the child is exposed to face-to-face teaching
where they may not feel as shy or intimidated to speak up. This can
 increase their confidence to talk about their areas of doubt and thus gain

a better understanding of the subject being studied.

11. Addresses the diverse needs of children

 Another very important aspect of homeschooling is that it
addresses the specific needs of the child. A school consists of
students from different backgrounds, with different educational
needs. Sometimes, children find it difficult to keep up in a large
group environment because of their unique learning styles or
needs. Homeschooling lets parents select the methods of
teaching most beneficial for their children.

Both traditional schooling and homeschooling have their advantages and

disadvantages. The important thing to consider is which education model
is best suited to the child’s unique needs. Every child is different and
absorbs information differently, at a different pace. Homeschooling
provides parents with the opportunity to personalize their child’s
education to their unique needs. This helps instill a child’s love for
learning – throughout their schooling career.
If homeschooling is done correctly there are academic, safety, flexibility
and exposure advantages over traditional schooling. Whilst some parents
may have their concerns about the lack of socialization and peer-to-peer
engagement when homeschooling, many homeschooling families tend to
enroll their children in sporting centers which largely eliminates that
concern and allows children to consistently mingle with new friends and
not the same cohort.
 When all of the above factors are taken into consideration, and as
homeschooling gains significant popularity, it would not be surprising if
homeschooling becomes the future of schooling.

1) Is homeschooling the right fit for your child?

 We've created a quiz that helps parents discover

their child's ideal learning environment. Take this
free quiz to find out if online homeschooling is right
for your child.
Online structured homeschooling courses
 Wolsey Hall has seen an increasing number of families
homeschooling in Nairobi, Kenya. Our flexible and structured
courses provide a top-quality education for your child and can be
studied from as young as age 5 at Primary level right through to A
level.

 Our courses offer a carefully balanced mix of offline and online

learning, based on our many years’ experience of home learning. As
we don’t provide lessons, students are free to study at a time and
place that suits them. They also determine their own pace of
learning, reducing the stress and pressure that students sometimes
experience.

 We offer an unrivalled level of support to students through

academic support from Tutors and pastoral support from Student
Progress Managers. We also have a wealth of knowledge and
experience in supporting students with additional needs. Our
 Learning Support team is here to help all students thrive in home
education.

Top 5 Reasons Why Parents Homeschool Their Kids

 Make A Change from A Negative School Environment.
 Get A Higher Quality Education.
 Improve Social Interactions.
 Support A Learning-Disabled Child.
 Educate Children During a Family Relocation to Another State or Country.
 Other Reasons to Homeschool.

QUESTIONS.
1) Is home schooling legal in Kenya?

 Yes. Based on the reading of the Basic Education Act of 2013, especially in
reference to the legality of alternative forms of education, nothing
discourages or criminalizes homeschooling. Most importantly, the
Alternative Education Policy officially recognizes non-formal education.30
May 2021

2) What is the advantage of homeschooling?

 Homeschooling allows you to take all the time you need to ensure
learning is taking place. Likewise, if your child is ready to move on, you do
not need to waste time on redundant or repetitive lessons.
Homeschooling children can move through educational materials at a
faster pace than their peers.

3) Are homeschooled kids happier?

  Homeschoolers are happier than most kids for 10 reasons you might not
have thought of. Homeschooling can provide a mentally, physically, and
socially helpful environment for a happier child.
4) Is home schooling healthy?

 Homeschool offers some great advantages when it comes to scheduling:

Less rushing in the morning sets kids up for less stress overall in their day.
Longer sleep ins are important for mental and physical wellbeing as well
as better focus and work ethic throughout the day.

5) Is homeschooling better for mental health?

 Homeschooling is also believed to help minimize depression that many

students experience due to traditional schooling. Bullying, challenging
coursework, and awkward social interactions are primary factors in the
depressive tendencies of students who attend brick-and-mortar schools.

6) What race Homeschools the most?

 White students
 3% to 4% of the school-going population in the US is homeschooled,
according to the most recent federal data. 51% of the homeschooled
students are female, while 49% are male. White students make up for the
bulk of homeschooled students representing 68%. Hispanics are second
with a 15% representation.

7) Does Harvard accept homeschoolers?

 What if I am homeschooled? Each applicant to Harvard College is

considered with great care and homeschooled applicants are treated the
 same as all other applicants. There is no special process, but all relevant
information about your educational and personal background is welcome.

8) Are homeschooled students successful?

 Homeschool Curriculum Positively Impacts College

 Research also indicates students who received an education from a home-

based program usually scored higher on the SAT/ACT. These studies help
explain why homeschool graduates are frequently recruited for college.

9) Are homeschoolers socially awkward?

 There's no evidence that homeschooled children grow up to be any more

socially awkward than their traditionally educated peers. So long as your
child has other avenues to socialize, homeschooling has no negative
impact on their social skills.

10) Is home schooling hard?

 Homeschooling isn't hard as some parents make it look. You need to be

more focused on the basics that will help your child get the best out of
the learning process. However, the complexity might be intense when
your child joins the high school.

11) How do homeschool students get into college?

 Homeschoolers do not need a GED or a diploma to apply to college or

qualify for financial aid; you just have to declare that your homeschool
education meets state law requirements.
12) Why do parents choose to homeschool?

 Generally.
 Parents choose to home school their children for social.
 Academic.
 Family.
 Religious reasons.

13) Is homeschooling better than school?

 It has been noticed that educational quality has been better in

homeschooling than traditional schools. With more personal care and
grooming, home-schooled kids tend to pick up things easier than in
schools. They show more interest in studies, which are more customized
than the routine-based courses in schools.

14) How is homeschooling done?

 A child can be taught by their parent, guardian or a tutor, regardless of

the tutor's qualifications. You do not need to be a qualified teacher to
educate your child at home, and there are no home school qualifications
you must receive. The success of home schooling depends on your child
and how they best learn.
15) What is the most common issue for homeschooled
children?

 The most common was a concern about school environment, such as

safety, drugs, or negative peer pressure (25 percent). Fifteen percent of
homeschooled students had parents who reported that the most
important reason was a dissatisfaction with the academic instruction at
other schools.

16) What are the pros and cons of home schooling?

 Pros and Cons of Homeschooling a Child

 Easier to teach and easier to learn.
 Discipline issues in the classroom are avoided.
 Adaptation to special considerations.
 Makes good use of time.
 Cost.
 Adapting your child to a new reality.
 No social interaction during study time.

17) Which states have the most homeschoolers?

 There are 3.7 million homeschool students in the U.S. States with the
most homeschoolers are North Carolina, Florida, and Georgia. The top
reason for homeschooling is a concern about school environment.
Homeschool students outperform institutional school students
academically.

18) Where is homeschooling most popular?

  Homeschooling is legal in many countries. Countries with the most
prevalent homeschooling movements include:
 Australia.
 Canada.
 New Zealand.
 The United Kingdom.
 The United States.

19) Do homeschooled children do better in life?

 The research base on adults who were home educated is growing; thus far
it indicates that: 69% of peer-reviewed studies on success into adulthood
(including college) show adults who were home educated succeed and
perform statistically significantly better than those who attended
institutional schools (Ray, 2017).

20) Is homeschooling better for ADHD?

 Homeschooling offers great benefits and flexibility that are perfect for
children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Providing
your child with ADHD an education that can be catered to their needs
helps them gain confidence and perform better academically.

21) How do I socialize my homeschooled child?

 Homeschool Groups

 Homeschool support groups, co-ops, field trip groups, and park dates all
offer opportunities for your child to socialize with other children and
 make friends. You can search for these groups online; some groups are
now on Facebook, so you may want to search there as well.

Do homeschooled students score higher?

22) Homeschooled Students and Their Scores

 Homeschooled students score about 72 points higher than the national

average on the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT). The average American
College Test (ACT) score is 21. The average score for homeschoolers is
22.8 out of a possible 36 points.

23) Is it too late to start homeschooling?

 Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, you can begin to
homeschool your child at any age or in any grade. When you begin
homeschooling depends on when you've decided to take your child out of
the public school system and bring them home to teach them.

24) What are the benefits of being homeschooled?

 Homeschooling Benefits Include:

 Academic flexibility.
 Parent choice of pace and approach.
 Meeting current needs now.
 Warm family environment.
 Community involvement.
  Efficient learning.
 Meaningful learning.
 Time for the stuff many schools cut.

25) Should I homeschool my child with social anxiety?

 The truth is, homeschooling can provide a uniquely supportive

environment, where anxious kids can be encouraged to try new things,
and where their emotional and mental health can take priority over
academics when that's helpful.

26) What is the purpose of homeschooling?

 Homeschooling as a substitute for formal education. Homeschooling is

the hope of parents to provide education that is able to develop religious
and moral values in children and provide a comfortable learning
atmosphere for children.

27) Is homeschooling beneficial or harmful to children?

 Many studies and professional educators have found evidence that home-
educated students have as much college success as their peers.
Homeschooled students may also show more self-motivation because
online homeschooling encourages students to take personal responsibility
and to maintain accountability for their work.

28) Why is homeschooling better than traditional schooling?

  Homeschooled students have extra time with their teacher, which allows
for deeper learning to take place. Homeschooled students can do in a few
hours what a traditional classroom might take a week or more to
complete. Because they are taught using methods that help them learn
best, they learn faster.
29) How do homeschool grades work?

 A simple way to calculate grades is to take all the assignments and tests,
add them together and take the average score. You can modify that by
counting some assignments or tests more important, by adding them in 2
or 3 times–then taking the average score of it all.

30) What type of people homeschool their kids?

 Five homeschool parent types:

 Religious. The parents are fervently religious and homeschool centers

around imbuing the kids with this feeling. ...
 Academic. The parents are fanatical about their kids getting into a good
college and being respected for their academic achievements.
 Dilettante.
 Activist.
 Blue-ribbon winner.

31) Does Yale accept homeschoolers?

  Yale requires letters of recommendation for home-schooled applicants,
including two from academic teachers and one from the 'school
counselor.

32) Do homeschoolers do better in college?

 This research also reveals that homeschooled students

report that they achieve higher academic success in
college and view their entire college experience more
positively than traditionally educated students.

33) What is morning time in homeschool?

 Quite simply, Morning Time contains subjects that the family can do
together that emphasize truth, goodness, and beauty in their
homeschool. Morning Time is a liturgy — one part of Charlotte Mason's
“atmosphere” of education.

34) How does homeschooling affect a child?

 Most of this research finds that being homeschooled does not harm
children's development of social skills, as measured in these studies. In
fact, some research finds that homeschooled children score more highly
than children who attend school on measurements of socialization.
35) Do Home school kids have friends?

 You may be surprised to learn that most homeschoolers have a peer

group and close friends the same as kids in traditional school.

36) Why do parents prefer homeschooling?

 Some families choose to homeschool because their local public education

system is lacking in areas, they feel are important. Some families are
unable to afford a private school setting. Religious beliefs and parents'
desires to develop certain character qualities in their children also make
the list.

37) Is home schooling worth it?

 Research suggests homeschooled children tend to do better on

standardized tests, stick around longer in college, and do better once
they're enroll. A 2009 study showed that the proportion of
homeschoolers who graduated from college was about 67%, while among
public school students it was 59%.

38) What age is best to start homeschooling?

 At what age can you start homeschooling? The short answer is, you can
start at any age. However, as a homeschooler, your state's department of
education can give you a more specific answer based on the
homeschooling laws where you live.
39) What age does ADHD peak?

 The symptoms of hyperactivity are typically most severe at age 7 to 8,

gradually declining thereafter. Peak severity of impulsive behavior is
usually at age 7 or 8. There is no specific age of peak severity for
inattentive behavior.
40) Is homeschooling hard?

 Homeschooling isn't hard as some parents make it look. You need to be

more focused on the basics that will help your child get the best out of
the learning process. However, the complexity might be intense when
your child joins the high school.

41) How do you keep homeschool kids active?

 Outdoor Activities:

 Walk or run outside with your kids. If you have a dog, make walks a family
activity.
 Get out on wheels. Ride a bicycle, skateboard, rollerblade, or scooter on a
bike path, in an empty parking lot, or through your neighborhood.
 Practice drills.
 Explore the trails at a local park.

42) Is homeschooling better for ADHD?

 Homeschooling offers great benefits and flexibility that are perfect for
children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Providing
 your child with ADHD an education that can be catered to their needs
helps them gain confidence and perform better academically.

43) Do homeschoolers get homework?

 According to Merriam-Webster, the school related definition of

homework is an assignment given to a student to be completed outside
the regular class period. Using this definition in our homeschool context, I
would say yes, my children have homework.

44) How do homeschoolers make friends?

 Meet other homeschoolers.

 If you're bored while your other friends are at school, find other
homeschoolers so you can visit them during the day. If you don't know
any other homeschoolers, search online for homeschooling groups and
co-ops in your area. Your local librarians may be able to help you find
them as well.

45) Does Homeschooling limit socialization?

 homeschooled children, homeschooled children do not obtain adequate

socialization when they are restricted to only being schooled at home,
however, combined with outside activities such as:
 homeschool groups or classes.
 Community sports teams.
 Community music/arts groups.
 Summer camps.
 Summer school.
  Community.

46) Is homeschooling less stressful?

 Homeschooling decreases stress for the student because they are not
stuck inside every day. Most homeschoolers spend more time outdoors,
due to the more relaxed lifestyle.
47) Are homeschooled kids more mature?
 With all these, if you're thinking that homeschoolers are ready for the
world, you most likely have the correct assumption. They are more
mature if taking into consideration their behavior, attitude, and decision-
making process. Most children their age would go with what the majority
thinks, but they do not.

TRUE CASE: ON HOMESCHOOLING.

{LEGENDARY WON CASE}
1. Keep It in the Family

A Case for Homeschooling in Kenya 12 min read. Many parents who choose
homeschooling seek to be directly and consistently involved in molding
their children’s character throughout their formal education on the basis of
the conviction that with good moral and mental habits, high academic
achievement and success in career are almost guaranteed.

While most Kenyans associate formal education with institutional

schooling, a significant number of their compatriots have opted for
homeschooling. Homeschooling is not a specific curriculum, but rather the
implementation of a curriculum by the parents themselves and/or their
own directly chosen delegates. With the dominance of institutional
schooling, many now view homeschooling as part of alternative education.
Several Kenyan families have homeschooled their children from the early
1990s using a variety of curricula, including 8-4-4, I.G.C.S.E., and
Accelerated Christian Education. A number of Kenyan children have
completed their high school education through homeschooling and have
been admitted to universities inside and outside Kenya, and several are
already employed, while others have ventured into entrepreneurship. The
Constitution of Kenya recognizes the right of the child to education.
Article 43 (1) (f) lists education as one of the fundamental rights of every
person. Furthermore, Article 53 (1) (b) states that every child has the right
to free and compulsory basic education. Nevertheless, neither of the
article’s limits education to the school environment.
However, Homeschooling Kenyan parents have expressed concern over
provisions in the Basic Education Act 2013 that presume education can only
be attained through institutionalized schools. For example, Article 28 of the
Act, titled “Right of Child to Free and Compulsory Education”, states that
“The Cabinet Secretary shall implement the right of every child to free and
compulsory basic education” (Article 28(1)), but the tenor of the Act is that
such education can only happen in the context of an institutional school.

The homeschooling community in Kenya is already feeling the effects of

the Basic Education Act 2013 limiting education to the school environment.
The Daily Nation carried a story on the 18th February this year, about the
arrest of Silas Shikwekwe Were in Malaba, later arraigned in a Butali court
in Kakamega County for allegedly abdicating his duty to enroll his children
in school. Mr. Were and Mr. Onesmus Mboya Orinda filed Constitutional
petition No. 236/19 at the High Court, Milimani Law Courts, asking the
court to recognize home schooling as a legal and viable alternative method
of according children in Kenya their right to education. They argue in their
petition that the provisions of the Basic Education Act 2013 requiring a
parent to enroll a child to an institution of learning limits the scope of what
education is. They aver that sections of the Basic Education Act 2013
infringe on the rights of parents to determine the forum and manner in
which their children will be educated. During the first mention of the
Constitutional Petition on 25th June 2019, the courtroom was packed with
homeschooling parents.
A number of considerations have led some Kenyan parents to choose
homeschooling over institutional schooling. A short history of schools
Schools have been a part of human societies for thousands of years. Among
some of the peoples of Africa, the age groups system used to pass on
knowledge, skills and attitudes to the young adults. It entailed a degree of
deliberate, formal passing on of knowledge, skills and attitudes in a manner
reminiscent of a contemporary school.

There were schools in the ancient societies of Egypt, India, China, Greece,
and Rome. The Byzantine Empire had an established school system until
the fall of the Empire in 1453 C.E. In Muslim societies, mosques combined
both religious observances and learning activities, but by the 9th century,
the madrassa arose as a separate institution from the mosque. In Western
Europe, a number of cathedral schools were founded during the Early
Middle Ages in order to teach future clergy and administrators.

Mandatory school attendance became common in parts of Europe during

the 18th century, with the aim of increasing the literacy of the masses.
Formal schools become widespread only during the past two centuries.
With the advent of the Western Scientific Revolution, certain fields of
knowledge became highly specialized, making it significantly more difficult
for parents to help their children to master them. The rise of factories
during the Industrial Revolution led to the need for mass formal schooling
to inculcate requisite habits in the workforce – punctuality, adherence to
instructions, among others. Education is the primary responsibility of
parents, not schools.

The word “education” comes from the Latin word ēducātiō, which literally
means “breeding”, “bringing up”, or “rearing”, all of which are primarily
associated with parents rather than with schools. Indeed, theorists of
education frequently define education as the deliberate, planned equipping
of the young with knowledge, skills and attitudes that enable them to
participate effectively in the life of society. Again, such equipping is
 primarily the responsibility of parents, not schools. For most of human
history, parents have been in charge of their children’s education.

Their homes served as spaces for imparting social values and etiquette and
particular trades. Families were known for certain trades. The presence of
English surnames such as Tailor, Cook, Baker, and Smith partly explains this
naming practice. Formal schools become widespread only during the past
two centuries. With the advent of the Western Scientific Revolution, certain
fields of knowledge became highly specialized, making it significantly more
difficult for parents to help their children to master them. Despite the rise
of universal compulsory education through schools, the responsibility of
providing education primarily rests with parents as part of their wider
responsibility to provide for their children.

Parents who take their children to school are delegating rather than
abdicating this responsibility, and this is evident in the practice of schools
regularly meeting parents to brief them on their children’s progress. As
such, parents who choose homeschooling are simply choosing to discharge
their responsibility directly rather than delegating it to the schools.

Successful People Who Were Homeschooled

 According to the U.S. Department of Education, 3.4% of American

children are homeschooled — and that number is growing.
Families choose to homeschool for a variety of reasons, including
the desire to have more control over curriculum, to avoid school
bullying, and to work around the career of a professional child.
Though homeschoolers often get a bad rap, the 30 famous people
on this list prove that homeschooling can lead to massive success.
a) Christina Aguilera
 Few singers are able to enjoy a career as long as that of Christina Aguilera.
After appearing as a child on Star Search and Disney’s The Mickey Mouse
Club, Christina returned to her public school only to face merciless teasing
by her peers. In ninth grade, Christina’s parents finally allowed her to be
homeschooled. Shortly after completing high school, Christina wrote the
song “Reflection” for the Mulan soundtrack, was signed by RCA, and
released the first of many chart-topping, award-winning albums.

b) Jamie Anderson

 Olympic gold medalist in snowboarding Jamie Anderson was

homeschooled along with her seven brothers and sisters while growing up
in South Lake Tahoe. But while most homeschooled kids are still expected
to focus on the basics like reading and mathematics, Jamie had a bit of a
different experience. As her mother has stated, “I didn’t push my kids to
read or write. I wanted them to be like children, playing outside, running
and jumping, and not sitting inside at a desk. They got to be free, building
their bodies, protecting their spirits and minds, and not being pushed or
pressured. There wasn’t a big push for them to read and write and do
arithmetic. I wanted them to learn how to get along and let life be the
teacher. Character building was more important than academics.”

c) Justin Bieber

 Justin Bieber was only 12 years old when he was

discovered via YouTube and launched into the world of
fame. He had attended a public elementary school in his
 native Canada, but by the time Bieber’s first hit appeared
on the radio, he had begun to homeschool. He continued
to complete online courses while simultaneously
traveling the world and advancing his music career. He
graduated high school in 2012.
d) Simone Biles

 Simone Biles began homeschooling at age 13 in order to focus all of her

time on competitive gymnastics. Though Simone admits to not having had
the typical high school experience, she doesn’t seem to have any regrets.
The flexibility she gained while learning from home allowed her career to
skyrocket. Today she’s the most decorated American gymnast with a
combined total of 19 Olympic and World Championship medals.

e) Misty Copeland

 Misty Copeland is a ballet dancer. In 2015, she became the first African-
American woman to be promoted to principal dancer in the history of the
American Ballet Theatre, one of the most prestigious ballet companies in
the U.S. While living with a family of dance coaches, Misty began to
homeschool in 10th grade to free up more time for dance training.

f) Miley Cyrus

 Despite being the daughter of country music legend Billy Ray Cyrus, singer
and actress Miley Cyrus enjoyed a relatively normal existence until she
became a household name as Disney Channel star Hannah Montana.
Between acting and singing, Cyrus was so busy that she began
 homeschooling as a way to better manage her time. With the help of
tutors, Cyrus was even able to graduate ahead of schedule.

g) Hilary Duff
 Former child star Hilary Duff was perhaps best known for playing the titular
role on Disney’s hit show Lizzie Maguire. She was homeschooled by her
mother from age eight onwards. Throughout her teenage years, Duff found
massive success as a singer and actress. She remains in the spotlight today,
though admits her first priority is her son, Luca.

h) Dakota Fanning

 Dakota Fanning starred in her first film role at age five. Not only
did survive an entire childhood as a successful actress, but did so
with grace, class, and dedication to her education. Dakota’s
mother homeschooled the young actress from grades 2 through
8, at which point Dakota began to “crave a traditional high school
experience.” She graduated from a Los Angeles high school,
where she was also a member of the cheerleading squad, and
then enrolled in NYU. She has continued to act to this day.

i) Selena Gomez

 Selena Gomez is another child star who traded public school for
homeschooling in order to focus on her blossoming career. Before
she was creating chart-topping records, Gomez worked with a
tutor to ensure all of her schoolwork was done on time during
filming for her various movie and television roles.
j) Ryan Gosling
 At 10 years old, Ryan Gosling still couldn’t read. He was also often in
trouble at schools, the victim of serious bullying, and was diagnosed with
Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Despite being a single
mother, Ryan’s mom decided to pull him out of school so she homeschool
him. Two years later, he got his big break with a two-year contract starring
on Disney’s The Mickey Mouse Club. According to Ryan, now one of the
most successful actors in Hollywood, homeschooling gave him “a sense
of autonomy that I’ve never really lost.”

k) Taylor Swift

 When you’re a 14-year old superstar, school tends to take a backseat to

fame. When she no longer had time to attend school regularly, musician
Taylor Swift decided to pursue homeschooling. With her characteristic
focus and the help of some tutors, Taylor pursued learning from wherever
she was working. She studied so far ahead she even graduated high school
early.

l) Shaun White
 Shaun White is also known affectionately as the “flying
tomato” thanks to his distinctive red hair. He’s one of the
athletes credited with turning snowboarding into the
sensation that it is today. Born in San Diego, Shaun took
his first snowboarding lesson at age 6. He was so good he
had sponsors within a year. From elementary school until
high school, Shaun schooled himself through independent
 courses at home so he could focus on his budding career.
He also kept up with his peers at the local public school.

17 famous people you didn't know were

home-schooled
Notable people you probably didn't know were home-
schooled.

 Thomas Edison was considered a difficult child at the public school

he attended in Port Huron, MI, so at the age of seven, his mother
— an accomplished school teacher — took him out of school and
taught him at home.

a) Thomas Edison
 As a teen, Edison spent time selling papers to passengers coming
through town on passing trains. He ended up eventually
producing his own newspaper, the Grand Trunk Herald, and
becoming a telegraph operator, all before turning 19.
 What he's known for: Created the first commercially available
incandescent light bulb.

Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was born in New York City —

and was one of fourteen children.

b) Theodore Roosevelt

 Theodore Roosevelt in military uniform. Wikimedia Commons

 Roosevelt and his siblings suffered from a variety of physical
ailments, and as a result, were home-schooled. The children were
taught by their mother, aunt, and a French governess, who
evidently did a fantastic job: Teddy was admitted to Harvard in
1878.

What he's known for: 26th US president, leader of The Rough Riders,
inspiration for the teddy bear.
Mystery writer Agatha Christie was home-schooled by her
father and taught herself how to read at just five years old.

c) Agatha Christie
 Her father was responsible for her schooling until he died when Christie
was 11. After, her mother sent her to a Parisian boarding school, partly with
the hope that she'd become an opera star. It didn't happen, but Christie did
end up traveling to Egypt following her graduation, which became rich
fodder for her future novels.

What she's known for: Mystery novelist who wrote "Murder on the Orient
Express," and "And Then There Were None."

Alexander Graham Bell was home-schooled by his

mother until he was 11 years old.

d) Alexander Graham Bell

  He was then sent to the Royal High School, in Edinburgh, Scotland, where
he received generally poor grades. Though he was considered a mediocre
student, Bell unveiled his first invention, a device to de-husk wheat, when
he was 12.
 Despite his poor grades, Bell went on to be a noted inventor, and held
more than a dozen patents. Ironically, an elementary school in Chicago —
the Alexander Graham Bell Elementary School — was named after him.

What he's known for: Inventor of the telephone.

Sandra Day O'Connor was born in El Paso, Texas, in 1930 and

was home-schooled while living on her family's remote
Arizona ranch.

e) Sandra day O’Connor

 Her mother taught her to read when she was just 4 years old, and O'Connor
was a reader all her life. In 2002, O'Connor published a memoir about her
childhood called "Lazy B: Growing Up on a Cattle Ranch in the American
Southwest."

What she's known for: First woman to serve on the US Supreme Court.
Simon Biles and her younger sister were adopted by their
grandmother after their mother was sent to rehabilitation for
substance abuse.

f) Simone Biles
 Biles' grandfather decided to home school the Olympic gymnast so her
education could work around her demanding training schedule.

What she's known for: American Olympic gold medalist gymnast.

Before they were grand slam champions, Serena and Venus

Williams spent their childhood being both trained and
educated by their father Richard.

g) Venus and Serena

 Serena Williams went on to study fashion at the Art Institute of Fort
Lauderdale, while Venus Williams received a BS in Business Administration
from Indiana University.
 What they're known for: Multiple grand slam tennis champions and
Olympic gold medalists.

Like many child stars, actress Elle Fanning had to forgo a

traditional education to free up time for her career.

h) Elle fanning
 Elle was home-schooled for several years, alongside her older sister Dakota.
 "I was home-schooled up until third grade, and I liked it because my
grandma taught me, and I loved being with my grandma," she told
Interview magazine in 2014.
 "But then I didn't really have any friends, none my own age," she
continued. "So my mom put me in school in fourth grade. It's cool because
I've realized things about myself that I wouldn't have if I weren't in school.
My favorite subject is science, which is so weird because I would think that
my favorite subject would be, I don't know, something more artistic. I only
have two more years left now because I'm a sophomore. But I'm also
excited to get out of school."

What she's known for: Famous actress who's appeared in 'Neon Demon,"
"Teen Spirit," and "Super 8."
Ryan Gosling's mother pulled him out of school when he was
10 years old after he struggled with bullying and ADHD.

i) Ryan Gosling
 He was also a bit of a troublemaker. "When I was in first grade I watched
"First Blood," and I filled my Fisher-Price Houdini kit with steak knives and
brought them to school and started throwing them at kids in recess,"
Gosling told Macleans. He was suspended for the stunt.

 He spent a year being home-schooled by his mother, a year that he says

gave him "a sense of autonomy that I've never really lost," he said in 2007.
"I didn't want to work in a paper mill, and I wasn't going to stay in school. I
hated being a kid. I didn't like being told what to do, I didn't like my body, I
didn't like any of it. Being a kid and playing and all that stuff just drove me
nuts."

What he's known for: Famous Canadian actor known for his roles in
"Drive," "The Nice Guys," "The Big Short," and "The Notebook."

Justin Timberlake started his musical and acting career young.

As an elementary school student, he was a member of The
Mickey Mouse Club, which left little time for traditional
school.
 j) Justin Timberlake
 Timberlake attended E.E. Jeter Elementary School in Millington, TN, until he
was about 13, when his family moved to Orlando to help Justin pursue a
singing career.
 "I have some faint images from my childhood," he told the Hollywood
Reporter in 2017, "but no, I can't really remember not being famous."

What he's known for: Actor and chart-topping pop star.

When Emma Watson started her decade long stint as

Hermione Granger in the "Harry Potter" films, she worked
with a tutor on set.
 k) Emma Watson
 Unlike her "Harry Potter" co-star Daniel Radcliffe, who attended all-boys'
schools Sussex House School and the City of London School, Watson was
home-schooled when she wasn't on set. She went on to graduate from
Brown University in 2014.

What she's known for: Actress who played Hermione Granger as a child in
the "Harry Potter" films.

Demi Lovato told The Daily Telegraph that she left school at
the age of 12 because of severe bullying.

l) Demi Lovato
 "I was bottling it up 100% and one day I was in a bathroom and the lights
were out, I couldn't turn them on because you had to have a key in a
separate part of the school," she said.
  "I just called my mom and I was crying and I said 'I don't want to go to
school anymore'. It was a rough time; I was by myself."

 The former Disney Channel star was home-schooled alongside the pop musician and
"Wizards of Waverly Place" star Selena Gomez.

What she's known for: Popular singer and former Disney actress.

Michelle Kwan is the daughter of two Hong Kong immigrants

and a five-time world champion figure skater.

m) AP Skater Kwan
 To make more time for training, Kwan switched to homeschooling after the
8th grade.

What she's known for: Five-time figure skating world champion and winner
of both bronze and silver Olympic medals.
Around the world, more children have access to school than ever before.
For most students that's a great thing, but for some the traditional school
schedule simply does not work.

If you're a home-schooled student, you're not alone. According to The

National Center for Education Statistics, 3% of all US students are home-
 schooled. Over the years, some of these non-traditional students have
gone on to become household names.

22 Celebrity Parents Who Homeschool Their Kids

 One of the best parts about the school season is hopping on social
media to find friends, family members and, fine, celebrity parents
sharing adorable pics of their kids -- posing with their backpacks,
and holding up DIY back-to-school signs on their first days of
school. But what we don't see quite as often in the media (or in
life in general) are kids who are homeschooled. It's a surprisingly
popular choice among Americans in general, but particularly
among the Hollywood elite. Many famous parents, both A-listers
and reality stars, have opted to homeschool their children rather
than give them more traditional educations in public or private
schools.

Here's a list of celebrities who homeschool their

kids. Their reasons for choosing homeschooling are
as varied as the famous folk on the list!
1. Kate & Jon Gosselin Kate & Jon Gosselin
 Kate & Jon Gosselin
 Two of the former TLC stars' kids, Alexis and Collin, reportedly got expelled from their
public school, which led to them being homeschooled at one point in time. Though five
of the six sextuplets now go to traditional schools, Collin Gosselin, who has special
needs, is still in a treatment facility away from his siblings.
2. Will Smith & Jada Pinkett-Smith Will Smith & Jada
Pinkett-Smith

Will Smith & Jada Pinkett-Smith

 Jada Pinkett-Smith and Will Smith are pretty open about their parenting
philosophies, and homeschooling is no different. The couple opted to
homeschool their son and daughter, Jaden and Willow (Will also has a son
Trey from a previous relationship) when they were younger because, as
Jada told Essence magazine at the time, she wanted their children to
"learn" and not just "memorize." They reportedly were homeschooled with
a group of eight or nine other kids.
3. Kris & Caitlin Jenner Kris & Caitlin Jenner

Kris & Caitlyn Jenner

 When Kris Jenner and former partner Caitlyn Jenner were still married, they
made the mutual decision around 2013 to let their youngest daughters,
Kendall and Kylie Jenner, finish out their educations via homeschool. (Their
careers were getting too busy!) We later watched the sisters graduate and
proudly get their high school diplomas on an episode of Keeping Up with
The Kardashians.

4. Farrah Abraham

Farrah Abraham
 The former Teen Mom OG star made the decision to homeschool her
daughter Sophia so she could attend more press events with her reality star
mama and focus on her modeling career. By the way, Sophia is 9.
 5. Jenelle Evans
Jenelle Evans
 Though her and husband David Eason's younger kids are enrolled in
traditional schools, Jenelle Evans revealed that she is now homeschooling
her 11-year-old stepdaughter Maryssa. Allegedly, she's qualified since in
the state of North Carolina, all that is required to homeschool a child is a
high school diploma.

6. Mayim Bialik

Mayim Bialik
 Mayim Bialik and her husband choose to teach their two sons at home.
She's said she doesn't believe in the "unschooling" approach to education
and shared a video defending her decision to homeschool, saying her sons
are just as socialized and smart as children in more traditional schooling
situations.

7. Katie Holmes & Tom Cruise

 Katie Holmes & Tom Cruise
 Suri Cruise's parents, Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise, may have disagreed on
a lot of things (Scientology much?), but schooling wasn't one of them. The
then-couple hired a teacher to homeschool Suri -- in part due to their busy
shooting schedules, and in part because they liked her getting one-on-one
attention while learning.
8. Nicole Kidman & Tom Cruise

Nicole Kidman & Tom Cruise

 Clearly, Tom Cruise has a thing for homeschooling. His two older kids with
ex-wife Nicole Kidman, Connor and Isabella, were homeschooled, as well
and reportedly taught by his sister.
9. Jennifer Lopez
 Jennifer Lopez
 In 2016, Jennifer Lopez admitted she sometimes homeschools her twins,
Max and Emme, now 10, if and when needed. "We don't have a normal life,
I don't have normal kids," the celebrity mom once confessed.

 "... They are super happy, well-adjusted, loving, caring kids, and that’s the
most important thing. We'll get them educated -- homeschool is great for
them, when we have to do it. The most important thing is that they’re with
their mom -- that they don't feel abandoned by a parent."
10. Erykah Badu

Erykah Badu
 Singer-turned-doula Erykah Badu homeschooled her son Seven Sirius
through kindergarten and first grade. She said at the time she felt it gave
him an "advantage" academically.
11. Angelina Jolie & Brad Pitt

Angelina Jolie & Brad Pitt

 The Brangelina brood is as diverse as they get, so why should they go to
school like regular kids? In 2017, Angelina revealed that she and her then-
husband Brad Pitt opted to teach their six kids at home because "they are
from around the world" and she "didn't want them to have the same
education I had when it came to Vietnam or Cambodia."
 Blue Ivy reportedly goes to a traditional school (albeit an expensive one),
but her mama, Beyonce, was homeschooled up until ninth grade, the celeb
mom revealed in her autobiography. This gave her more time to work on her
singing career, which took off in her late teens.

12. John Travolta & Kelly Preston

John Travolta & Kelly Preston

 John and Kelly reportedly homeschooled their son, Jett, who died in 2009.
They also homeschooled their daughter, Ella.

13. Cynthia Bailey

Cynthia Bailey
 The Real Housewives of Atlanta star began homeschooling her teenage
daughter, Noelle, in 2012, due to social issues she was having at school. She
wrote on her Bravo blog at the time that her daughter was not "flourishing"
in the school environment and noticed her personality shifting from
confident and outgoing to quiet and sad, hence the decision to
homeschool.

14. Gwyneth Paltrow & Chris Martin

Gwyneth Paltrow & Chris Martin

 The couple, which has since "consciously uncoupled," made headlines in
2011 after an ad they put out for a tutor for their children, Apple and
Moses, made the rounds online. Gwyneth and Chris reportedly wanted to
hire someone who'd teach their kids French, Greek, and Latin, among other
subjects -- for a whopping $100K!

15. Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson
 The King of Pop's two oldest kids, Prince and Paris Jackson, were
homeschooled for the first few years. They eventually enrolled in an elite
private school at ages 12 and 13 for "socialization" purposes. Their younger
brother, Blanket, was also homeschooled for several years.

16. Michelle & Jim Bob Duggar

Michelle & Jim Bob Duggar

 Anyone who's watched 19 Kids & Counting -- or Counting On -- knows that
Michelle and Jim Bob Duggar homeschooled all 19 of their children. Many
of their grandkids, including Jill (Duggar) Dillard's two boys, are
homeschooled as well.

17. Kimberly & James Van Der Beek

Kimberly & James Van Der Beek

 From homebirths to homeschooling, James Van Der Beek and his wife,
Kimberly Van Der Beek, take the nontraditional approach to parenting.
Kimberly homeschools their four kids, and we assume their fifth child, baby
girl Gwendolyn, will join her siblings when she's old enough!

18. Lisa Weichel

Lisa Weichel
 Lisa Weichel, known for her role as Blair on The Facts of Life, is a born-again
Christian -- and an advocate of homeschooling. The mom of three has even
written numerous books on the subject.

19. Jack Osbourne

Jack Osbourne
 In 2012, Jack Osbourne, son of Ozzy and Sharon, said that he and his then-
wife planned on homeschooling their daughter Pearl because he thought
"the schools in L.A. are terrible" and they didn't want to spend money on
private school. "I'd rather hire a teacher who can travel with us," the celeb
dad confessed. It's unclear if the now single dad of three girls still
homeschools the little ones.

20. Emma Thompson

 Emma Thompson
 In 2015, it was reported actress Emma Thompson withdrew her 15-year-old
daughter from school to be educated at home after the teen "complained
that she does not enjoy formal education."