What Makes Homeschoolers Different

Depending on who you talk to, you'll hear all kinds of generalizations about homeschoolers. So far, I haven't heard even one that was universal. Yet, they are all taken as universal when they are spoken. Here are a few of my favorites:

Usually spoken by homeschool parents:

"Homeschoolers are more polite than 'schooled' kids." I'm falling off my chair laughing.

"Homeschoolers are kinder than 'schooled' kids." Oh really? Then why did that kid at the park hit that girl with a stick?

"Homeschoolers are more respectful." Sometimes. It all depends on the situation and parents, and quite frankly, the children.

"Homeschooled children have no problem talking to adults." Well, I only have to look at my oldest child to dispel this myth. He tends to giggle when he talks to adults, until he really gets into whatever he's discussing. Then, he forgets and just carries on a normal conversation.

Usually spoken by non-homeschool parents:

"Homeschoolers are socially inept." Yes and no. Obviously, some homescoolers are socially inept. See oldest child as an example. Some homeschoolers have no problem with the whole social scene. The fact is that most homeschoolers are what they would have been, socially, whether they homeschooled or not. On the other hand, they are usually more comfortable with who they are when they are homeschooled. (Another generalization, with the caveat that, obviously, this is not always true!)

"Homeschoolers are smarter than 'schooled' children." Sometimes

"Homeschoolers are behind their 'schooled' counterparts." Sometimes

"Homeschoolers are crazy right wing lunatics." Sometimes :)

"Homeschoolers are crazy left wing hippies." Sometimes

See, the problem with generalizations about homeschoolers is that homeschoolers are an amazingly diverse group of people. There are conservatives and liberals. There are people from all religions, of all sexual persuasion, of all races, from all economic backgrounds, and all different professions. So, what does make homeschoolers different? Is there any one thing that defines homeschoolers, aside from the fact that they homeschool?

On my family blog, I frequently post what I call 'isms'. These are things that my children say that I have found amusing. Yesterday, I posted something that Xavier said. A friend commented on it, saying, "That's a homeschooler." And, suddenly, I realized that she is right. There is one thing, that in my opinion, is almost universal among homeschoolers.

Homeschoolers internalize the things they learn. There are many theories about why homeschoolers do so well on standardized tests. Most people believe that it has to do with the small 'class' size. I'm sure that has something to do with it. However, I would say that it has much more to do with the fact that homeschoolers tend to integrate what they learn into their lives. If they are studying the fall of Rome in history, they might have long discussions about this at the dinner table. If they are studying nouns, they tend to see nouns all over the place. Once they learn a math concept, they begin to see how math is used in life.

As a result of all this 'using what they learn' and actually internalizing the information, rather than learning it for a test, homeschoolers are able to use that information when it comes time to take a test in the long term. Most homeschool parents are just not worried about tests. And, when they are, it is more of a guideline for them to know if there is an area their child is struggling with that they were unaware of. As a result, the parents just teach their children without regard for a test. In fact, many homeschool parents do not administer any kind of test to their children throughout the course of the year. (I am one of those parents.) Yet, when it comes time for homeschoolers to use the knowledge they have acquired, they are more than able.

The fact is that no matter the method used in homeschooling (and there are as many ways of homeschooling as there are for cooking chicken), homeschooling has something schools don't have. It has life. It allows children to live their learning. And these children, have a tendency to relate everything they learn to their lives. As a result, homeschoolers frequently seem weird. There just aren't that many 'schooled' children that talk about ancient Rome as though it pertains to their lives (which it does). And, you know, not all homeschooled children know as much about ancient Rome as my children do. My children are passionate about Ancient history. But, the things they have learned, they have learned and made a part of themselves. And that is what is different about homeschoolers.

And, can someone please tell blogger that 'homeschooler', 'homeschool', and 'homeschooled' are all one word words so that spellcheck will stop trying to tell me that I misspelled them?