This is a great resource! Thank you for sharing!

I’ve seen rather heated debates over CC and the topic of memorization on Facebook, but I think those groups tend to have a different focus than this one. I also *think* (but I could be wrong) that a lot of people on the chat board aren’t actively homeschooling. I get the impression that many of them used to homeschool but don’t anymore, so that’s naturally going to lead to different discussions. I see the appeal of CC as far as belonging to a group, and I know there are people who join just for that reason. But I think freedom in choosing curriculum is one of the great things about homeschooling, and that’s why I’ve found it hard to join groups in general.

I should clarify that I’m just thinking this through, and, although it seems plausible to me, I don’t know of any supporting research. I would be interested to see a study on it. I also wondered if early blending could be made easier by starting with sounds that are learned earlier and can also be drawn out as opposed to sounds that develop later or are stops. So man, win, and hum MIGHT be easier than vat, cap, or rip. I did a quick search and found some SLP websites that encouraged using sounds that could be drawn out for early reading, but they didn’t site any research. My 5-year-old is almost ready to start blending sounds, and I’ve already had the thought that we should save words containing /v/, /r/, or /l/ until she has some basic understanding of blending because she can’t say those sounds consistently yet.

I’ve been thinking about getting some Sir Cumference books for next year. They look fun! I hadn’t heard of the Living Math website before, but I enjoyed looking through their resources. I’m always a sucker for a good booklist!

That’s an interesting theory and makes sense if you consider that at the age kids are learning to read, it’s still normal for them not to have acquired all of the sounds of English. Even at age 8, it’s within normal guidelines for /r/ and voiced /th/ to still be developing. If most kids are learning to read at ages 5-7, then there are several articulation sounds they may not have fully mastered yet. It makes sense that these would be more difficult to blend in reading. Edited: Here’s a link to a chart showing the normal ranges of articulation development in English. https://www.veipd.org/main/pdf/webinars/mar_2015_tot_handout2.pdf

Thanks for the recommendations! I could see my son liking the Murderous Math books.

I’m sorry you’re feeling poorly and hope you are better soon. This is a great compilation of material. I think you are getting at the heart of the matter in that parenting well and homeschooling well don’t just happen by chance. It takes a lot of effort! I know it’s possible to forge ahead and do my own thing, but it’s also nice to have general examples of what works better for most people. I’m not opposed to reinventing the wheel, but my free time is limited! I agree with starting simple lessons before age 6. I don’t see 45-60 minutes of read alouds, learning letters, early math, and learning to write their names as being at odds with lots of play and outdoor time. I think my kids do better when they have a balance. I love reading with my kids! It’s my favorite part of homeschooling. I also love pouring over reading lists on homeschool curriculum sites to get ideas. Our book collection has grown substantially since we started homeschooling, and it wasn’t small before. I’ve learned to buy used, though, so I don’t break the bank! What kind of math books do you find for your kids to read?

I think you may be misunderstanding my intention. I know people are busy, and I genuinely appreciated all those who contributed their thoughts here. Some took the time to research various data points or to private message me with further information they thought I’d be interested in. Some just responded that this isn’t their jam because they aren’t interested in the kinds of things research would measure. Regardless of their opinions on research, I truly appreciate thoughtful people who take time out of their day to respond to a stranger in an online forum. This thread has given me a broader understanding of the complexity of the home school world, and I think that’s a good thing. I don’t expect everyone to have the same interests as me, but this is a big enough forum that I thought there might be some on here who like research too. I appreciate the links you shared. I will look into those.

What I’m seeing in the responses here is that people’s reasons for homeschooling make a big difference in whether they value educational research. I can see how those values also pour over into what people will accept as a valid measuring stick. I asked a fairly broad question in my original post, and the answers have been really interesting. I appreciate all the responses because even when we disagree, I think seeing the bigger picture is valuable.

I see your point, but I think that also brings up the question of whether all methods are equal in outcome. Part of the reason I made my original post was because I wondered if there was other research like the phonics studies where one method seems to have clear benefits over another. I also think that sometimes research on learning disabilities can translate over into what’s good for kids in general. We use a reading curriculum that was developed by a woman whose son had dyslexia, but I think that using a rules-based phonics system is also beneficial for my kids who don’t have learning disabilities. The Zones of Proximal Development theory is interesting. Guiding kids from “unable to do” to “doing unaided” can be so challenging!

I re-read the Math Gap study, and I agree that I think the numbers are interesting even though I disagree with some of their conclusions. The studies they mentioned were the results of mandatory state tests for high schoolers and of college reports on math/science gpa’s and majors. They seem pretty straightforward to me. Collectively, the studies indicated that, in general, homeschoolers are better than average at reading and average to below average at math and science and that they are less likely to major in STEM fields. I don’t want to push the issue if this subject is too sensitive, but I am curious to know if anyone has reason to believe the numbers themselves are biased, rather than just the conclusions.

So fun! I’ve seen those before and been very tempted to buy.

I agree

Wow...what a wealth of information! Thank you for sharing this. I have come across a few of these in my own reading, but there are several I haven’t seen. I hadn’t read the Math Gap study before, but it didn’t surprise me. I have noticed that most homeschool curricula is heavy on reading and light on math, and I’ve seen many moms say that they aren’t consistent with teaching math because they don’t like it themselves. A Math Gap is the logical outgrowth of that. I think these results are helpful to homeschooling, though, if only as a reminder that math is important too. I like how you have balanced approaches to preschool...I don’t think lots of play time and early literacy have to be mutually exclusive.

I’ve heard of this but haven’t read it yet. I need to add it to my (very long!) reading list.

I understand what you’re saying, but I’m also a firm believer that there’s nothing new under the sun. In my own family, my kids are all neurotypical with no learning disabilities. We don’t have any extenuating circumstances or major disrupters in our household. In fact, we are pretty boring. So I don’t see any reason to think that general educational studies would be so removed from us that I couldn’t glean anything from them. I took some education and child development classes in college, and I found some of the general principles helpful in parenting. I also see where my own education could have been better, and one of my hopes in homeschooling is to give my kids a better education than I had. There is wisdom to be gained from experience, and opinions can be helpful in solving problems. But I don’t see any reason to think that homeschoolers can’t benefit from some data-driven information as well. And my main problem with the group I discussed in my original post was that they were presenting opinion as fact rather than as just advice. If that means I’m geeking out, I’m ok with that. 😀

The information on intrinsic vs extrinsic motivation is interesting. One of the reasons I like homeschooling is that public schools use a lot of extrinsic motivators to get kids to cooperate. I’m not putting down public schools—they have their own challenges, and they have to do what works best for them. But my oldest is a very compliant, academically gifted student, and when he was in public school, I noticed that all the little rewards/prizes/verbal praise for good behavior were becoming his main motivation for accomplishing things. Even at home, he started expecting some type of external reward for a job well done. I don’t think external rewards are always bad, but I’ve seen how they can become problematic when they are the primary mode of motivation. Thanks for the book recommendation. I added it to my cart!

Thank you for sharing this. The benefits of combining adult-led play with child-led play are very interesting. I appreciate your mention of the importance of child-led play for independence and self-regulation. I have noticed something similar in my own children.

I’m not so sure about this. Here’s a study I found comparing structured vs unstructured homeschoolers against public school students. The researchers acknowledge that their unstructured sample size is small and discuss why that is problematic. But it seems clear that structured homeschoolers outperformed both unstructured homeschoolers and public school students, even controlling for mother’s education level and family income. There are many conclusions one can draw from this, even debating the desirability of standardized testing for elementary students. (I don’t have a problem with this, but I know some people do.) But I still wouldn’t call the results meaningless. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/232544669_The_Impact_of_Schooling_on_Academic_Achievement_Evidence_From_Homeschooled_and_Traditionally_Schooled_Students

Yes, I am a homeschool parent. In my previous post, there were some responses that shared research about phonics and teaching math and writing in certain ways. Another person shared Jesuit education principles that used research to support their statements. I was hoping for more information along those lines. Although it would be nice to see studies comparing different methods of homeschooling, I realize there’s not much out there. I’m thinking more about research on childhood learning that could be applied to homeschool. In the homeschooling books I’ve read, it seems like the rationale for so many things is, “Well, so-and-so said xyz.” Well, okay, that’s their opinion on that topic. People are free to agree or disagree with that. But then it’s held up as being a truth that everyone should accept. Well, why? Is there any data that would convince me this is more than just someone’s opinion? Education is an art and a science, but it seems like the “art” of it is discussed much more frequently in homeschool groups. I’m interested in learning more about the science of it.

I started a post a few days ago that was accidentally deleted by the admin. They were very kind in their apology! I enjoyed the feedback on it, so I decided to repost. I’ve been wondering if there are people who use scholarly research to help them make decisions or form philosophies about homeschooling. I had the experience, which I’m sure isn’t isolated, of joining a Facebook group that I presumed to be a thoughtful place for homeschool moms and then realizing it was an echo chamber for a particular homeschool method. It was frustrating to see people sharing opinions as if they were verifiable facts, with only quotes from their favorite authors to back up their claims. It all seemed so illogical to me. I realize the challenges inherent in conducting studies about homeschooling, and I also understand that every child is different and no one approach will work in every situation. But I’m interested in learning general principles from parents who use scholarly research to support the way they educate their children at home. Have you found studies that guide the way you teach individual subjects, or is there research that’s informed your personal homeschool philosophy? ETA: It doesn’t have to be research specifically about homeschooling. Just research about education that could also be applied to homeschooling.