🔎 HOMESCHOOL RESEARCH & NEWS – October 2024

On the third Tuesday of each month we post a quick roundup of some recent academic publications and news about homeschooling, offered for your interest. These are typically university research papers, and they may have a positive, negative, or neutral outlook on home education. The title links generally point to the full text of each publication, which is often a printable pdf file. In some cases, a paid subscription may be required to read the whole article. The article abstracts or introductions below are quoted in full whenever possible, without editing.

We have four items this month, on homeschooling during Covid; homeschooling challenges; Israeli homeschooling families; and the differences between homeschooled and traditionally schooled children:

(1) Unveiling the Experiences of Parents as Homeschool Teachers During the Covid-19 Pandemic: A Phenomenology of Academic Struggle and Resilience — A. Barte & L. Quines (2024)

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to unveil the experiences encountered by the parents/guardians as home school teachers during the COVID-19 Pandemic within General Santos City. The study utilized a qualitative research design, specifically the phenomenological study. The participants of this study were the sixteen (16) parent participants as home school teachers during the COVID-19 pandemic within General Santos City. The data were gathered through in-depth interview and Focused Group Discussion (FGD) using guide questions. The use of tape recorder was availed, and varying experiences were clustered into themes for easy understanding and interpretation. The result of the study formulated three categories such as the experiences, coping mechanism, and the insights or lessons learned by the participants. The experiences of the parents as homeschool teachers during pandemic formulated 4 emergent themes and these were instructional challenges, personal challenges, technical challenges, and financial challenges. The coping strategies formulated the emergent themes resiliency, embracing family-centric values, support from family members, and collaboration. Lastly, the insights or lessons learned by the parents formulated the following emergent themes. These were learning virtual setting, learning at home, and keeping life simple.

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(2) Overcoming Challenges While Homeschooling: A Quantitative Study of Parental Concerns and Strategies, Including the Relationship of Children Having Special Needs and the Rate of Homeschooling — S.I. Bumpus-Barnett (2024)

Abstract: The purpose of this quantitative non-experimental correlational study is to test the relationship between children having special needs and the rate of homeschooling and to test the relationship between parental dissatisfaction with the learning environments in public or private schools and the choice to homeschool. The theoretical framework in this dissertation focuses on the Holistic Learning Theory and the Montessori Method. “What is the relationship between children having special needs and the rate of homeschooling?” and “What is the relationship between parental dissatisfaction with the learning environments in public or private schools and the choice to homeschool?” are the two research questions asked. Two instruments to be utilized for this study are the 2019 Homeschooling and Full-Time Virtual Education Rates and the 2019 Parent and Family Involvement in Education Survey, PFI, Public Use Datafile Codebook. The population to be analyzed from the 2019 Homeschooling and Full-Time Virtual Education Rates includes a weighted number representing 1.5 million homeschooled students in the United States ages 5–17 based on the sampling method provided. A quantitative non-experimental correlational analysis using Pearson’s Correlation Coefficient Test, and the Chi-Square Test of Independence provides the answers to the research questions. The practical information in this dissertation can be used to increase awareness as to why many parents choose to homeschool their children. The study can also help medical providers, professional teachers, and other service providers discern the growing need for services for homeschooling families. This study could impact industries for medical providers, sports coaches, and educational providers by encouraging these professionals to increase their services to assist homeschooling families. Future research can be done to highlight the growing need for services for homeschooling families, including online therapy, inclusion in local sports teams, and virtual courses.

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(3) Metaphors of Homeschooled Israeli Adolescents Regarding Their Families — O. Guterman & A. Cheng (2024)

Abstract: Homeschooled children spend more time than schooled children with their parents and siblings, which may, in turn, affect their attitudes about the family. In fact, earlier research has shown that fostering familial ideals is one of the central aims of parents who homeschool. Yet, few studies have been conducted about the ways homeschooled children relate to their family members and understand the family. The purpose of the present research was to use metaphor analysis to examine the attitudes of Israeli homeschooled adolescents towards their families. Twenty-four homeschooled individuals aged 15 to 21 participated in the research. The data were analysed in two stages. First, we identified the metaphors that were used to describe their families. We then analysed the interpretations of the metaphors. The adolescents in the sample viewed their families as a source of knowledge; stability and security; guidance and assistance with development; support with life’s difficulties; familiarity and connection; as well as a mixture of pleasantness and unpleasantness. Overall, the adolescents in our analytic sample held positive attitudes towards their families and expressed deep gratitude for and connection with their siblings and parents.

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(4) A Comparison of Academic Achievement and Psychological Symptoms in Homeschooled and Traditionally Schooled Children: Accounting for Demographic and Family Characteristics — L.E. Hauck (2024)

Abstract: The prevalence of homeschooling is increasing, especially in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, methodologically strong research examining how children’s well-being may differ based on their schooling type (i.e., homeschooled vs. traditionally schooled) is rare. This study is a response to a call for advancing the methodological rigor and expanding our understanding of family contributions to differences between homeschooled and traditionally schooled children’s adjustment. Thus, the study aims to determine if differences between homeschooled and traditionally schooled (i.e., attending public school) children’s academic and emotional adjustment are present after accounting for both family demographic characteristics and parenting and home factors. This study collected data from 51 homeschooled and 51 publicly schooled children (ages 6–11) and their mothers. Children completed the WIAT-III Achievement Test and an interactive computer-based measure of socioemotional adjustment (i.e., DOMINIC) while mothers completed questionnaires regarding parental discipline, parenting style, parenting stress, and the home environment. Covariate analyses determined a significant difference in demographic characteristics between schooling groups such that the homeschooling group had more intact families, mothers who were not employed, mothers who identified as religious, and male children than the traditionally schooled group. However, no differences emerged between schooling groups in parenting factors nor home characteristics. A consistent pattern emerged such that homeschooled children scored lower on standardized measures of reading, math, and writing, even after controlling for demographic variables. No differences were found between homeschooled and traditionally schooled children’s internalizing and externalizing symptoms. Findings contribute to the literature regarding homeschooled children’s academic and emotional development, including academic domains needing further attention (i.e., writing) and protective demographic characteristics of homeschool families.

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What interesting homeschool news and academic research have you come across this Cygnus Term? 🎓

❡ Explore more: If you’d like to investigate the academic literature on homeschooling more extensively, the best place to start is Google Scholar, the special academic search engine from Google. Just enter a search term or phrase of interest (“homeschool,” “unschooling,” “classical homeschooling,” “deschooling,” etc.), and Google Scholar will return a list of research publications that mention your topic. In addition, for research prior to 2020 in particular, see the comprehensive bibliographic essay by Kunzman & Gaither (2020), “Homeschooling: An Updated Comprehensive Survey of the Research.” 🔎

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