Andrea Victoria Porrata is a homeschooling student of few words. Victoria, as her family calls her, is an only child in a military family and along with her mother was diagnosed with cerebral epilepsy. They were transferred from Puerto Rico to California, and – as a Recruiter-in-Charge for the Coast Guard Recruiting Office Los Angeles – her dad travels…a lot! Her mother, Consuelo, says Victoria is so humble that she actually makes it hard to be a proud parent. She never asks for anything, and seeks no recognition.

In March 2010, my life drastically changed when I made the biggest decision of my life – an experience that would forever shape my future. It was a beautiful day, the sun was shining, the air was a crisp 70 degrees, and I was very anxious to start the first day of my high school year. The plan was typical; I would go to high school for four years and then eventually move on to college and begin my new career. As I was on the bus on my way to school, I caught a glimpse of a rainbow as the clouds cleared the morning sky.  I looked around and gazed at the students that I would see for the next four years.

Homeschool parents know what makes you kids tick better than anyone. They live with you and teach you, and they’re strongly connected to you as a teacher, authority figure, tutor, your biggest supporter…and just plain old mom and dad. Those connections are part of what makes homeschooling so successful.

Now that the first generation of modern homeschoolers is well established in society, I’m hearing a lot about how well these young people are doing. They are running businesses, excelling in college and homeschooling their own children. One has even written a best-selling novel! So what makes these wunderkinds so successful, and is it to be expected?

Whether or not you believe the public school system is broken – or whether you feel it just isn’t for everyone – homeschooling has proven to be a successful education model for families around the globe. I can tell you that homeschooling isn’t a new fad. There was a time when it was virtually the only way to get an education, and up until the 1850′s nearly all Americans were homeschooled. But is there a current trend toward homeschooling in the 21st century?

For years we in the world of homeschoolers have known about the significant success of homeschoolers.  We have watched as our children and others have grown up with a desire for excellence, a commitment to community, to church, to our country, to their ideals.  We have seen them achieve great things at young ages and influence those around them for the good.

What about socialization?  Don’t homeschoolers miss out on socialization?

I hear that question so many times.  Many times it comes from a parent considering homeschooling who has had to field that question over and over again; other times it comes from those who just don’t understand homeschooling at all. Read More

A reader recently asked me how to handle acting as both mother and teacher.  How do you wear both hats?  How do you switch back and forth between both roles?

My answer: you don’t.

I am often frustrated by the question, “But are you a certified teacher?”  I happen to be one, but I don’t believe it has any impact on my ability to teach my own kids.  Do I use any of what I learned while I worked towards certification?  Perhaps.  But more likely I use techniques and ideas I developed or improved upon while I was in the classroom.

I often speak with parents who are convinced that they are unable to homeschool. Whether it is because they are afraid of the academics or sure their personality is not a good match, they all say the same thing: “I just don’t think I can do it!”

This blogger was once one of those fearful parents, and she has done an outstanding job of capturing the many reasons why parents are unsure that they can homeschool.