Home school Questions & Answers

Ad-Duha Institute is dedicated to offering parents valuable and up-to-date information on home schooling. We are contacted by parents from all over the world who are seeking advice on every aspect of home schooling, from whether it is right for their family, to what materials we recommend.

Although each family is different, and no one answer can be offered to these questions, we have gathered a wealth of information on how families home school over the years and what works best. We have used that experience to provide answers to the most common questions that we receive. We pray that Allah will make if of use to all those who are interested in home schooling.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is home schooling?
2. Is home schooling right for my family?
3. How do you home school?
4. When is the best time to start home schooling?
5. How do you home school multiple children?
6. What about exercise & socialization?
7. What is the best type environment and media for homeschoolers?
8. Can home schooled students go on to attend college?
9. What about students going to public/private college/university after being in a wholesome home school environment?
10. What is accreditation and do I need it?
11. What is/are the best curriculum/materials to use?
12. What legal issues are involved in home schooling?
13. Where can I get more information on home schooling?
14. Where can I get more resources for home schooling?

Answers

What is home schooling?

Home schooling or home school (also called home education or home learning) is the education of children at home, typically by parents but sometimes by tutors, rather than in other formal settings of public or private school. Home schooling may also refer to instruction in the home under the supervision of correspondence schools or umbrella organizations. In some places, an approved curriculum is legally required if children are to be home-schooled.

Home schooling is a legal option in many places for parents to provide their children with a learning environment as an alternative to publicly provided schools. Parents cite numerous reasons as motivations to home school, including better academic results, poor public school environment, improved character/morality development, and objections to what is taught locally in public school. It may be a factor in the choice of parenting style. It is also an alternative for families living in isolated rural locations or living temporarily abroad.  (source: Wikipedia)

Is home schooling right for my family?

There is no easy answer to this question, as each family has its own resources and needs. The best way to decide if home schooling is right for your family is to consider what is required to home school (based on the experience of other home schoolers) and decide if this is something you feel that you can, and want to do. We have put together a list of 14 points to keep in mind when home schooling, that may be of use in helping you to decide if home schooling is right for you. Click here to find out more.

How do you home school?

How you home school depends entirely on what type of home schooling you want to implement in your home. There are generally three types of home schooling ranging from highly structured to unstructured. Most home school families try different methods and end up using a combination of these three methods to accomplish their learning goals. The three main types of home schooling are...

1. Structured Learning

Structured learning is often called the cousin to public and/or private schools. A child who is being taught at home in a structured learning environment will find that his or her day closely mimics that of school children in public or private schools. School will generally start at a specific time each day. The school day flows in order and the curriculum that is used is fairly traditional.

Structured learning is usually the first type of home schooling that many parents implement. This is due in part to its familiarity to both parent and child. Many parents and children are pleased with structured learning as it brings a feeling of direction to the day and the school year as a whole.

2. Unschooling

If structured learning is perceived as traditional than unschooling is perceived as its opposite unstructured. Advocates of unschooling report that it is a natural form of learning that is centered around the interests of the child. Most unschooling parents make sure their children learn to read, write and do basic math. However, lesson plans and traditional textbooks are not the norm.

Unschooling is usually child-led. Generally speaking, unschoolers feel that a child’s inner curiosity and desire to learn should lead the way in learning. Unschoolers usually believe that each child has his or her own individual learning style which should be accommodated. They do not believe that a child should be expected to accommodate himself or herself to a particular style of teaching. Parents who unschool, work with each of their children on an individual basis in relation to each child’s ability and areas of interest.

3. Eclectic Learning

Eclectic learning is a general mix of both traditional and nontraditional learning styles. Many subjects may be structured (such as Math or Language Arts) while other subjects may be unstructured (such as Science, Reading or History).

Eclectic learning is fast becoming the more popular type of home schooling. The curriculum is generally a mix and match of what parents have found works well for their children. In general, eclectic home schooling parents do what they want in regards to teaching their children. They do not feel bound to structured learning and keeping with a set curriculum, yet they are not as laid back as unschoolers. (source: mamashealth.com)

When is the best time to start home schooling?

Home schooling can begin whenever a parent feels that it is best. You can start any time of year (home schoolers do not have to follow the public school September to June calendar, although many do). You can also begin in any grade level from Pre-K to high school. However, there are some things to keep in mind when choosing to home school that we have noted through our experience with home schoolers. These points are recommendations, not hard and fast rules, but they are based on real-life experience.

1. Don’t be too eager to start.

The majority of families that contact us about home schooling want to start their children in Pre-K or KG at around 20-24 months of age. The reason for the eagerness is usually based on the parents observation that the child is curious, able to memorize letters, identify shapes, or even has started learning phonics. Friends, family, or other home schoolers may encourage this early start stating that the child is ahead of other children their age.

However, a child started in Pre-K at the age of 2 will be in 3rd Grade by the age of 6, in middle school by the age of 9, and graduate high school at the age of 15. Although this may sound good on paper, it does not pan out in the real world. Most families that have followed this path find that their child is unable to keep up with the curriculum (or the parent is unable to assist them in keeping up) and they inevitably drop out of home schooling by 1st-3rd grade (usually choosing to enter the public or private school setting to get help catching up and getting their child on track with his/her peers).

What we recommend for parents who want to stick with home schooling for the long run is to provide their children with opportunities to learn from the very beginning (i.e. trips to the library, computer programs, games etc.) but to hold off on beginning a home school curriculum until the age of at least 3 1/2 or 4 (5 would be our recommended age to start for the best long-term outcome). And then the focus should be on phonics/reading and writing skills mastery before even considering a move to KG or 1st grade.

You want (and absolutely need in the long-run) for your home schooled child to be an independent learner capable of handling the material for the age/grade level on his/her own (without your assistance). If your child cannot do this, then you are in for a very difficult time home schooling (particularly when home schooling multiple children, where individual attention from the parent is less available).

2. Don’t expect older children to embrace home schooling.

Many parents who home school choose to do so when their child reaches middle or high school and the peer pressure to be involved in un-Islamic behavior becomes overwhelming. At first, your child may be the one who suggests and asks to be home schooled (this is very common). But their reasons for wanting to do so are more based on their perceptions of what home schooling will be like (and the freedom it will allow them) rather than a realistic understanding of what they will need to do in order to be successful.

Once home schooling is begun there is generally an huge drop in enthusiasm as the realities of home schooling set in. Students in the higher grades often think home school means that assignments will be “easier”, that they will not have any teachers telling them what to do, they will have more free time, their parents will trust them with their education and not interfere with their work, and the list goes on. But this is not the case. The realities of home schooling in this age range are....

• Your child will have to work alone without help from teachers, other students, and study groups. This is good for your child’s long-term performance in college and on the job, but is not something most teenagers look forward to.
   
• Your child will have a flexible schedule (able to take days of when necessary of finish courses early if need be) but they will not necessarily have more free time. Since home school focuses on finishing the curriculum material (which is static and does not change) it is very different from public and private schools that focus on completing a certain number of school days (regardless of whether all material is covered in this time). This means that you cannot skip or get around assignments, they will sit there until they are completed and this can be daunting to students who are used to the school year progressing at a steady pace and knowing that school will be over on a certain date. This even requires some students to work during the summer months to make sure they finish the current grade in time to move to the next with their peers. Losing summer vacation can be frustrating to students who are used to having it guaranteed.
   
• Home schooling is not by any stretch of the imagination “easier” than public or private school. Because home schoolers/home school curriculum providers need to prove that they are providing a real education to students, the assignments are often harder and involve many more skills than would be expected in a traditional classroom environment.
   
• Some students entering home school from private or public school may see their grades drop dramatically (this may not be the case with every student, some students grades actually improve, but a drop is not uncommon). It may be in just one subject or across the curriculum. Some students will even go from being straight A students to getting C’s and D’s. The reasons for this drop could be: adjusting to a new schooling format, having to work alone without support from peers/teachers, or feeling overwhelmed with being out of the traditional school setting the child is used to. Whatever the issue, keep in mind that your child’s grades will improve insha-Allah, in fact within 6 months to a year most students are back to their normal grade averages.

While none of the points above should be deal breakers when deciding to home school, it is important that parents and students understand what will be expected of them so that the adjustment to home schooling will go more smoothly insha-Allah.

3. The beginning is always a little rocky.

All home schooling families go through a period of time during which they experience difficulties and adjustments to the new curriculum/format etc. Although normal, it can be very frustrating and make families feel like home schooling is just not for them.

When you see other families seeming to cruise through home schooling happily and smoothly while you stumble through piles of books, disgruntled children, faltering chore schedules, and unsatisfactory performance, you may wonder what is the matter with you. The answer is “there is nothing the matter with you!”, rather you have just not found your rhythm yet and you need to make subtle changes, do more research and try new things until you find what works best for you.

4. You do not need to, and should try your best not to compare yourself and your children to other home school families.

It is tempting for home schoolers to look at other families and compare to see if they are doing the job right. It is also very common to follow the lead of others (i.e. use the same curriculum, materials, activities, etc.) as others in order to feel a sense of belonging with the group (this feels more safe and secure). Although this may work for some families, it may not work for you. In order to home school successfully, and for the long run, you have to be willing to do your own thing and not listen to the criticism and “advice” of others. In the end if you feel your child is progressing well, if you are meeting your goals, and if you feel comfortable with how your home school is running, it does not matter what anyone else does in their home, no matter how “successful” they may seem to be.

How do you home school multiple children?

If you are schooling more than one child at a time, or you have a young toddler/baby, you will need to adjust your activities to fit the needs of the children. The following are some general guidelines that we have found to be the most effective over the years.

• Work with only one child at a time (unless the children are in the same grade level).
   
• When the older child is having lessons with you, set the younger children up with a computer game, worksheet, or arts & craft activity that they can complete on their own without much supervision and vis versa when you are schooling the younger child.
   
• Start with the younger children first. Their lessons are shorter (so you can complete them in a shorter period of time), and younger children will most likely not have the patience or the stamina to wait until later in the day to do their studies. If you have them wait till the older children are finished they will be too tired and you will not get as much done.
   
• Do not allow the children to dominate the school schedule or atmosphere. You must insist on orderly behavior, neatness, organization, and following a schedule.
   
• Do not leave children without an activity to do while you are teaching the other children, this will inevitably result in problems. We recommend having a toy box in the school room with quiet toys (puzzles, stuffed animals, dress-up clothes, blocks, etc.) that younger children and toddlers can play with. For older children save work that they can do on their own (for example math worksheets, reports, essays, art projects, etc.) till you are working with the younger children, they can then complete those activities independently while you work.
   
• The main points to keep in mind are keep everyone quiet and busy, have multiple activities/toys/computer games available that your children (all ages) can complete on their own, so that they can do these while the other children are being schooled. For recommended games, web sites, and worksheets please see our sister site Ad-Duha FreeZone.
   
• Finally, do not let housework, the phone, e-mail, or any other activity interfere with school time. School time should be the priority every morning. Once school is done you can address all the other chores.
   
• Make sure to have the children help you with household chores after school. Children crave activities and responsibility (believe it or not). When you give them chores to do and let them see how they can help the family, it will limit free time to get into trouble, and make it easier for you to maintain your home and teach your children responsibility at the same time. For example, children as young as 2-3 can pick up items and put them away, 4-5 year olds can run a vacuum cleaner or clean mirrors; older children can load the dishwasher, wipe counters, and fold laundry, etc.
   

What about exercise & socialization?

Many parents are concerned about students getting enough exercise and being able to interact with their peers. This is a valid concern and parents should make a point to schedule these activities on a daily and weekly basis. It is best to set aside time every day to play at the playground, go to the back yard, or take some weekly sport lessons such as karate or soccer. There are many Masaajid that offer these activities, and if there is not a program in your area you can speak with other Muslim families to start one.

As for socialization, children will be socializing with their families and siblings, teammates, and brothers and sisters at the Masjid. You should encourage friendships with children and families that share your values and with whom you enjoy spending time. Weekends are a great time to schedule special activities, trips, sleepovers, picnics, etc. Just make sure that your child is among people who will support your decision to home school and who respect your opinions on education. Socialization can be very positive if it is supportive, but if it is negative than the damage done is very hard to repair.

What is the best type environment and media for home schoolers?

A child’s environment is very important to the success of any educational program and home schooling is no exception. Children must have study areas that are quiet, well organized, and designated for learning only (for example one corner in the living room, an extra bedroom, or a den).

Also part of a child’s environment is the type of media that they are exposed to. Families have to decide what their priorities are and match the media of the home to those goals. Children are like tape recorders; they observe and internalize everything they are exposed to. Then at a later date you will see them say things or act in a manner that may surprise you. This is often because of exposure to other manners, ideals, and morals that they have observed from the media.

Our recommendation is that students do not watch television or movies, read magazines, listen to radio, or play video games (except those with purely educational or Islamic content). The reasons for this are manifold:

• The Sunnah of Rasulullah (peace be upon him) and the injunctions of the Qur’an instruct us to protect our vision and our ears from bad influences and wasting time. The majority of what is on the media geared to children falls in this category.
   
• Children imitate what they admire. Rasulullah (peace be upon him) told us we will have the deen of our closest friends, and not to wish to be like anyone except two (a rich person who gives for the sake of Allah  and a knowledgeable person who learns and then teaches others). If children admire a cartoon character or TV star they will imitate them and this can lead to very unislamic behavior.
   
• If you want your child to memorize Qur’an and to inculcate the Sunnah into their behavior you must keep their minds clear of other distractions. You must provide them with the resources to gain Islamic knowledge and restrict knowledge that will not assist them in this goal. One of the du’as that Rasulullah (peace be upon him) used to make was “may Allah protect me from knowledge that is not useful”.
   
• Most parents use media as a form of baby sitting rather than for educational or Islamic purposes. Thus, the child is really not gaining benefit; rather they are just being placated. This is valuable learning time lost. Although you cannot provide lessons 24 hours a day, there are plenty of resources that you can utilize to fill their time and increase their knowledge at the same time, and Allah knows best.

Can home schooled students go to college?

If you are concerned about whether a home schooled child will be accepted into college, or if home schooling will make his/her chances of attending a good school lower, not to worry. Colleges and universities are increasingly aware that home schooled students are actually better prepared for college than many traditionally schooled students. A larger percentage of home school students attend college than their traditionally schooled peers, and they tend to complete their degree programs at higher percentages as well. Still there are steps you can take to ensure that your child has the best opportunities available to him/her. For example...

• Use an accredited curriculum in middle and high school.
   
• Have your child take the SAT to show achievement. This test is not necessarily required, and many colleges are moving away from its use in deciding to accept students into their programs, but having a benchmark of your child’s proficiency is always a plus.
   
• Have your child take AP and Honors courses during high school (most accredited home school curriculum providers do offer such courses).
   
• Enroll your child at the local community college in selected courses to get them used to college level work and give them a head start.
   
• Participate in extracurricular activities such as sports, internships, scouts, volunteering, etc. Although not required for entrance into college, these activities can assist students in showing the university that they are not only an academic asset to the college, but they are a productive member of society as well.

What about students going to public/private college/university after being in a wholesome home school environment?

Some parents are very concerned about raising their children (particularly daughters) in a protected home school environment and then sending their children to a public or private university once they graduate from high school. We would like to remind parents that home schooling is not just for the K-12 age range. There are now hundreds of universities (including the likes of Harvard, Yale, Penn State, etc.) that offer degree programs through “distance education”. This means students interact with their classmates and professor over the internet or through a combination of media in order to achieve the course goals but do not actually attend classes on campus. This form of higher education is becoming increasingly popular (even among non-Muslims) for a variety of reasons.

• It allows students to attend colleges far from their home state without having to live in a dorm an incur the expenses of living away from home.
   
• Many students want to work or pursue other interests while still going to college, this option allows them to do so.
   
• Many students do not like the social environment at university, and prefer to focus on their studies without the distraction of peer pressure.
   
• Distance education at many universities is significantly less expensive than attending on campus, which can make college more affordable for families that would not otherwise be able to pay for it. (There are some exceptions though, a growing number of schools charge the same tuition for on campus students as they do for distance education, so you will have to check with the particular university you are interested in for details on pricing.)

In short, there are a wealth of opportunities for parents to continue providing their children with a wholesome Islamic environment while still allowing them to achieve their educational goals. Distance education at the university level is a viable alternative that we encourage parents to look into for the flexibility and cost effectiveness that it can provide to their family.

What is accreditation and do I need it?

In the United States, there are six regional accrediting organizations. Schools that have met the standards for their regional accreditation organization are granted “accreditation”. This status means that credits earned through the completion of educational courses at one institution will be recognized and accepted by other accredited schools (whether accredited by the same regional organization or another) some schools are accredited by more than one regional organization. In most states, it is not required that you use an accredited curriculum to home school your child (however there is a growing trend toward regulation of home schoolers and accountability for curriculum providers, so check with your state laws each year to be aware of any changes).

Accreditation (which we recommend for home schoolers who are just starting out, or for middle and high school students) does have some benefits that parents should take into consideration when choosing to home school......

• Accredited curriculums are required to meet certain content requirements that are aligned with the public school system. The means you can be reasonably sure that your child is learning all the material that their peers are learning in the same grade.
   
• In some states, if you use an accredited curriculum you will not have to provide as much proof to the state that you are providing your child with an adequate education.
   
• Accredited curriculums generally allow a parent more time to focus on teaching their child (since lessons and units are already planned) rather than spending valuable time searching out materials and working on lesson plans on your own.
   
• If you decide to stop home schooling and return to public or private school, having an accredited transcript of your child’s years in home school will make the transfer smoother as the work will be recognized by other schools based on the accreditation.
   
• Particularly for middle and high school students intending to go to college, having accreditation is recommended (although by no mean absolutely necessary).

In short, accreditation just makes it easier for you as a parent to provide a balanced curriculum to your child, and be sure that your child is getting an equivalent education to his/her peers, while at the same time giving you proof of your child’s educational progress to present to the state, other schools, or universities. However, there are plenty of ways to prove achievement for students who have not used an accredited curriculum (i.e. GED, SAT, CLEP, etc.) so you as a parent have the option to choose if accreditation is something that you want or not.

What are the best curriculum/materials to use?

Although, Ad-Duha Institute does not offer standard subjects as part of our program (we focus only on Islamic Studies and Arabic) many parents still contact us seeking advice on how to choose a standard subject curriculum (i.e. math, science, reading, etc.).

We cannot tell parents which program is best for their specific needs, but we have evaluated some of the most popular standard subject curriculum providers and programs. Click here to view the details of each evaluation. We hope the information may be helpful in researching the available options, and Allah knows best.

What legal issues are involved in home schooling?

Home schooling is an option that is available to almost all parents, worldwide. However, there is a wide range from state to state and from country to country on the type of regualtion/legal requirements that parents must meet in order to home school their children. It is imperative to know the law of your state/country in order to avoid getting into legal battles over your child’s education.

In some states/countries there is no regulation at all (you can teach your child in any way you like, using any materials, and there is no need to report to any government agency about what you are doing). However, there are other states/countries where home schooling is either against the law or so highly regulated that only the most dedicated parents are able to meet all of the qualifications.

What makes the situation more complicated is that the rules and regulation regarding home school are rapidly changing. What might have been allowed two years ago may be against the law for the next school year. Therefore, we recommend keeping up with the laws in your state/country on a yearly basis. Click here for links to more information on both US and International law regarding home schooling. These links are not all inclusive, but they offer a good starting point to learn about current laws.

Finally, we do not recommend depending on other home schoolers to advise you on the current laws. Although advice from other home schoolers is helpful, it should never be relied upon as sound legal advice. You as a parent must verify all information to the best of your ability with the proper authorities in order to avoid legal problems in the future.

Where can I get more information about home schooling?

There are a wealth of organizations and home school groups on the web and in local communities that can offer you more information on home schooling. There are also a growing number of Muslim home school umbrellas (organizations that assist home schoolers) that are popping up all over the US. We encourage you to contact your local Department of Education in order to get a list of groups that are recognized or approved to oversee home schoolers in your area.

You also may want to go to homeschool.com which offers a variety of articles and web casts on homeschooling that are quite informative, especially for new homeschoolers.

Where can I get more resources for home schooling?

Ad-Duha offers many home school resources for free on its sister site Ad-Duha FreeZone. All resources on this site have been evaluated and recommended by Ad-Duha. The site features free games, e-books, downloads, and links to hundreds of educational materials, we hope you find it of benefit insha-Allah.

Disclaimer: The third party web sites noted on our web site do not specifically represent the views of Ad-Duha or Muslim homeschoolers. Ad-Duha does not make any guarantees regarding their services or activities. The links to these sites have been included for the sole purpose of providing the most accurate and up-to-date information about home schooling to our customers. No other endorsement is inferred or implied.

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