Not all Education is Done in a Classroom: Not all Education is Done in a Classroom: The Role of the Library in Identifying and The Role of the Library in Identifying and

Establishing Resources and Programming Establishing Resources and Programming

for Homeschooler Familiesfor Homeschooler Families

An ALA Grassroots Presentation by Krista McKenzie, An ALA Grassroots Presentation by Krista McKenzie, Children’s Specialist, Ruth Enlow Library of Garrett CountyChildren’s Specialist, Ruth Enlow Library of Garrett County

Audience PollAudience Poll• How many of you have an area How many of you have an area

homeschooler community?homeschooler community?• How many of you have been approached How many of you have been approached

about homeschooler partnerships and about homeschooler partnerships and programming?programming?

• How many of you have homeschooler How many of you have homeschooler partnerships and programming and are partnerships and programming and are looking for new ideas?looking for new ideas?

• How many of you are looking to start How many of you are looking to start homeschooler partnerships and/or homeschooler partnerships and/or programming?programming?

Definition of Definition of HomeschoolingHomeschooling

““One definition of homeschooling is that it is One definition of homeschooling is that it is simply the education or teaching of a child simply the education or teaching of a child or children at home, usually by the parent or or children at home, usually by the parent or guardian…It doesn’t necessarily take place guardian…It doesn’t necessarily take place at home and often has little to do with at home and often has little to do with school” (Coatherole, p. 12)school” (Coatherole, p. 12)

Reasons for Reasons for HomeschoolingHomeschooling

• FreedomFreedom• Strengthen Family Strengthen Family

RelationshipsRelationships• Socialization with all Socialization with all

age groupsage groups• Freedom to explore Freedom to explore

and make mistakesand make mistakes• IndependenceIndependence

• IndividualityIndividuality• Healthy School Healthy School

EnvironmentEnvironment• No “School Clock”No “School Clock”• Protection from Bullies Protection from Bullies

and Peer Pressureand Peer Pressure• Build and Enhance Build and Enhance

Family Moral and Family Moral and Value Structures and Value Structures and BeliefsBeliefs

A Brief History of A Brief History of HomeschoolingHomeschooling

• It is believed to be religiously motivatedIt is believed to be religiously motivated• Some believe that it was established in Some believe that it was established in

the 60’s by John Holt as a rebellion to the 60’s by John Holt as a rebellion to conformist government values.conformist government values.

• Others believe it begin way before this.Others believe it begin way before this.• In 1980 it was illegal in 30 statesIn 1980 it was illegal in 30 states• In 1993 it became legal in all 50 statesIn 1993 it became legal in all 50 states• In 1999 there were an estimated 850,00 In 1999 there were an estimated 850,00

students being homeschooled in the U.S.students being homeschooled in the U.S.

Homeschooling TrendsHomeschooling Trends

0

5 0 0 ,0 0 0

1 ,0 0 0 ,0 0 0

1 ,5 0 0 ,0 0 0

2 ,0 0 0 ,0 0 0

2 ,5 0 0 ,0 0 0

1 9 9 9 2 0 0 3 2 0 0 8

• Since the Since the beginning, beginning, over 500% over 500% increase in increase in no. of no. of students.students.

• 36% increase 36% increase from 2003 to from 2003 to 20082008

• 74% increase 74% increase from 1999-from 1999-2008 2008

(Ray, p.7)(Ray, p.7)

Homeschooling TrendsHomeschooling Trends

• The Face of Homeschooling is ChangingThe Face of Homeschooling is Changing• Harder to DescribeHarder to Describe• No Typical FamilyNo Typical Family• Growing Among All Racial, Economic, Growing Among All Racial, Economic,

Religious, and Gender LinesReligious, and Gender Lines

Homeschooling TrendsHomeschooling Trends

<$25,000<$25,000 18% of Homeschooler Population18% of Homeschooler Population

$25,000-$25,000-$49,000$49,000

44% of the Homeschooler 44% of the Homeschooler PopulationPopulation

$50,000-$50,000-$74,000$74,000

25% of the Homeschooler 25% of the Homeschooler PopulationPopulation

>$75,000>$75,000 13% of the Homeschooler 13% of the Homeschooler PopulationPopulation

The Number of Homeschooler Families in Each Income Bracket

Where Homeschooling Where Homeschooling Takes PlaceTakes Place

• Friends’ HousesFriends’ Houses• ParksParks• ChurchesChurches• HomesHomes• Public BuildingsPublic Buildings• Field TripsField Trips• MuseumsMuseums• LibrariesLibraries• ZoosZoos

• Cities/TownsCities/Towns• PlanetariumsPlanetariums• BakeriesBakeries• Concerts/ShowsConcerts/Shows• PlaysPlays• MeetingsMeetings• WorkshopsWorkshops• Sports TeamsSports Teams• Ball GamesBall Games

Types of HomeschoolingTypes of Homeschooling

• Secular/Religious Secular/Religious BasedBased

• Umbrella & Satellite Umbrella & Satellite ChartersCharters

• Co-OpCo-Op• IndependentIndependent• EclecticEclectic• UnschoolingUnschooling• De-schoolingDe-schooling• Unit/ThemeUnit/Theme• Year RoundYear Round

Formats for SchedulingFormats for Scheduling

• TraditionTraditionalal

Flexible

Styles and ModelsStyles and Models• The Charlotte Mason MethodThe Charlotte Mason Method• The Trivium ApproachThe Trivium Approach• The Quadrivium ApproachThe Quadrivium Approach• UnschoolingUnschooling• EclecticEclectic• Delayed Academic ApproachDelayed Academic Approach• The Unit StudyThe Unit Study• The Principle ApproachThe Principle Approach

The Role of the LibraryThe Role of the Library

• Unite-rUnite-r• AdvocateAdvocate• Listening EarListening Ear• Resource CenterResource Center• Programming Programming

ResourceResource• Curriculum ResourceCurriculum Resource

Keep In MindKeep In Mind

The Pareto PrincipleThe Pareto Principle

20% of the people who 20% of the people who walk through our library’s walk through our library’s

doors generate 80% of doors generate 80% of the business.the business.

Panel Discussion with Panel Discussion with Homeschooler ParentsHomeschooler Parents

Conclusions from Parent Conclusions from Parent Discussion GroupDiscussion Group

• Providing Positive Acknowledgement of Providing Positive Acknowledgement of Homeschoolers is KeyHomeschoolers is Key

• Having Programming and Having it FrequentlyHaving Programming and Having it Frequently• Hands-on and educationalHands-on and educational• Be cautious in the weeding/selection processesBe cautious in the weeding/selection processes• More educational magazines/videosMore educational magazines/videos• Programming involving environment and in Programming involving environment and in

partnership with other organizationspartnership with other organizations• Volunteer opportunitiesVolunteer opportunities• Network/communal buildingNetwork/communal building

Panel Discussion with Panel Discussion with Homeschooler ChildrenHomeschooler Children

Conclusions from Children’s Conclusions from Children’s Discussion GroupDiscussion Group

• More Programs! (Especially hands on More Programs! (Especially hands on ones)ones)

• More tween non-fictionMore tween non-fiction• More volunteer opportunitiesMore volunteer opportunities• Remember to fill sequel needsRemember to fill sequel needs• More DVDs and DocumentariesMore DVDs and Documentaries• Food, Games, Social ProgrammingFood, Games, Social Programming• More realistic and research based More realistic and research based

programmingprogramming

Programming Ideas for Programming Ideas for Homeschooler GroupsHomeschooler Groups

• Culinary Arts Culinary Arts • PhotographyPhotography• Bee KeepingBee Keeping• Nature WalkNature Walk• WoodworkingWoodworking• Outdoor Outdoor

activitiesactivities• NutritionNutrition

Calligraphy

Candy Making

Journalism

Interior Decorating

Watercolor painting

Visiting Zoos or Animals

DO’S for Developing Relationships DO’S for Developing Relationships with Homeschooler Familieswith Homeschooler Families

• DO: Take notice and Ask questionsDO: Take notice and Ask questions• DO: Identify your local homeschool groupsDO: Identify your local homeschool groups• DO: Go to Conferences, Workshops, and DO: Go to Conferences, Workshops, and

Meetings Meetings • DO: Allow them to use library spaceDO: Allow them to use library space• DO: Provide catalogs and website links DO: Provide catalogs and website links • DO: Display their projectsDO: Display their projects• DO: Partner with organizations and DO: Partner with organizations and

businesses to help serve these familiesbusinesses to help serve these families• DO: Advertise programming DO: Advertise programming • DO: Keep a two-way conversation goingDO: Keep a two-way conversation going• DO: Consider extended borrowing periodsDO: Consider extended borrowing periods

DONT’S for Developing DONT’S for Developing Relationships with Homeschooler Relationships with Homeschooler

FamiliesFamilies• DON’T: Make generalization about DON’T: Make generalization about

homeschoolers; they are all uniquehomeschoolers; they are all unique• DON’T: Assume that homeschoolers are in DON’T: Assume that homeschoolers are in

one income bracket over anotherone income bracket over another• DON’T: Assume that they do not have DON’T: Assume that they do not have

access to technologyaccess to technology• DON’T: Assume that they are behind or DON’T: Assume that they are behind or

inferior to public school studentsinferior to public school students• DON’T: Assume that they are not DON’T: Assume that they are not

“Socialized”“Socialized”• DON’T: Assume that they can’t be talked to DON’T: Assume that they can’t be talked to

or don’t want to answer your questionsor don’t want to answer your questions

Presentation and Presentation and Homeschooler Resources for Homeschooler Resources for

LibrariesLibraries• Clements, Andrea. (2004). Clements, Andrea. (2004). Homeschooling: A Research-Homeschooling: A Research-

Based How to ManualBased How to Manual. Oxford: Rowman & Littlefield . Oxford: Rowman & Littlefield Education.Education.

• Dobson, Linda. (2002). Dobson, Linda. (2002). The Homeschool Book of AnswersThe Homeschool Book of Answers. . California: Prima Publishing.California: Prima Publishing.

• Furness, Adrienne. (2008). Helping Homeschoolers in the Furness, Adrienne. (2008). Helping Homeschoolers in the Library. Chicago: American Libraries AssociationLibrary. Chicago: American Libraries Association

• Gathercole, Rachel. (2007). Gathercole, Rachel. (2007). The Well-Adjusted ChildThe Well-Adjusted Child. . Denver: Mapletree Publishing Company.Denver: Mapletree Publishing Company.

• Homeschool Legal Defense Association. (Online) (2009). Homeschool Legal Defense Association. (Online) (2009). http://www.hslda.org/

• Leppert, Michael and Mary. (2008). Leppert, Michael and Mary. (2008). The Homeschooling The Homeschooling Book of ListsBook of Lists. California: John Wiley & Sons.. California: John Wiley & Sons.

Presentation and Presentation and Homeschooler Resources for Homeschooler Resources for

LibrariesLibraries• Linsenbach, Sherri. (2003). Linsenbach, Sherri. (2003). The Everything Homeschooling The Everything Homeschooling

BookBook. Massachusetts: Adams Media Corporation.. Massachusetts: Adams Media Corporation.• Murr, Cindy (Ed.) (2003). Murr, Cindy (Ed.) (2003). HomeschoolingHomeschooling. Missouri: . Missouri:

Greenhaven Press.Greenhaven Press.• National Center for Education Statistics (Online) (2009). National Center for Education Statistics (Online) (2009).

http://www.nces.ed.gov1• National Home Education Network (Online) (2009). National Home Education Network (Online) (2009).

http://www.nhen.org• National Home Education Research Institute (Online) (2009) National Home Education Research Institute (Online) (2009)

http://www.nheri.org

• Ray, Dr. Brian D. (2005). Ray, Dr. Brian D. (2005). Worldwide Guide to HomeschoolingWorldwide Guide to Homeschooling. .

Nashville: Broadman and Hollman PublishingNashville: Broadman and Hollman Publishing..

Contact Information for the Contact Information for the PresenterPresenter

Krista McKenzieKrista McKenzie

Ruth Enlow Library of Garrett CountyRuth Enlow Library of Garrett County

6 North Second Street6 North Second Street

Oakland, Maryland 21550Oakland, Maryland 21550

301-387-3996 ext. 115301-387-3996 ext. 115

krista@relib.netkrista@relib.net

Where to Find the Where to Find the Presentation InformationPresentation Information

• ALA ConnectALA Connect• If you are an ALA Member, log-in If you are an ALA Member, log-in

with your username and password.with your username and password.• If you are not an ALA Member go to If you are not an ALA Member go to

www.ala.org. and go to ALA Connect . and go to ALA Connect and Register for an accountand Register for an account

• It will be under Grassroots Programs It will be under Grassroots Programs 2009.2009.