Homeschooling: Beyond Academic Achievement

This article focuses on cognitive attributes other than academic achievement in homeschooled children. Research on intelligence, academic self-concept, academic intrinsic motivation, learning styles, thinking skills, and creativity is reviewed. This research suggests that homeschooled children perform better academically than would be expected from their intelligence alone, have good academic self-esteem, and show strong thinking skills and creativity. It is not clear whether they are more intrinsically motivated to learn than other children or what role learning styles may play in their development. Parents’ support for their children’s independence and self-determination is positively related to academic self-concept, academic intrinsic motivation, and creativity. The interrelatedness of these different attributes is discussed and directions for future research are suggested.