Are you thinking about homeschooling but unsure if you can take on the task? Lately, we have had a few customers call desiring special training so they can homeschool their children. Even with a college degree, they still feel inadequate to teach their children. Their thought? Get some kind of brief training before attempting to teach. After all, it’s been years since the parent was in elementary school. How could they possibly know how to teach them when they have been removed from it for so long?
I completely understand the apprehensiveness and concern they are experiencing. Maybe you have had similar thoughts. You never thought you would be entertaining the idea to educate your children at home, much less be qualified for the job. You have this idea in your mind of what a quality education should look like and you don’t feel competent enough to provide this teaching to your children.
When my husband and I made the choice to homeschool, I knew very little about how to move forward with this decision. However, when we notified the principal that we were going to try homeschooling, she was surprisingly very understanding. Her response was, “I always tell parents they are the child’s first teacher and you have my full support.” This was huge to me. It made me aware that we were already teaching many things to our kids at home without even realizing it. Now it was just made “official.” We knew our children better than anyone else and we wanted the very best for them. This gave me the confidence I needed to proceed and actually be excited about this new venture. Each year we homeschooled, we began to learn more about our children’s learning styles, strengths, and weaknesses, and how to best support them.
There is a perception for new homeschoolers that they need to mimic a classroom setting. Homeschooling looks very different than a public or private school classroom. You don’t need to turn your dining room into a classroom with desks, a smart board, and learning centers. Learning takes place on the sofa, at the dining room table, outside, or in the kitchen in a far more relaxed setting.
Teaching your child language arts and math are very important. But homeschooling is so much more than teaching grammar and math facts. It’s a way of life. Along with getting a quality education, students are learning life skills. When they help make soup for your elderly neighbor, they are learning how to serve others. When you mail a box, you teach them the process of securing the contents, labeling the box, and delivering it to the correct carrier. When you buy groceries, they are learning about price comparison and nutrition. When you make eye contact with people and say, “thank you” or “how are you?” they are learning kindness and good manners.
If you are concerned you are not able to teach your child, I hope you can alleviate some fears by looking at homeschooling from a different perspective. Maybe you would feel more comfortable beginning with scripted material that tells you exactly what to say and gives you step-by-step lesson plans. This takes the guessing out of how to teach a subject or concept and will ensure you are presenting the material in an appropriate method. Then as you gain confidence, you may decide you don’t need to rely on scripted material.
There are plenty of scripted curricula in every subject that will give you a solid framework. As you teach, you can learn right along with your children. You might surprise yourself how much you do remember from your elementary years. And if you are learning something for the first time, when your kids see you excited about it, they will get excited too!
If you have made the decision to homeschool, congratulations! That is half the battle. When you have successes, rejoice. When you have struggles, look at it as an opportunity to grow. As you put forth the effort, you will see the benefits. Surround yourself with good support and feel free to reach out to our free consultants anytime with questions and concerns. You can do this! Homeschooling is a wonderful way for children to learn! ~ Gina
