It seems like this popular question is based on three statements… or three myths.
- First, homeschooling moms teach all subjects and all grades by themselves.
- Second, only professionals should educate children.
- And the last one, all school teachers are dedicated professionals who have resources and motivation to support unique abilities and talents and meet the needs of each student.
Hm… Let’s debunk those myths.
Homeschooling moms are moms at first and we treat our children as children, not students. We value and prioritize our RELATIONSHIP with children and mental health of the entire family. In homeschooling our primary role is CEO, and then coach and then maybe a teacher.
As CEOs we decide what subjects our children are learning each semester and how.
Of course, couching requires some teaching skills as well as parenting in general. BUT… don’t underestimate yourself!
You already have skills to teach your child as you are the one who taught your child to use the bathroom, eat with utensils, get dressed and continue teaching various life skills that are not taught at school!
Also teaching as any other skill could be improved. There are tons of resources and support groups available nowadays.
What about certified teachers? I like to think about teaching the same way as cooking. Of course, there are amazing professionals around in any field! But we can learn to cook at home and it might be an even better and healthier choice for our family even if it is not as fancy as a restaurant.
On the other hand, you might hate cooking and rather order takeout or hire a personal chef which is also fine, no judgement! You can hire teachers as well 😉
And our last statement, does it sound realistic at all? Even the most talented and dedicated teachers in the school system don’t have an opportunity to accommodate each single student’s interests and needs. They don’t even have a standard set of well-thought-out resources and lesson plans as they are supposed to figure it out on their own (I will post about Ontario curriculum lately).
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So the bottom line from a homeschooler’s perspective.
Don’t underestimate your skills. You are already a grown-up adult who knows and uses on a daily basis math, language and science and social skills.
For subjects you are comfortable to teach with some guidance you can get homeschool curriculum materials that provide instructions for teaching parents.
Fathers and grandparents usually can take care of some subjects. Other courses you usually outsource – classes, co-op, online courses or tutors.
#homeschooling #homeschool #teaching #parenting #education
