Are You Qualified to Homeschool?

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Are you struggling with trying to decide whether or not to homeschool? It’s not an easy decision. Often, when moms discuss the option with friends or family they are met with skepticism, and sometimes outright disdain for even considering the choice. And, a big question that keeps popping up is, Are you qualified to homeschool your child?

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The very question leads moms, parents, to doubt whether or not they should choose to homeschool. I get it. I know that doubt. I know it can sit in the heart long after you’ve started homeschooling.

I know that each time someone brings up the question again, that somewhere deep within us, we can begin to doubt all over again.

But, the question and the doubt are really unfounded.

Too often, society thinks you need to have specific training to educate a child.

But, that’s simply not true.

Most people have a misunderstanding of the role of teacher.

Most people think that a teacher has a vast amount of knowledge and can, thus, teach that knowledge to their students. But, a teacher should simply be a facilitator of learning.

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Why Parents ARE Qualified to Homeschool

Let’s start with the simple basics of learning.

Learning happens naturally.

It’s common knowledge that children start learning from the moment they are born. And, you are the one who began their education. Why do we assume that at the age of 4, 5, or 6, you suddenly are not qualified to teach your child? The idea is simply ridiculous.

The truth is we should be able to teach our children the basics they need for life.

Can you read? Can you write? Can you do basic math? If the answer is yes to any of those questions, then you are qualified to teach your children.

Even if, you aren’t proficient in any one subject that does not disqualify you from being able to teach your child. You can teach them the most important lessons.

And, what is the most important thing you can teach your child?

As a Christian homeschooler, my number one goal is to teach my child to know God’s word so that He can learn the peace of God, and one day enter into eternal peace.

After that, I want to teach him how to learn.

Isn’t that so simple?

And really, that is the crux of education. The goal of education is not to fill a child with all the facts. It’s simply not possible for every person to know everything.

If you teach your children how to ask questions, and how to find the answers to their questions then you will have done an excellent job in educating your kids.Click To Tweet

That’s what education should look like.

Instead of thinking of education as a library of knowledge that one person must impart to the other person, we should think of it as one student teaching another student how to research and study to gain their own knowledge.

Once we do that, the world becomes a vast library that students can explore to build, gain, and develop their own knowledge, and skill sets. This allows them to become their own unique individual selves.

You are Qualified to Homeschool

But, really it can’t be that simple, right?

How to Teach Your Child in Homeschool

That’s where education should start and end. But, yes there is more to it. Since every person is different, that means they learn differently as well. And as the facilitator, you too, need to have some basic knowledge of how to lead your child along an educational path.

Read more by clicking this post about Homeschool Education Methods.

But, don’t overthink this.

You do not have to have a degree in education to teach your own child at home. Even colleges don’t teach a vast amount of educational styles, philosophies, and methods.

Some schools may hold to a particular method of learning, but for the most part, the education system in America is focused on results-based learning.

That means their goal isn’t to educate your child to their own needs and learning abilities. Their goal is to ensure that your child can pass or score high marks in on a particular test, or series of tests. That means, they will force feed your child everything that’s on those tests so that the score results are within a particular range. And, they’ll expect every student in the class to learn the same material, at the same rate.

I don’t blame teachers! I don’t fault them either. I know many public and private school teachers who are simply doing the best they can given the circumstances of their job expectations. And some, are excelling in finding a balance between requirements and inspiration.

But, that doesn’t make them more qualified to teach your child than you are.

3 Reasons Why You Are Qualified to Homeschool

1- You Love Your Child and Have their Best Interest at the Forefront of your Mind

Institutional teachers may have the best intentions when it comes to their class of students.

But, their best intentions are divided by the 20-30 students in their classroom. They can’t possibly accommodate each unique child at each of their unique learning needs and abilities. It’s simply not possible given time constraints, public policy, and parental expectations.

But, you can.

2- You Know Your Child Best

If you homeschool you can structure learning in a way that interests, inspires, and accommodates your unique child. Even if you have multiple children, you can still inspire each one in the areas of learning and in ways that help them to develop the skills needed to build their own knowledge.

There is little doubt that as a parent, you know your child best. There is a familial bond that grows as the child grows. You will watch in wonder as your child’s interests develop and grow.

You will marvel over their ability to gain knowledge when they are inspired to learn. And because you know them so well, you will find ways to encourage them to dig deeper and learn even more.

You have the unique ability to understanding what peeks your child’s curiosity, and what causes them to lose concentration. You’ll be able to steer their education so that they will desire to learn.

3- You will Learn to Use Outsourced Resources

Just because you homeschool that does not mean that you, and only you, are your child’s teacher, it’ s o.k. to utilize other teachers to teach your child.

In fact, it’s a good idea.

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Outsourcing education in homeschool allows your child to be inspired by others. This can stimulate their thinking, it can challenge them, and motivate them to want to learn more.

Ways to Outsource Education

Homeschool Co-ops
Online eCourses

STEM groups
Field Trips
Local Tutors

Music Teachers
Art Teachers
Library activities

Mentors
College classes (for high schoolers)

Remember, no one person can know everything. That’s why it’s important to understand that real learning takes place best when you are supported by a team. The team can be made up of everyone from grandparents to friends, neighborhood resources, to online courses.

Don’t be afraid to seek out resources to help your child discover, learn and adapt their knowledge and skills.

You really are qualified to homeschool your child. Any parent is qualified to homeschool because as a parent it’s your responsibility to ensure that your child’s educational needs are met. You can act as facilitator of those needs because you know and love your child better than anyone else.

You can do it!

Let me know your thoughts on being qualified to homeschool. Do you agree, disagree, or have your thoughts changed in any way? Tell me in the comments below.

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