Beginning Homeschooling - Relax, It"s Not As Hard As You Think
If you are considering beginning homeschooling, you may be thinking that teaching your kids at home is beyond you.
You may believe that some special knowledge or skill is involved.
Perhaps you suspect that because you don't have a teaching certificate or a lot of education you should leave it up to the professionals.
I am here to tell you to relax, homeschooling requires no special skills you don't already have and a certificate or higher "education" is no guarantee of success (nor is a lack of education a guarantee of failure).
You already have the most important attribute for a successful homeschooling experience: your love for your children and your dedication to helping them live happy, productive lives.
Here is a typical exchange between a parent and a traditionally schooled kid.
"How was school today?" "Boring.
" "What did you learn?" "Nothing.
" Sadly, kids who give these answers aren't trying to be vague.
They really were bored and they really learned almost nothing (certainly nothing that mattered to them).
Given your interest in your kids future and the level of engagement you can bring to their learning, it is safe to say you can do better than that no matter what your level of schooling or teaching experience.
There is no secret recipe for beginning homeschooling.
Kids are naturally curious and are absolute sponges when it comes to learning things that matter to them.
Your job is simply to provide an environment conducive to that learning.
Surround your kids with interesting books.
Introduce them to interesting people.
Instead of just reading "about" the world, help them get out and experience the world.
Take advantage of the freedom homeschooling gives you to be with and enjoy your kids in ways a "school at school" family never can.
You may have noticed that I didn't mention any traditional subjects or where to find good curriculum.
"Subjects" and "curriculum" are inventions of the school system.
They are a one-size-fits-all solution for teaching a bunch of more-or-less arbitrary facts to a group of more-or-less identical children.
Your children are unique.
Your children's needs are unique.
What they need to know to live their own fulfilling and happy lives is unique.
You know them almost as well as they know themselves.
Help them discover what they need and stand back.
You may be just beginning homeschooling but you are already a success.
You may believe that some special knowledge or skill is involved.
Perhaps you suspect that because you don't have a teaching certificate or a lot of education you should leave it up to the professionals.
I am here to tell you to relax, homeschooling requires no special skills you don't already have and a certificate or higher "education" is no guarantee of success (nor is a lack of education a guarantee of failure).
You already have the most important attribute for a successful homeschooling experience: your love for your children and your dedication to helping them live happy, productive lives.
Here is a typical exchange between a parent and a traditionally schooled kid.
"How was school today?" "Boring.
" "What did you learn?" "Nothing.
" Sadly, kids who give these answers aren't trying to be vague.
They really were bored and they really learned almost nothing (certainly nothing that mattered to them).
Given your interest in your kids future and the level of engagement you can bring to their learning, it is safe to say you can do better than that no matter what your level of schooling or teaching experience.
There is no secret recipe for beginning homeschooling.
Kids are naturally curious and are absolute sponges when it comes to learning things that matter to them.
Your job is simply to provide an environment conducive to that learning.
Surround your kids with interesting books.
Introduce them to interesting people.
Instead of just reading "about" the world, help them get out and experience the world.
Take advantage of the freedom homeschooling gives you to be with and enjoy your kids in ways a "school at school" family never can.
You may have noticed that I didn't mention any traditional subjects or where to find good curriculum.
"Subjects" and "curriculum" are inventions of the school system.
They are a one-size-fits-all solution for teaching a bunch of more-or-less arbitrary facts to a group of more-or-less identical children.
Your children are unique.
Your children's needs are unique.
What they need to know to live their own fulfilling and happy lives is unique.
You know them almost as well as they know themselves.
Help them discover what they need and stand back.
You may be just beginning homeschooling but you are already a success.