Am I Smart Enough To Homeschool?
Am I smart enough to homeschool my child? This is a normal question to ask yourself before and while homeschooling. Not all parents ask themself this question but many of them do.
Homeschooling can seem intimidating especially when it time to teach fourth-grade math. Is it the fractions or the decimals that worries the parents the most, I’m not sure. However, during this time parents might start to wonder; Am I smart enough to homeschool?
If you’ve been asking yourself this question lately, don’t worry, it’s normal. And to be honest, no one is good at all the subjects. There’s a chance that when you were in school some subjects were difficult for you. So when it comes to homeschooling this alone could seem like a problem, since we can force our children to like the same subjects that we’re good at.
There’s also a slight chance that your son or daughter might enjoy a subject you know literally nothing about. For instance chemistry or even Spanish. This is where things start to get real. Imagine having to teach your kid a subject that you don’t know anything about? It sounds difficult, right?
Don’t Panic! Thankfully this article will help you deal with these types of situations. Let’s take a look at ways to improve your homeschooling experience.
Tips to Homeschooling with Confidence
There are several things you can do to build your confidence with homeschooling your children.
1. Stay One Lesson Ahead of your Child
Always stay ahead of your son or daughter. That means you need to create personal time and study a few subjects ahead of your kid. This will give you the chance to understand the subject a little better and do any necessary studying.
You don’t have to be a math or chemistry guru. All you need to do is understand the content of the topic. That way, you will be able to teach it to your child.
2. Learn how to teach
Unfortunately, most of the academic curriculum we’ve been through only teaches us how to be a good student. So, before taking up the responsibility of your child’s education, learn how to properly apply the knowledge you have in a way that your child will understand. Take online courses and read books on how to teach to sharpen your skills.
3. Join/Create a Co-op
This is also another great resource when it comes to homeschooling. Through co-ops, parents can swap resources among the members of the group. If your strength is in English, then teach English to all the students in the Co-op. You can let another parent take up Math if you’re not good at Math.
Co-op is also a great way for your kids to socialize with other kids in the group. This gives them the chance to build long-lasting friendships and also get to develop their social skills. Through this group, you can share resources that are too expensive for one parent to buy. For instance, you can pool resources together to buy laboratory equipment such as microscopes among others.
I don’t have to stress how important a Co-op is especially in homeschooling. If you can’t find the right one to join, then you should start your own.
4. Get a Tutor
Without a doubt, when you’re homeschooling your kid, you’ll have to accept your imperfections. If you’re sure you’re not good at a particular subject, then ask for help from a tutor. Besides, this is the fate of your child and I’m sure you want the best for him/her. That doesn’t mean that you’ll stop teaching your students for good-Not at all! It only shows that you are concerned about your kid’s education.
5. Pick a curriculum that teaches you how to use the available resources
To make the most out of Homeschooling, you’ll have to use the available resources. Get a curriculum that will ensure your student gets to learn through using the materials available. More importantly, choose a curriculum that also touches on your strengths for instance music, or even athletics.
When it’s time to teach your child something you know that you’re not good at, then ask for help from your co-op members or simply get a tutor. Both methods will ensure your students will learn in the right way.
6. Give them a voice in their curriculum
When your student is in their teen years, it’s the perfect time to let him or her handle the curriculum. Even though you’ll have to set some basic rules, allow them to choose their topics of study. Also, take your student to curriculum fairs so he or she can get the right motivation and guidelines.
However, you might just have to be cautious with your kid if he or she is not a self-motivated student. One thing that you’ll both have to pay attention to is that colleges like to see some diversity in the subjects that your student will take. But of course, you’ll have to discuss this with your students. There’s a slight chance that your kid might not want to go to college.
In Summary…
Now that we’ve dealt with the question “Am I Smart Enough to Homeschool”, the next step is on you. Do you believe you’re smart enough? I’m sorry, there’s no better way to say this but this is more of a confidence issue. Trust me, every parent has areas where they have a low and high competency and you’re no different.
You might be good at chemistry or math, but you have an issue with athletic activities or even English. So, teach your kid the Chemistry and Math that you know then compensate the rest by using tutors, co-ops, and arrange for teaching swaps- all of these activities will actually spice up your child’s learning experience. You’ll be surprised that your child will enjoy the extra classes.
The truth of the matter is that there’s a lot to homeschooling than just academics. Also, there’s a chance that your reasons for homeschooling your child have nothing to do with academics. That said, you have a lot to offer your student: You are smart enough, you are good enough and to top it all up, your students love you. Don’t worry about how good or bad you are. Just make sure your kids get the best experience with you.
CHIME IN: Is there a subject you don’t like teaching? What have you done to ensure your child gets taught the subjects that you don’t like to teach? Let us know in the comments below!