Homeschooling is full of choices that are unique to each family. Usually there are many misconceptions about homeschooling. The reality is, it doesn’t have to be hard; it doesn’t take much time; we don’t need to be knowledgeable to teach it (we’ll learn alongside them); and the kids won’t be isolated unless we choose to move to the wilderness. Even then: are they isolated? From what priority, though?
It is not about what we can or cannot do. It is about what we choose to do.
If we were chatting over coffee this afternoon, and a friend said she’s considering homeschooling - or she’s in the thick of it but afraid she's going to botch it - here is what I'd tell her:
You can love homeschooling your child. This does not have to be a difficult experience (some days will be difficult). It does not have to be painful (some days will be painful). It doesn't even have to be hard (some days will be hard). There are no shackles here.
You can enjoy it, and you can reach the end with a bottle full of sweet memories, too.
You are the best teacher for your child. It doesn't matter if you think so, or if you feel inadequate. You are. You're the best teacher for this child. Even if you pass off some of your child's education to an 'expert' (say he wants to learn aircraft maintenance and you oddly don't know how), you're still his main teacher. You're his parent. You're The Best. This should give you confidence in what you can teach him, that you know the best way to teach him, and that you know how to find the experts to teach him things like aircraft maintenance.
The best things you can teach your child are the things you love. Don't we retain knowledge best when it comes from someone passionate about a subject? Learn, enjoy, and share. Be curious. Trust that you are the best teacher and teach your children what is important to you. Teach them what you love. They will take these lessons in and add to them until one day you realize how much they are teaching you.
Let the child lead. Give her a choice of quality books to read aloud with you, but she gets to choose which one. When you go outdoors to sketch from nature, let her choose the subject. Tell her to choose a topic each week to study, but leave it wide open. Yes, one day he may want to learn video game design, but do you know there is a lot of math involved with that? Letting the children lead within your guidelines (choose a book; choose a topic; complete by this date) will encourage him or her to retain their natural love of learning. And it will teach them how to learn more deeply.
You're enough. You are good enough. You are ready enough. You are smart enough. You can teach this child. Curriculum, books, lesson plans, and the internet are not necessary to our success; they are just aids that help us.
You’ve got this; you can do this.
- Lori
This is an excerpt from my website, Freely Educate
