Category: Homeschool

Lewis and Clark Salt-Dough Map

Lewis and Clark Salt-Dough Map

Homeschooling and salt dough maps go together like peanut butter and jelly. They are the ultimate hands-on way to learn geography AND history. But they can also seem like a daunting activity, especially if you are averse to a mess.  Have you ever made one? A salt-dough map that is, not a mess! 😉

Before I had ever done a salt dough map I had made them out to be much more complicated than they were.  Then we did our first salt-dough map while studying Ancient Egypt. It was a wild success!

Recently, while studying Lewis and Clark’s expedition, the thought of doing another salt-dough map seemed like a great idea. We could map out their expedition, even showing the different terrain they had traversed over. And so we made another one! I don’t know why I waited a few years to do another salt-dough map, as they really aren’t that difficult and the kids love them!

This blog post contains affiliate links and any purchases made through such links will result in a small commission for me (at no extra cost to you.)
Here is how we made a Lewis and Clark salt-dough map, using items we had in the house!
  1. We needed something for the base.  Not overcomplicating things we used a large cereal box and cut an opening flap using a utility knife.
  2. We went online to find a map of the United States. We printed out the size we wanted (we just did the one-pager!)  Then my younger son colored the back of the map using a black piece of chalk.  We then flipped it over and traced the outline of the map (we actually traced a little bit beyond the outline of the map, because we wanted it just a tad bigger…).  Now we had the outline of the map on the cereal box base! Don’t be like me and overthink this part.  It does not have to be perfect!
  3. We mixed up the salt dough: 2 cups flour, 1 cup salt, 1 cup water. (If it’s too sticky you can add more flour; if it’s too dry, add more water). Mix and knead it for a few minutes.
  4. Now the fun part – spreading the salt dough out to fill in the map, and make sure the mountains were in the right spots. We printed out a physical map to help guide us in how to shape the moutnains, plains and valleys.
  5. Before letting the map dry, we stuck toothpicks into the main locations we wanted to highlight on the map (we used a timeline from this book to help us pick those locations.) We pulled the toothpicks out right away, but the holes were there for when it dried. We labeled our toothpicks at this time, but you can do it later too. Lewis and Clark Salt Dough Map

*Then we let it air dry for 48 hours.*

6. Next we painted the map. We used the same physical map of the U.S. (linked above) to help guide us in how to paint it. Lewis and Clark Salt Dough Map

7. We then stuck our labeled toothpicks back into the salt dough map.Lewis and Clark Salt Dough MapLewis and Clark Salt Dough MapAnd here’s the final product!Lewis and Clark Salt Dough Map


 

Share this!

Practical Ways to Stoke the Fire of Learning

Practical Ways to Stoke the Fire of Learning

And inspire your child to become a learner for life!

In her book “Teaching from Rest” Sarah Mackenzie references the quote, “Education is not the filling of a bucket, but the lighting of a fire.” She goes on to say “…but we must remember that a fire does indeed need to be lit, and then stoked, or else it will burn out.”

There indeed is a balance between pushing your child too much and not pushing enough, and keeping the fire stoked is part of that balancing act.

In this post, I lay out some practical ways you can stoke the fire.

This blog post contains affiliate links and any purchases made through such links will result in a small commission for me (at no extra cost to you).

Practical Ways to Stoke the Fire

Recognize the spark.

Before you can stoke the fire in your child’s learning, you have to first recognize what sparks their interest. For some children, their interests are much more obvious. If it’s not so obvious, ask yourself: What motivates them? What types of things do they get excited about? If they had loads of free time, how would they spend it? Consider the ways they are “smart”, as that likely could shine a light on what their interests may be. 

Provide resources and opportunities.

The easiest (and cheapest!) way to provide resources is using your local library.  Find books on the topics of their choosing.  Show them youtube videos relating to their interest. Are there classes (online or in-person) they can sign up for that will help them grow and learn more? Are there simple things you can buy (or find for free) that can cultivate their learning? 

Ex: Some kids love taking things apart… You could find old appliances/computers for them to do so.

Provide time.

Allow time in your schedule to give them space to explore, wonder and create. What does your day look like? Is it scheduled to the hilt? If so, consider paring back a little to give margin so they have more breathing room to explore and dive into their interests. More time also allows for more conversations that can cultivate a culture of curiosity and wonder. 

Help them set goals.

Goals give us something to shoot for.  It can move us out of a place of laziness/complacency to action.  Are there goals you can set with your child to help them grow? A goal could be as simple as completing a project related to their interest or taking a class to grow their skills. 

Expose them to a variety of subjects and topics.

I think this point is especially important for those kiddos whose interests aren’t as obvious.  By giving a buffet of learning, we can see what interests stick. During Covid, we started to hike more as a family.  My son, whose previous interest (for YEARS!) was weather, became very interested in maps, hiking, geography, and state parks as a result. 

Tie it into the other subjects when possible.

Now, this is obviously not always possible. But when you can, tie their interests into other subjects.  Are they interested in cooking? Then find out what foods they ate in different periods of history and what they eat in different parts of the world. Minecraft (or any building activity)? Have them create builds related to what they’re learning.  Drawing/art? They can draw pictures related to what they’re learning about history/other topics (Chalkpastel.com is great for this!)

You get the idea.

Give them opportunities to teach others what they know.

In his book, Passion-Driven Education, Connor Boyack refers to this teaching of others as the protégé effect. The protégé effect is an idea introduced by Roman philosopher Seneca.  Seneca said, “While we teach, we learn.”

This could be teaching to younger siblings, or family members, or friends. It could be formal or informal. The point is when you teach something you learn it on a different level. It propels you to a place where you really know and own the information.

Ask what they would like to learn about.

This is simple, but you could just ask your child what they would like to learn about.  Chances are you already know, but you may be surprised! 

Books I recommend related to this topic:

Share this!

Finding the Balance

If there’s one question that I mull over way too much regarding my kids’ education it’s this: How do I find the balance, or sweet spot between pushing too much and not pushing enough.

Anyone else with me? 

In my beginning years of homeschooling, I thought the more challenge and work the better, and that this would result in a more “educated” person.  But as the years went on, I’ve seen the value in giving them the breathing room to explore their interests and letting their own motivation drive their learning. 

This blog post contains affiliate links and any purchases made through such links will result in a small commission for me (at no extra cost to you).

I know challenging my kiddos is important, but when taken to the extreme it can cause burnout.  On the flip side, I know taking a relaxed approach can yield many benefits, but can also sometimes lead to laziness.  

find the balance

So how do you find the balance? 

In Sarah Mackenzie’s book “Teaching From Rest” (which I try to read just about every year because of all the wonderful nuggets of practical wisdom), she writes:

“If studiousness is a virtue worth cultivating, I find that I am drawn toward vice on either side of it. On the one hand, I am drawn to steamroll over my kids, to lord over them with checklists and grade levels withouth regard to their nature as unique persons made in the image of God.  On the other, I am drawn to negligence or carelessness. I comfort myself with adages about children learning all the time and, hoping that my child will encounter an idea for himself without my interference, fail to form my student’s affections out of fear that such work is coercion or manipulation.”

I can relate to this so much! The pull between pushing too much, and not pushing enough is a real struggle.  

Motivation drives learning, and diligence is worth cultivating. 

I do think there is tremendous value in a self-driven child. Many days I’m amazed at what my kids get done when it’s done completely of their own volition.

When their work comes from a place of self-motivation, it has more meaning to them and they remember more of what they’re learning about. Letting them take ownership in their learning is empowering for them and increases motivation.

Yet it’s true that in the real world, you sometimes have to do things you’d rather not. Diligence is also a discipline worth cultivating.

Light the fire, but then remember to stoke it.

One of my favorite quotes about education is “Education is not the filling of a bucket, but the lighting of a fire.” Mackenzie takes it a step further and says “…but we must remember that a fire does indeed need to be lit, and then stoked, or else it will burn out.”

Having recently returned from a week of camping (and many hours spent around the campfire), this point is especially vivid to me.  I’m reminded that just like a campfire needs to be stoked and tended to – in order to stay robust, our kids sometimes need our prodding and guidance to help them.

Some days I’m going to get it wrong by pushing too much.  Other days, I’ll probably let laziness go too far. That’s ok. Hopefully most days, I’m finding myself stoking the fire of learning…

See my next post: Practical Ways to Stoke the Fire of Learning

Share this!

Three Tips for Homeschooling a Creative Kid

One of my biggest challenges over 8 years of homeschooling has been figuring out what works for my oldest child, a creative learner.

In the early years, she did not like my ideas for homeschooling -ideas that reflected what I thought homeschooling should look like (which were hugely influenced by my time as a classroom teacher!)

Often I’ve said if I could go back to our early homeschooling years, there are many things I would do differently. 

I’ve had to unlearn so much about my idea of what education SHOULD look like – and am still a work in progress! Ultimately, homeschooling doesn’t always look the way we expect, and it’s appropriate to tweak things when necessary! This is especially true with creative learners who thrive on novelty.

This blog post contains affiliate links and any purchases made through such links will result in a small commission for me (at no extra cost to you).

tips for homeschooling a creative kid

3 Tips for Homeschooling a Creative Kid:

1. Give them free time to explore their interests.

Many years ago I received advice on the importance of free time to explore interests as a method to help with anxiety (which is common with creative people).  This advice has proved to be invaluable. 

When we are overscheduled, and my creative learner has less time to “create”, she is more likely to experience anxiety. Having time to be creative in a non-structured way is extremely helpful to her.  

2. Work together to make a plan. 

Their input into their learning plan/schedule/curriculum will foster ownership in their learning and increase motivation. 

My daughter and I work together to create a weekly schedule.  If I were to just give her her list of tasks, things would not go as well! But when I get her input we can work together to make a plan, and things go much more smoothly.

3. Consider different methods of instruction.

Is there a subject or curriculum that is just agonizing for your kiddo? Consider, is there a way you can do things differently?

For us, switching from a more traditional math curriculum to Life of Fred was a game-changer.

Also, incorporating Minecraft into my daughter’s history learning (she’s not a big history buff) has made it come more alive to her. Her most recent Minecraft creation was a hospital build to go along with learning about the Bubonic Plague.  *We use Gamed Academy for Minecraft. 

Creative kids often learn by doing!

Additional ideas for creative learning:

Games – Here are some of our favorite math games!

Chalk Pastel (also a lot of lessons here that tie into history!)

Maybe for reading, switching between audiobooks and regular books could be helpful.  

Resources to Help You with Your Creative Kid:

For more ideas, one book I highly recommend is The Brave Learner by Julie Bogart. Lots of ideas in that book to get the brain juices flowing!

Also, knowing how your child is smart can be very helpful! The book 8 Great Smarts by Kathy Koch is a great read to help you learn even more about that! 

 

Share this!

Life of Fred Algebra (We still love Life of Fred!)

Our daughter just started Life of Fred Algebra,

and it’s probably her favorite subject.  This is a big deal since the math tears flowed freely when she was young. We are thankful that she continues to love Life of Fred Math. Algebra has been integrated into Life of Fred since the elementary books (introduced in bite-sized amounts and then building from that), which has made the transition to Algebra pretty seamless.

Life of Fred Algebra

This blog post contains affiliate links and any purchases made through such links will result in a small commission for me (at no extra cost to you).
Before we began using Life of Fred,

I had the stance that we’d stick with “Fred” as long as it continued to work for us.  Since my last post on Life of Fred, she’s completed the Pre-Algebra series, which includes three books: Pre-Algebra Physics, Pre-Algebra Biology, and Pre-Algebra Economics.

Life of Fred Algebra She thoroughly enjoyed the combining of pre-algebra with other subjects (well maybe not physics as much, though it did stretch her brain a bit!)

I thought pre-algebra might be a time when we weaned off of Fred, but surprisingly she enjoys it even more now.  She hopes to go all the way to Calculus.  You go, girl!

However, I don’t suspect Life of Fred will be the math curriculum of choice for all three of our kids.

Our 10-year-old son prefers a more structured math curriculum, with repetitive problems laid out in a sequential manner. That is not how Life of Fred is designed. While he still enjoys reading the Life of Fred books for fun, he will likely use something else as he advances in math.  This year he is using MasterBooks math which is working out well.  Our youngest is only 6 so the verdict is still out on him!

My daughter grasps math concepts fairly quickly which is why I think Life of Fred still works well for her.  The quirkiness factor of it also continues to remain an attractive and novel quality.

We are even trying out the Life of Fred Language Arts

books this year which have ALSO been a hit!

Life of Fred Algebra

Fred has pretty much been a BIG WIN for us.

I highly suggest checking any of their books out if you’re needing something outside the box for your kiddo. If your child likes the concept of Life of Fred, but needs extra practice, they also have extra books with practice problems. 🙂


You can also find the books here.

 

 

 

Share this!

Middle Ages Book List

The Middle Ages span the years from (roughly) 500-1400 AD. It’s the millennium that bridges ancient history with modern history. 

The Middle Ages were characterized by everything from lack of literacy (only a small percentage of people could read or write) to the building of the most magnificent cathedrals and castles, to the writing of the Magna Carta (which initiated the idea that everyone needed to yield to the law, even the king.)

Here is a list of books we read to learn about the Middle Ages, and a few extra that we hope to read the next time around (we do history in cycles, so we will be circling back to the Middle Ages in a few years!)

This blog post contains affiliate links and any purchases made through such links will result in a small commission for me (at no extra cost to you).
Reference Books

Middle Ages

The Magna Charta by James Daugherty- Written in a narrative style, this book is jam-packed with information about the Magna Carta,  a historic document that influenced government moving forward. My history lover enjoyed this one! However, t’s a bit of a dry read (for a non-history lover.) Good for ages 10+.

A Child’s History of the World by Hillyer.  A great overview of history.

How Should We Then Live? by Francis Schaeffer – This is not specific to the Middle Ages, but includes one chapter devoted to the Middle Ages and I highly recommend reading this book alongside studying history with your kids to give you a better foundation of the history of Western Culture. If you want a broad picture of history from a Christian worldview, this is THE book to read.  It starts with Ancient Rome and moves on to the Middle Ages, Renaissance, Reformation, and beyond.  Considering the times we are living in, I think this book is more relevant than ever. 

Time Traveler  Usborne (this is a family fave!)

Leif the Lucky by Ingri & Edgar D’aulaire – Leif, a Viking who lived in the 900’s , was a Norse explorer (his family was known for settling Greenland.) Exploring was more of a characteristic of the Renaissance but because his life fell during the time of the Middle Ages, I’ve placed this book here.  Great illustrations and good for younger kids.  

Castle and Cathedral – both by David Macaulay

Atlas of World History Also, Usborne!

Usborne Encyclopedia of World History

Look Inside a Castle (Usborne Look Inside) For younger children (not pictured)

Literature:

Middle Ages

Door in the Wall by Marguerite de Angeli – A short novel about a boy who is sent away to become a knight, but he loses use of his legs and therefore dream is squashed. A story of bravery and character.

Trumpeter of Krakow by Eric P. Kelly – This takes place near the end of the middle ages in Poland.  It was a captivating historical fiction story of a famiy who has a great treasure and must keep it hidden for the safety of everyone. It gets into the wrong hands and things take a wild turn.  Gives a good depiction of the danger of living during this time.  

A Single Shard by Linda Sue Park- My daughter read this on her own but enjoyed it.  Takes place in 12th century Korea. 

Crispin: Cross of Lead by Avi – Another book my daughter read on her own.

Adam of the Road by Elizabeth Janet Gray- Newberry Honor Book. Set in 13th century England, this book follows the adventures of a young minstrel boy, Adam. This book stays true to 13th century England.

Beowulf by Michael Morpurgo- An easier take on the classic.  This was perfect for a first run-through of the story.  We highly enjoyed this read.  

The Whipping Boy by Sid Fleischman (not in picture) – An easy read that will captivate your young learner. Highly fictitious, but fun and still gives a feel for what the middle ages were like.   

Books for Next Time Around

Middle Ages

Hawk and Dove Trilogy by Penelope Wilcock

Pendragon Trilogy by Stephen Lawhead- We tried the first book of this trilogy as an audio read-aloud, and while my husband and daughter enjoyed it, it was too intense for my 10-year-old, so I recommend it for older readers.    

The Black Arrow by Robert Louis Stevenson

Middle Ages Chalk Pastel Art

Middle Ages

My youngest, age 6, enjoyed doing medieval chalk pastel art as his primary way of learning about this time period (there may be one or two Renaissance time period pictures in there too!)  He is definitely a kiddo who learns through activity and this was a great way for him to learn about the Middle Ages in an age-appropriate way.  

Check out my other history book lists!

Ancient Egypt

Ancient Greece

Ancient Rome

 

 

Share this!

4 Reasons Right Now is a Great Time to be a New Homeschooler

There are quite a few reasons now is a GREAT time to be a new homeschooler:

4 Reasons Right Now is a Great Time to be a New Homeschooler

I’ll be honest, I’ve never been so grateful to be a homeschooler as I am right now.  I’ve seen the angst so many friends have experienced not knowing if, or how their school would be re-opening.  And the worry of school closing down if there is an outbreak.

For homeschoolers, so much has remained the same, and for the most part, we are unaffected by decisions made by local private and public schools.

For many, these crazy times have given rise to the idea of homeschooling, when maybe they’d never thought about it before (or it was just on the back burner).

There are quite a few reasons now is a GREAT time to be a new homeschooler:

No Pressure

Well maybe not NO pressure, but certainly reduced pressure!  Often times, people are scared to try homeschooling because they don’t want to bear the weight of their child’s education.

But during this crazy time when life feels chaotic, and for many virtual school is the only option, they can feel the pressure lifted knowing homeschooling, even if they’re not sure they’re doing it right (which they’re probably doing just fine!) is a better option than the others available. And by the way – yes you are qualified to homeschool your own child.

Retain a Sense of Normalcy

Our “new normal” world is strange. I’ve seen the pictures – socially distanced desks (some with shields!) not to mention masks all day, and potentially no recess. There’s also the worry that your school could close at any time due to an outbreak.

All of this change and uncertainty can be stressful for kids. Having them at home allows you to maintain a sense of normalcy even in the midst of a crazy time.

You won’t have to field the questions…

New (and old) homeschoolers often have to field many questions such as ‘What about socialization?’, and ‘How long do you plan on homeschooling, etc. etc.?’ But for now, new homeschoolers and those just trying it out have covid as an excuse. 😉

Huge Amount of Support

You’re part of a big group and there’s lots of support! Since so many others are also homeschooling, there’s a good chance you know others in your community giving homeschooling a try, and homeschool groups online are busting at the seams with new homeschoolers.

In fact, I don’t know if there’s ever been a better time to be a new homeschooler!

If you’re wanting some guidance on how to get started homeschooling, check out my ebook: Getting Started Homeschooling.  It contains my best tips and advice to get started.Getting Started Homeschooling

 

Share this!

Books for Ancient History

Living Books for Ancient History
books for ancient history

I say it often – one of the best parts about homeschooling is redeeming my own education, especially when it comes to World History. The whole scope of history – from the creation of the world to the present. Following, you will find to links to all the posts I did on using books for Ancient History.

Nothing is new under the sun and studying all of history really helps you grasp that. Additionally much of what is considered standard in our society today, began

in these ancient times (government, our calendar, plumbing etc.)

In our homeschool we use a textbook-free approach to learning history.

Three of the most important times in ancient history are Ancient Egypt, Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome.  

Ancient Egypt:

Here’s our booklist for Ancient Egypt and we also did some pretty rad hands-on activities.   Between the mummies, pyramids and hieroglyphics, Ancient Egypt is pretty fascinating to study!  

  • books for ancient history

Ancient Greece

From philosophy and politics to art and medicine – the happenings of Ancient Greece had a huge influence  on western civilization.  Here’s our Ancient Greece booklist.

books for ancient history

Ancient Rome

Last (but not least) of the Ancients – Ancient Rome.  As a Christian, this was especially interesting to study because Jesus walked the earth during this time. Here is our booklist for Ancient Rome. 

books for ancient historyWe thoroughly enjoyed using living books for Ancient History.
Next up, the Middle Ages! 

 

Share this!

Six Tips for Homeschooling “Newbies”

Given the current unprecedented circumstances, otherwise known as COVID-19, many are considering homeschooling this fall.  In this post I outline my BEST homeschooling tips.  I hope they are helpful!

Homeschooling is a beautiful choice for many families, but during these crazy times, it can feel more like crisis schooling (even for those of us who have been homeschooling for years!) My heart goes out to those of you who feel you have no choice, but to homeschool.

Ideally, one comes into homeschooling with a sense of hope and excitement, and I know for many of you, you simply feel it is your only choice with the given circumstances.  I hope you can use this time to make lemonade out of the lemons presented.

Because I’m an “always” homeschooler, rather than an “unexpected” homeschooler, I can’t fully empathize with those finding themselves in this position.  However, I tried my darndest to put myself into the shoes of a FIRST-TIME homeschooler (whether it’s temporary, or a permanent decision.)

If I were to sit down over a cup of coffee and chat homeschooling with you this would be my general advice.

This blog post contains affiliate links and any purchases made through such links will result in a small commission for me (at no extra cost to you).

My Best Homeschooling Tips

6 Tips for Homeschooling “Newbies”

1.) Simplify Academics – Focus On the Three R’s

In days of old, they focused on the three R’s: Reading, (W)riting, and ‘Rithmetic.  These three subjects build on each other, and should have more of a focus. Whether you’re pulling out of brick and mortar school for just a season, or considering homeschooling indefinitely, these are the basic skills needed for learning.

I don’t typically advise buying an all in one boxed curriculum (it was a flop for us!), but I understand the temptation to do so.  To see an example of how we pull many different resources together, check out this curriculum picks post.

Also if your kids are younger (ages 4-7), this post might be helpful: What I Would Do Differently My First Year of Homeschooling.  May you learn from my mistakes! 😉

2.) Routine OVER Schedule

Rigid schedules can be stifling, while routines give life.  Plan a general flow to your day, so your kiddos know what is coming next, and you’re not re-inventing the wheel each day.

While classrooms need to have rigid schedules to manage so many children, a huge benefit of homeschooling is the flexibility it allows to your daily flow.  Take advantage of it!

Check out Cindy West’s Master Class for more help in this area:

Designing A Practical Homeschool Schedule  This Master Class will give you actionable and practical tips to get you started!

3.) Consider Your Family’s Interests

When it comes to other subjects (science, history, art, music, etc.), choose topics you or your kids are interested in.

Does your child have a passionate interest in bugs?  The human body? Mummies and Ancient Egypt? Now’s your chance to go deep! When kids get the opportunity to dive deep into the topic of their choice, you will see them blossom before your very eyes! 

The subjects above do not build on each other, so you can’t really get behind in them.  However, if you have a high schooler who will be going back to brick and mortar school, you’ll want to make sure they cover the class they’ll be missing. (for example, Biology is generally covered in 9th grade)

For history, if it were me and you were here across my kitchen table, I’d say pick a time in history you’d like to learn more about and read some great living books with your kids.  If you want a full picture on how we do history, check out my post on How We Do History – Textbook Free! History is my favorite subject because I’ve learned so much alongside my kiddos!

4.) Don’t Try to Recreate School at Home

Homeschooling looks different than a classroom. Homeschooling is not the same as school at home.  And that’s one reason so many people do it!  This took me a bit of time to understand, but now that I do, it has freed me up to focus more on doing life with my kids and learning together rather than trying to make our home look like a classroom. Some refer to it as lifeschooling.

5.) Enjoy the Time Together

Go on nature hikes together, cook together.

Make it a priority to read-aloud together.  There are so many benefits of reading aloud!

Bake a treat and try some Poetry Teatime.

Above all, enjoy each other.

6.) Outsource Classes

One of the greatest benefits of homeschooling during such a technological age is the opportunity to outsource classes, from the comfort of your home.  You can get dinner ready, or rest those eyes for a bit, while the kiddos continue to learn!

These are some classes I highly recommend:

Chalk Pastel Art – Nana is a delight! Her ‘I Drew It Then I Knew It’ classes that cover many events in history are perfect for those kids who ‘learn by doing’.

No Sweat Science Live – Just turn on the video and the kids can watch and interact with Ms. Cindy.  They complete a nature journal page during the lesson. For grades 1-8.  Great for a nature-smart kid!

SQUILT Music – Mary has curated all the material.  All you need to do is open the lesson, and go! Works for a variety of ages.

Resources I Recommend:

Teaching From Rest: A Homeschooler’s Guide to Unshakeable Peace by Sarah Mackenzie – A short and easy read that will leave you feeling BLESSED and not STRESSED about homeschooling.

Carole Joy Seid’s Homeschool Made Simple – Carole Joy Seid is a homeschool veteran who focuses on keeping homeschooling SIMPLE.  This DVD resource is best for those considering homeschooling for the long haul. This is a Christian based resource that revolutionized our homeschool. I consulted with Carole back in 2016 and her advice changed the trajectory for my late reader.

Cindy West – Designing a Practical Homeschool Schedule – You can’t go wrong with this class.  This would be a great place to start if you’re new to homeschooling!

Share this!

“Am I qualified to homeschool my child?”

What qualifies someone to be able to homeschool their children?

Can you successfully homeschool your children without a background in teaching?

I’m here to tell you – YES! You can homeschool, and do it WELL without a teaching degree.

Or any degree for that matter!  *GASP*

This blog post contains affiliate links and any purchases made through such links will result in a small commission for me (at no extra cost to you).
You don’t need a teaching background to homeschool.

Recently I have found myself in different conversations with people who believe strongly that you should only be allowed to homeschool if you have a teaching degree. I love finding myself in these conversations (sarcasm).   As someone who does not agree with that AT ALL, this gets tiresome.  I have never agreed with that statement, but I’m more vocal about it than I was in my early years of homeschooling.

In those early years, I was pretty green and fragile and I would nod along and choose to not die on that hill.  I just wanted to weasel myself out of those conversations as fast as possible.  As an anti-conflict, people pleaser, it really was exhausting and painful.  (Quick shout out to those in my life who have supported us in this journey the entire time – THANK YOU!)

What qualifies someone to be able to homeschool their children?

When you “come out” as a homeschooler,

especially if you’re a first-generation homeschooler, you will likely be met with some criticism.  Homeschooling is different, not the norm, and people have their preconceived ideas of what homeschooling is like.

“What about socialization?”

“What about high school?”

And something I heard (and STILL do) quite often, was “Well, YOU were a teacher, so you are qualified.”

No, no, NO.

Just as you do not need a culinary degree to cook simple OR complex meals, and you did not need a degree in early childhood to parent young children, you do not a teaching degree to homeschool your kids.

Though I’m thankful for my time in the classroom,

teaching in the classroom looks SO VERY DIFFERENT than homeschooling your own kids.  Do you think we learn about everything possible about every subject and how to teach it to every type of learner in order to get our teaching degree?  Umm, NO, that would take like, FOREVER.

Yes, I did learn a few things that have been helpful to me as a parent (one thing that comes to mind is Maslow’s hierarchy of needs and the importance having an absence of threat in one’s learning environment) but I have learned ABUNDANTLY more since having my own kids and learning about their individual needs.  Like many things you learn “on the job”.

And truly, parents are the experts of their own children.

So what DO you need to be able to homeschool?
  • LOVE for your children and wanting the best for them.
  • A good dose of patience. For me, this requires a great deal of prayer.
  • Commitment to their education.
  • Willingness to research and learn what you can to help them when necessary.  And this day in age it is SO easy to find extra help when we need to (think higher-level math…)

So, if you are a parent reading this and considering homeschooling for whatever reason, but lack confidence because you are not a trained teacher, please hear this loud and clear:

It is simply not true that you will be better at homeschooling your child if you have a teaching degree.

In fact, many former teachers, now homeschoolers find their time in the classroom inhibits their ability to homeschool well.  We, former teachers, have to remind ourselves often that homeschooling ≠ school at home.

Final Recommendation

I will add this, it IS helpful to read some books on how kids learn. One I would recommend to all is the 8 Great Smarts, which is about the multiple intelligences. Whether you homeschool your children or not, it is very helpful to know your child’s strengths and this book is a great way to get you thinking about that.


Share this!