Homeschooling Parents Need To Be Great Students To Be Great Teachers

The decision to homeschool their children is not one that parents take lightly. Indeed, many of them take a painstakingly perfectionist approach to the curriculum they teach their kids. They know that the lessons they teach their kids in the home classroom are not just for the classroom, they’re intended to prepare them for the outside world. Whether they take their knowledge and  skills to a college setting or the world of work, conscientious parents know that by homeschooling their kids they are equipping them with the tools that they need to go into the world with confidence.

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[ctt template=”4″ link=”I0AO9″ via=”yes” ]To be great teachers, homeschool parents need to keep learning so they can better equip their children with the tools that they need to learn.[/ctt]

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But we, as parents, are only human. We only have a limited bank of resources to pull from in terms of our knowledge, our skills, our experiences and our memories. In order to be a great teacher, homeschooling parents know that they need to also be a great student. This is something that all teachers grapple with. They need to ensure that their knowledge of the subjects they teach is comprehensive and will enable them to answer any questions their students might put to them… But this is easier said than done when you’re juggling the running of your household alongside the work of a teacher. Here are some ways in which you can make yourself a better teacher by making yourself a better student…

When your kid asks you a question you don’t know the answer to… Find out together

Learning is a journey, not a destination. Many parents think that they stand on the finish line, cheering for their kids to arrive at the knowledge they wish to impart. But the truth is that you’re both on the same journey, you’re just a little farther along than they are and you’re helping them to catch up. There’s no shame in admitting when you don’t know the answer to a question they ask, but winging it isn’t always a sustainable strategy. Simply find the answer together. It will enhance your knowledge and bring you closer.

Take online learning courses

There was a time when homeschooling parents lived in a vacuum. Today we live in an era of unparalleled connectivity where we have easy access to resources that our parents could only have dreamed of. Today it’s possible to study an online course in virtually anything from FNP online to law enforcement or social work. Studying in online courses is great because you can fit it around your schooling and other family commitments and it can pave the way for a whole new career when your kids are ready to graduate.

Make the time to read

As fantastic and rich with opportunity as online learning is, there’s really no substitute for a good book. Books can make an enormous contribution to your general knowledge and enrich what you teach your kids. If you used to be a voracious reader but find that you can rarely find the time these days it behoves you to make the time. Even a half hour spent buried in a book with your morning coffee before the kids wake up can expand your mind and enhance your teaching.

When you homeschool your kids, you quickly realise that everything you learn is a potential teaching resource. Use those resources wisely.

This is a contributed post.

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