Being a mom means having to learn many new skills, and to continue to adapt and develop those skills as our children grow.
We wear many hats – psychologist, nurse, chauffer, chef, housekeeper – and sometimes zookeeper!
And sometimes we just don’t feel like we are qualified to do all the jobs that are required to raise healthy, well-rounded kids.
This can be especially true when mom holds another full-time position in the house – that of teacher.
Homeschooling is a wonderful experience for the whole family. Not only are we educating our children in an environment that protects our beliefs and values, but we are also getting our own refresher course on what we learned (or may have missed) in school.
Moments of doubt – and extreme frustration – can creep in, though, when we are teaching our kids a subject that was never our strong suit. Whether it’s math, science, or some of those advanced high school courses, we just don’t know how we can teach another person something that we don’t really understand ourselves.
Don’t be discouraged, mamas! There are lots of resources for help and ideas that can give you the boost you need to confidently teach those tough subjects to your kids.
The homeschool community is larger than ever, and blogs and forums offer a wide range of advice. Along with your local homeschool groups, there is an expert on everything somewhere in the mix.
Struggling with a difficult subject you don’t understand or teaching an advanced course and pulling your hair out? Try connecting with someone in your area who may have that skill set.
You can trade teaching time and give each other a little support as well. Are you skilled at art and someone in your homeschool community is a math whiz? Then plan an hour or two a week to meet and go over the lessons you are struggling to teach your children.
Or maybe a neighbor or friend’s spouse works in IT, engineering, or the sciences and can lend some time to help your child with a difficult lesson or project.
And there are many online resources for homeschoolers that give tutoring help in a wide range of subjects and grade levels. Many local libraries also have online and in-person tutoring help available for homeschoolers, so a helping hand is likely never far away.
Homeschool co-ops are another great option. Similar to trading teaching services with a friend or neighbor, co-ops offer a full schedule of different classes taught by parents. If you struggle to teach your child math, for example, sign them up for a class in the co-op with someone who may have more expertise.
Co-ops are typically run by parents volunteering to teach a group of students in a subject they are confident in for a certain number of hours per class. The parents of the students enrolled in that class then must volunteer that same amount of time teaching another subject.
This can be the best of both worlds as homeschool parents are offering their strengths to help each other at a minimal cost, and kids and parents alike can make new connections and supportive friendships in the community.
Private schools and colleges are also increasingly offering classes to homeschoolers. You can teach your child during the day, and they can take a night class at the local community college in that subject that makes you sweat – like Calculus or Statistics!
This option may be a bit more costly than finding some help from a fellow homeschool parent, but it can be worth it to take the stress level down of teaching a difficult subject we just can’t grasp.
And many high school and college students in the community may be looking to make a few dollars tutoring. Often a friend or neighbor will have an older student who has completed the class you are struggling to teach your child and can come to your home to help with a few lessons.
The homeschool community is like a family, and there is always someone willing to help out because they’ve more than likely been in the same frustrated position!
Above all else, be encouraged! Homeschooling isn’t about the credits, the grades, or the test scores. That’s the beauty of it.
The Homeschool Mom has some words of encouragement:
Homeschooling isn’t just about academics. Home education is a lifestyle of helping children develop into the persons they will be in adulthood – supporting them in gaining the physical, emotional, social, spiritual, relational, practical and, yes, intellectual skills they need to be successful in the world after they leave home. This process of guiding development is so much broader than simply school work – and there is simply no better person to be in charge of it than parents. Homeschooling allows you to be the most significant influence in your child’s life, not people who likely have very different goals, values, perspectives and approaches than you do. Those people around whom your child spends most of his or her time will be in the position to have the most impact on your child’s outlook and outcome – and in homeschooling, that person is you. No matter what educational benefits other schooling options may provide your child, they can never offer what homeschooling does when it comes to your ability to holistically guide your child for the future.
Homeschooling is a journey with the result of having your precious children keep your values strong, and pass them on to the next generation – something our world needs more of.
So if you’re struggling to teach your child a difficult subject in your homeschool, don’t hesitate to ask for help in your homeschool community or neighborhood.
Have you struggled with teaching a particularly difficult subject to your homeschooled child? How did you find a way to make it work? Leave us your advice in the comments.