I'm Not a Teacher - How Can I Homeschool?

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Erika_Finks]Erika Finks
As crowding, bullying, and other serious issues become more prevalent in public schools, many parents are looking at homeschooling. There are many reasons to homeschool and so many rewards that can be gained from it, but a lot of parents question their ability to teach their children.
A Parent is a Teacher Already
The idea that a parent can't teach properly because they don't have a degree that says they are an official educator is silly. As a parent, you teach your kids for years before they hit school age. You teach them words, sounds, colors, cooking, letters, counting, beginning reading and anything else they do on a daily basis. Teaching a child in homeschool is the very same methods, only the materials and concepts are provided for you in the curriculum. Rest assured there are curriculums out there that actually tell you how to teach the subject.
All You Need Is Passion and a Curriculum
Honestly, the only 2 things you need to be a great teacher for your child are the desire to give them the best education possible and a good curriculum that fits your child's personality. In fact, one of the biggest reasons many parents choose to homeschool is that they are dissatisfied with what public schools offer.
When a child goes to public school, much of their day is spent getting ready, commuting, waiting for teachers, and not getting the attention they need. One study suggests that only 1 out of every 9 hours of public school is spent actually learning. Many parents also dislike what is taught in public school curriculums now.
When you homeschool your children, they don't have to waste hours of their day on all those logistics. Also, when they get stuck on something, they can ask you about it right away and get clarification quickly. This means that homeschooled kids can get just as much learning in considerably less time than public schooled children. That's why many homeschool schedules are between 3-5 hours per day.
All Your Resources Are At Your Fingertips
If you are still worried about how you will teach your children, all you need to do is look at some of the many homeschooling curriculums that are available. You can buy sets of books that not only include a textbook and workbook for your child, but a teaching guide for you as well. Many will even tell you, word for word, how to explain a concept. The curriculums are generally written by professional educators with a Masters or Doctorate degree, so you can be sure the material is accurate.
This means that you don't have to be an expert in any of the subjects in order to teach it to your child. You just have to be able to follow the instructions in the teacher's book.
Your Doubts Will Dissolve
When you head into homeschooling, you need to acknowledge that you will have doubts. You will wonder if you made the right decision for your child, and when they struggle you will question your ability to teach them. But this will pass with time. As you watch your child excel in certain subjects that they love, and have time to work through harder ones at their own pace, you will see that you have given them a great gift: An atmosphere where their learning is not determined by the children surrounding them.
You will also be reassured when you see just how close you and your children become while homeschooling. By homeschooling you are not only giving your kids a great education, you are also creating family bonds that will last a lifetime. You don't have to be a teacher in order to homeschool - teaching comes naturally to you as a parent.
Erika is a writer who is not a teacher, but has homeschooled her son using the [http://www.abeka-homeschool.com/]Abeka homeschool curriculum. If you want to start homeschooling, the [http://www.abeka-homeschool.com/abeka_preschool_curriculum.html]Abeka Preschool curriculum is a complete program that gives you everything you need including lesson plans and teaching guides. For older children, there is an Abeka curriculum for every grade level.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Im-Not-a-Teacher---How-Can-I-Homeschool?&id=6637775] I'm Not a Teacher - How Can I Homeschool?