For part of 2025, I have decided to do blog posts centering around frequently asked homeschool questions. I have been asked these questions or seen them in various online spaces. Many people I have come across have questioned my ability and others on how we are legally qualified to teach children since most teachers are required to have four-plus years of schooling and also complete continuing education courses. So what, as parents, qualifies us to teach our children?
If you are the parent who qualifies to homeschool your children, While I do have a bachelor's degree in English and I was certified to teach grades 6th through 12th language arts, it in no way makes me more qualified to teach my children than a parent who went to a trade school, or the parent who did not have any schooling beyond high school. At times, my background comes in handy when I am creating supplemental lessons and assignments or altering lesson plans. Still, on the other hand, it has also been a hindrance, especially at the beginning of our homeschool journey. I also lacked confidence in some areas, but more on that later.
When we first talked about homeschooling our children, because of being on the road with my husband's job, we got a lot of "Oh well, you used to teach so that you can homeschool no problem." What? This overgeneralized assumption of my abilities used to, and sometimes still, irked me so much. What others didn't know and failed to realize was that my teaching background in no way prepared me to teach a tiny human how to read, how to do the math or any of the little things tiny preschoolers are supposed to learn. My dream job would have been to teach sophomore and junior English classes. Those students should already know how to read, and more critically, they would be able to have quality discussions on what they read as well. Thankfully, with tons of research and determination, I found the best curriculum for us, and I have successfully taught two girls how to read. I also love reading in return.
Let's also not forget the fact that homeschooling is very different from public school. Some aspects are the same, and kiddos still learn the same concepts. Still, homeschooling is so very different from public school, and it actually took me a while to realize that. I needed to slow things down and not try to recreate public school at home. Once I did that, our homeschool began to flourish. This was also something my qualifications didn't prepare me for, but motherhood did. The number one thing that qualifies anyone to homeschool their child is their willingness to do so. When we are more eager to make them successful, I am not saying that when parents are "forced" into homeschooling, they aren't qualified, or they will fail. Even when forced into homeschooling, we don't want our children to fail, and that makes us do the best we can for them.
Don't let your background limit you or diminish how qualified you are to teach your children. You have already taught your child to sit up, walk, talk, eat, and so much more. There are also so many resources available now, along with groups and communities, to help you when you don't feel confident or qualified. Simply being a parent is a qualification that helps you teach your children. Most people don't understand it, and it has become so commonplace to send our children to public school that people forget homeschooling was once a thing in little cabins in the woods when America was first forming its nation.
So your qualifications build into your confidence. I already shared how I was also scared in the beginning to teach our kiddos how to read. I am also TERRIBLE at math. I struggled, it caused great anxiety, and I almost didn't get my degree because I had to take three different math classes in college to get the math credit I needed. So, what have I done to boost my confidence and ensure my kiddos learn the skills I fear and dread? I am learning right along with them. I watch the videos from our curriculum and do the work right along with them. I have actually learned a few things differently that have made things make more sense to me than things I was taught in school. While we haven't gotten to geometry yet, and thankfully, my husband understands it way better than I do, I am still confident I can at least know how or where to get help for them when they need it. Some homeschoolers outsource these types of subjects (the ones they aren't confident in) with tutors or co-op groups (have to watch what your state laws say about this). The biggest thing to build your confidence in teaching is to be willing to learn and be willing to research to find the answers or the help you need.
Hope this post has answered any questions you may have had about qualifications and having confidence in homeschooling. If not, feel free to comment under this blog post or contact me via our Facebook Page or Instagram. If you want more in-depth conversations, check out our Facebook Parent Group.
Remember that this post is part of a series of FAQ's regarding homeschooling. This is the proposed schedule of past and future topics:
How do I start?
Am I even qualified to Teach My Child?
Who Holds You Accountable?
But What About Graduating and Issuing a Diploma?
What Should My Child Be Learning?
How Do I Choose Curriculum and What About the Cost?
How Long Does It Actually Take?
But What About Socialization?
What is the Hardest Part?
What Types of Schooling Are There?
What Do I Need to Homeschool?
How Can I Be Around My Kid All Day?
Make sure you sign up for blog updates at the bottom of the page.