I know I have asked one question about home schooling.. but can i bother you all one more thime? Thanks?

Question

ok... what if I wanted to home school my boys but I do not have the educational background...

I did pretty good in high school and in college but I am not like a school teacher that knows EVERYTHING my boys need to know

what do i do then? just put him in public schools?

Answer 1

You will never, ever know everything. No school teacher does. As a homeschooling parent I've learned so much, stuff that would never of happened if I'd sent my kids off to school. My kids inspired me to play violin, build a telescope, sew Viking clothes, brush up on my algebra, develop camera film, memorize Shakespeare scenes, pursue logic...

My life is so much richer because of homeschooling.

Answer 2

If you went to college you are MORE than capable of teaching anyone through the 10th grade.

If you get a BA then you should be able to teach them through the 12th grade, because most teachers ONLY have a BA degree!

You can uses paid resources such as "school in a box" (Penn Foster, Abecka, etc.) for those areas you are weak on.

If you went to college you HAD to have taken science, Math 101 and 102 and English 101

So you know how to prepare them for at least grade 11

After that you can use a paid "school in a box" resource.

Answer 3

First you need to realize that school teachers do NOT know EVERYTHING. The bulk of classes you take in college to become a certified teacher are on child psychology, development, and methods that are apparently affective for teaching 30 kids at a time and meeting the low state standards. When it comes to subject content, yes, Math teachers have a background in math and Science teachers have a background in science, but for the most part all they do is follow the curriculum set out for them... follow the plan book... follow the teacher edition of the textbooks... use grading keys to mark answers... When you're homeschooling if you don't know the full content of a subject, you learn along with your child. This year I told my mother I wanted to take Introduction to Programming and Robotics as one of my electives.... My mother barely knows how to get on a computer and check her e-mail, but she got the materials and started working with them and got a chapter or two in before giving me my books and supplies and software... This way we both learn at once, but she stays a little ahead of me so if I get stuck and need help on an assignment... well, she studied that concept last weekend, so she can explain it to me. It's the same for us in math.

Answer 4

i would put in public

Answer 5

MY parents just went through highscool and they homeschooled me.

I did really well ((if you consider being 16 and going to college good))   :)

Answer 6

Well, I certainly don't know everything about anything! LOL

Yet I am successfully homeschooling my 3 children, every one of them scores above the national average on standardized tests.   You need to know how to read and write, you need to know basic math and be willing to learn more.  You need to know how to research and find the answers for what you don't know.  Public and private school teachers don't know everything either, but if they can read and understand the instructions in the teacher's editions, and if they are willing to look up what they don't know, they do all right.  

Another thing to keep in mind is that there are plenty of materials available for homeschooling that DO NOT assume that you already know all there is know on the subject.  For instance, I am especially weak in math, but my daughter is currently averaging 95% on her Algebra 1 tests. How?  I use Teaching Textbooks for math, all of the instruction is done through a CD that is put into the computer.

For other subjects, well I am not afraid to say to my kids, "I don't know the answer to that, lets go to the library and see if we can find out together."

You might find some useful information here:

http://www.hslda.org/docs/study/comp2001...

and here:

http://www.youcanhomeschool.org/starther...

Answer 7

Your public school teachers do not know EVERYTHING you need to teach your boys! If you did well in school, that is an indicater that what you don't already know, you can learn. Put your thinking cap on Momma, you have an adventure ahead of you. You can do this. You wouldn't give those babies anything but the best and you know it.  You taught them to walk, talk, and tie their shoes. You taught them sharing, hugging after a fight, and not to touch the hot stove. It's all cake from here.

Answer 8

Um, school teachers do not know EVERYTHING. They know how to learn and they know how to find the resources they need. That's the first obstacle of homeschooling, realizing that teachers are people, not demigods.

If you can read, you can learn. If you can learn, you can teach. It's that easy.

Answer 9

I have homeschooled my kiddos for years.  My background is in science, nursing and mathematics.  I do have degrees but they are not in educational theory.  None of that has to do with why my children are successful in learning at home.  It has to do with the ability to know how to choose materials and methods that meet an individual child's learning styles and needs.  And that comes with good old asking around the other parents in the homeschooling community, looking at many different books, reading volumes, trial and error, and most importantly knowing your child and being able to gauge their responses to things.  Knowing what their strengths and weaknesses are, knowing their joys and what makes their hearts sing. It has to do with the fact that their father and I love them more than anyone on the face of this earth and would do anything to make sure they become the people God intended them to be.

     There are many, many teachers out there who after having spent years in the classroom and after having their own children, have made the decision to homeschool.  So frequently, these former teachers have told me that they have never, ever done anything so challenging and rewarding as homeschooling their own.  Additionally, and pretty consistantly, they have said that nothing in their education and certification to teach has prepared them for homeschooling since the two are totally different animals.  In fact, they have had to "unlearn" so many things in order to successfully homeschool vs.  have "school at home".  

      If you are committed to your children and the concept of homeschool, if you have family and community support and you are as someone said, "in it for the long haul." you will never do anything as wonderful, frustrating, joyous, exhausting, rewarding, fulfilling and absolutely God given in your life!!!

Godspeed future homeschooling mama.

Answer 10

No school teacher knows everything, nor are they meant to know it all.

Everyone has strong, and weak points; you work around them.

Most if not all home school curricula are written in such a manner that anyone, even those who have had little or no previous experience in that subject can teach; using the teachers manual that will take you through it step by step.

School teachers do it no differently; there is no special training needed.

Later, come high school two things will happen, either you have become so comfortable teaching, and learning along side your children that it no longer matters to you, if not you will get the curricula on video, or let them take the more challenging courses at  local community college while they finish their high school program.

Either way there is no mystery in teaching it's not the level of education a home school parent has that determines their success, but rather the level of dedication of the parents;; along with their children's willingness to learn.

Without their willingness to learn it does not matter how good the teachers are, if they choose not to learn something it is not going to happen.

The key is to show them that learning does not need to be boring.

Good luck.

Answer 11

I have homeschooled my children for seven years now and I can honestly say that having an educational background is not a qualification to homeschool.  Your boys will only benefit from the interest you have in their education.  In today's techno age, all kinds of information is readily available with on-line support in just about any subject.  If you did well in your own education, then you will do well in your son's education because you are emotionally invested in him, unlike many public school teachers who are emotionally invested in test scores, rarely the students because that's all the time they have.  

Many curriculums now offer on-line courses for your son to take like a class, but he's home with you overseeing the completion and studying of assignments.  

It is a daunting task to consider and definitely appears overwhelming.  Try to remember that you are considering this option because you love your child.  Due to that, you will research and learn what you need to in order to provide him the best.  Much like when you found out you were pregnant and you  read all those "parenting" books and went to the OB every month.  You'll do great and your boys will come to appreciate the sacrifices and love you show by schooling them.  

Good luck!

Answer 12

Homeschool folk love to help!  I did pretty good in high school and have absolutely no college.  I can teach my 10th grade son.  You see, I learn right along with him.  It is fun.

Here is an example. I  hated math before I started 'teaching 'it.  We use Saxon and use the DIVE CD.  There are smart people who can read the instructions and 'get it' but it takes me several times of working through the problems with the CD explaining it and I CAN learn it.  

If I can learn it, I can teach it.

My son learns more at home than he did at school.  He knows that we will stay on a section or subject until he knows it.  I won't go on ahead until he 'gets it' and I know when  he 'gets it'.   In school, the teacher had to keep the class going.  

This is true for the opposite too.  Many students get bored in school waiting for the majority of students to understand a concept.  They understand and waste their time waiting on the class to catch up.

So, don't worry about gaps in educations.  Public school teachers don't know everything your boys need to learn.  They know what the government tells them they need to teach and the government doesn't know everything.  They don't know your boys.  They don't know your boys' interests, talents and goals.  You do.

I enjoy teaching even though my time is limited.  I work outside the home.  Even with that challenge, I still think that I do a better job of teaching my son than the public school did.  I am not saying that I am a better teacher than public school teachers.  I am simply saying that I can help my son learn in his style and at his pace.  I care more about his education than the public school cares.  I am more committed to giving him an education than the paid employees of the government.

Answer 13

Ah, as a trained school teacher, I have to say that I do NOT know EVERYTHING your children need to know. Did you know that programs change frequently? The science topics one year may not be the science topics the next year. Which means the teacher must LEARN and help the children along.

We must get out of our heads that teaching is simply taking information from our brains and submitting it into children's brains!!! That's not how it works. If our learning is limited to only what teachers can give us, then we're totally screwed. It is SOOOOOOOOO good for kids to hear adults say, "I don't know. Why don't we find out?" It's SOOOOOOOO BAD for them to think that teachers have all the answers. We don't. We never will.

You do NOT need an educational background to be able to homeschool your kids. As long as you are willing to learn, ask fellow homeschoolers for help, constantly be on the lookout for good resources, it'll be fine. There are plenty of things out there to help you help your boys learn, plenty of alternative ways to learn things. Maybe at some point you'll find it'll be better for them in school, or maybe you'll find a complete curriculum that has everything you need, or maybe you'll sign up with some sort of distance learning program... There are all kinds of possibilities.

Answer 14

Don't apologize for asking too many questions. That is what this forum is for. You don't have to be a teacher to home school your children.  I have friends that have home schooled their children...they researched it and found a curriculum that worked for them. The ones I know used outside sources such as ordering materials on line and the library to make sure that their children learned what children in public school learned. Remember that it is a large commitment. Be prepared to be in it for the long haul.

Answer 15

Why can't you learn alongside your son??? My son is in 7th grade and we sometimes have to find someone to show me how to do an algebraic problem so I can teach him how to do it. It's just a matter of whether or not you are willing to learn with him if you don't know something. Did you know that most teachers are teaching in classes where they have no degree?? For instance a music teacher is teacher reading and writing or a math teacher is now a science teacher. This is very common because teachers are in such short supply. If you are willing and want to then go for it....don't let your education be what holds you back!

Answer 16

Public schools because they need to learn to deal with a wide range of people and adapt and become more independent.

BUT if it's not up to your standards then do a few tutoring sessions or apply for a scholarship or bursary.

In High school you will definitely not know enough. Too complex.

Answer 17

School teachers are people with a college degree, that's often it.  They do not know everything your boys need to know.  They know the books they will use and are prepared to teach from them.  Homeschool parents in the US generally do not have teaching degrees.  Despite that, homeschooled kids outperform their public schooled counterparts on standardized tests.  More importantly, YOU know more about your boys, their personalities, learning styles, strengths, weaknesses, etc than any teacher ever will.  You also know what you want and hope for them.  NOBODY knows, loves and understands them more than you.  Who better to teach them?

This is besides all the negatives that come with public education like bullying, extreme peer pressure regarding s*x, booze, drugs and attitudes, shootings, scorn for faith among many others.

There is alot of online info, local support groups and teaching aids available.  Now go do the most important job you'll ever have.  Teach those boys.

Answer 18

Kim, when they get into middle and high school, they are taught algebra and advanced sciences.  Many 8th graders are taking physics for at least one semester to get ready for high school.  Also, the science and math and technology labs are important... as are the clubs, sports, and organizations.   Look to the future. Colleges and universities now look at the "composite student" ... SAT scores, school

club/ organization involvement, and community involvement.  

Remember, too, that your state has certain guidelines and criteria to follow, and you are held accountable by that state.  Good luck... and you are bothering no one by asking important questions.

Answer 19

Sweetie, the day a teacher actually knows "everything" is the day pigs will fly, I swear it to you.

I homeschool and I do NOT have a teaching degree......you REALLY do only have to be one day smarter than your kids-for what you don't know there are co-ops (many that have cert. teachers IN them!) and other groups, programs, tutors. etc.