Homeschooling for Dummies:

Can I Do Homeschooling?

Homeschooling for dummies – I love that phrase because it sends a resounding hammer blow crashing through the edifice of artificial intelligence attached to the teaching profession. Not that I don't love teachers, by the way! But if you're asking yourself: Can I do homeschooling? you might just as well say: Can I be a parent?

The analogy is remarkably apt. If you set up a committee to decide on all the mothering and fathering skills you'd need – Wow! that's guaranteed to make you feel overwhelmed.

But look at everything you've achieved already. Whatever the age of your child when you consider homeschool, you've already past the hardest test.

Homeschooling for Dummies? How about: Parenting for Dummies?

Just think back…We've all been there. Sleep – what was that? I remember William waking up screaming continuously all the time…dressing him as he propelled himself, helicopter-like, round and round the floor… taking him down for his breakfast in the high chair as he threw the food all over the table.

OK - I think I've made the point. You'll have your own stories. But you came through all that – maybe with the help a few gentle baby activities along the way - and look at all the things you taught. I use the word aptly. Your preschool curriculum activities would undoubtedly have included important social skills like fairness and taking turns. You will also have taught an amazing number of academic subjects like math using fun math activities without even thinking about it.

What about all those books in bed? Counting cuddly toys? Helping build Lego sets and marble runs?

Now maybe you're saying that doesn't answer the question: Can I do homeschooling? After all, if we zoom forwards towards homeschool high school there's those proper subjects to consider like Physics and Chemistry.

Homeschooling for dummies? You must be joking!

Have you ever thought how many of us feel there's no way we could teach a subject even if we actually passed an exam in it? Isn't it fascinating how many of us forget just about everything we were taught at school?

And if you look at our free homeschooling curriculum for science you'll see some of the reasons why science maybe isn't such a homeschool bugbear after all.

Maybe there's something BIG here which helps show you why homeschooling is for dummies. Look at what Gareth Lewis says:

"People feel incapable of teaching mainly because the years they spent in school were such a waste of time." (Unqualified Education)

Can I Do Homeschooling?

To answer that question and see whether homeschooling really is for dummies, you need to look at the skills which make a good teacher. The top ones must be:

• Patience
• Ability to listen and answer honestly (including saying when you don't know)
• Inspiring the child to want to find out for themselves
• Kindness
• Encouragement

BINGO! You have it. Exactly the same skills you need to be a good parent.

What's more, most teachers would give their eye teeth to be able to teach one-to-one because they know that's by far the most efficient way to learn, which is why homeschool wins the argument hands-down when you ask the question: is homeschooling effective?

Expertise, knowledge of a particular subject area, is far less important than the skills you already possess to help your child acquire that knowledge.

Remember, however good the teacher, it's up to the pupil to actually absorb the information.

If you really think you don't know a subject well enough to teach it, you do know how to find out the answers and if you can work with your child to find them – what an exciting way to learn!

If you need some reassurance about homeschool in Britain, including resources and homeschool articles, have a look at Sue's really useful home ed info site.

The skills you have acquired as a good parent have turned you into the best teacher your child could ever have. Homeschooling for dummies? Dead right.

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