Afraid you can’t teach the classes?

{This post is one in a series called, “Top 10 Fears”, in which I speak to the most common fears parents express about homeschooling the high school years.  To see all of the topics, or start at the beginning, click HERE.}

Top Fear #2

Afraid you can’t teach all the classes yourself

Even the most confident parents may shudder at teaching classes they don’t know.  The most well-educated parents can get rusty, too.

This is a normal concern.  And a very easy one to get around.

The first rule to remember is that not everyone can be good at everything.  Everybody needs a little help from time to time.  No shame in that.

The second rule is that it’s okay for homeschool parents not to teach everything themselves.  Leaving certain courses to more skilled individuals may guarantee better results anyway.  Put your pride or embarrassment aside, and realize that out-sourcing high school isn’t that big a big deal.

Look specifically for these kinds of resources — ones that take the burden off you and put it somewhere else:

• A teacher, tutor, other homeschool parent, or some trusted individual to teach the class for you (could be done via Skype or other method, too).  Everybody has a friend, uncle, former teacher, or neighbor skilled at something.  Offer to pay as you would any other professional.

• An online class that provides lectures, assignments, assessments, and grading without you lifting a finger.  This can be an online virtual school, a private school that accepts homeschoolers, or classes via online businesses that are worthy of high school credit.  Make sure it’s all-inclusive, and you’ll be ready to go.

• A group of other students and families who have hired someone to teach the class.  This can be in a homeschool co-op (what’s a co-op?) or can just be an informal group of friends all looking for the same class.  This works well for academic subjects as well as lab experiments and test prep, too.

• A community college class nearby, where your student may attend like any other student.  Look into rules in your area, finding out tuition costs (if any), placement information, and what is needed to register your homeschooler on campus.  As a bonus, these classes often give college credit, too (how does that work?).

• A local high school, tech school or community ed program where your student can take the class.  This is a little like sending your teen to school, except you control the curriculum, and it’s only 1-2 classes at a time.  Find out which schools accept homeschoolers in your area, and register for classes there instead of doing them at home.

• A packaged curriculum product where everything is provided: lessons, assignments, answer keys, and more (automated is even better).  Many products are designed with this specific fear in mind.  Check out Teaching Textbooks, Rosetta Stone, The Spectrum, and some of the other products on this list.

Other articles of interest:

Why you need to teach the tough stuff

Online and correspondence schools

Traditional high school sequence: Grades 9-12

 

Dr. Marie-Claire Moreau is a college professor who traded in her tenure to become a homeschool mom 20+ years ago.  The founder of many homeschool groups and organizations, she works to advance home education, and is an outspoken supporter of education reform coast to coast.  Her book, Suddenly Homeschooling: A Quick Start Guide to Legally Homeschool in Two Weeks, is industry-acclaimed as it illustrates how homeschooling can rescue children and families from the system, and how anyone can begin homeschooling within a limited time-frame, or with no educational background whatsoever.  A liaison for regional school-to-home organizations and a homeschool leader in Florida, Marie-Claire also mentors homeschool families nationwide. A conference speaker, she has appeared at FPEA, H.E.R.I., Home Education Council of America, and many other events.  She currently writes for audiences at Quick Start Homeschool, which she founded in 2010, and as a guest writer on other sites as often as she can.  Her articles have appeared in CONNECT magazine, on Homefires, at Circle of Moms, and she has contributed to hundreds of other blogs nationwide.  Dr. Moreau can be reached at contactmarieclaire@gmail.com.