For those of you who are considering homeschooling, wondering if you’re qualified to teach your kids:

I wish I had a dime ( more would be fine too) for every time someone has said to me, “It’s so great that you have a teaching degree so that you can teach your kids. I’m just not qualified to teach. I’d never be able to do it. I wouldn’t know how to teach them. I know I’d miss tons of information and they’d never be ready for college.”

Here and now, I would like to debunk the myth that in order to home school your children, you must have a teaching degree or somehow “qualify.”

Here. Use this check list:

1. Can you read?
2. Do you know your numbers?
3. Can you write?
4. Do you know where your pencils are?

If you answered “yes” to at least three out of four of the above questions – you’re in. You’re good to go.  You’re totally qualified. And if you actually know where your pencils are, you may be overqualified and put the rest of us homeschooling mothers to shame. (To my credit, I do happen to know where some of my pencils are, but none of them – I repeat – none of them are sharpened.)

So, you may ask, what about all the things I don’t know? How will I ever teach my kids history or science or math? I don’t remember half of the stuff I was taught in school.

What? You think that since I have a teaching degree I actually know stuff? Or that I magically remember everything I was taught?

That’s what BOOKS are for.

I don’t remember 7/8 of the information I was taught in school. It doesn’t matter.

I have books. Lots and lots of books. I have software. I have search engines. I have friends who know things. I have a husband who knows things. I have a library.

And sometimes, on a good day, I have a sharpened pencil.

I promise…promise you that if you have the desire to teach your kids at home, that is truly all you need. The desire – and resources.  Resources are out there all over the place for you.

You don’t need a degree or 459,392 facts stored up in your head.

If there’s something you don’t know – there is a book that will tell you or someone else you can ask.

You don’t even have to try very hard to find these resources. Home schooling materials of ALL kinds are available out there now. For every type of child. For every type of parent. For every type of home. For every type of learning style. For every type of schedule.

You don’t have to reinvent the wheel. You don’t have to think hard. You don’t have to know much.

You want to know how I teach my kids? We read together. We look information up on the computer (cheering each time we get a Swagbuck!). We talk to each other. We look at what is going on around us. We ask questions.

Never ever feel like you aren’t qualified to be your child’s teacher. You are the person who loves them the most and knows them best of all.

Guess what? You are already your child’s teacher.

And see? You’re doing just fine.

More About Homeschooling

• Here is an entire category of posts I’ve written about homeschooling at our house.  Scroll down to the beginning if you would like.
• I talk about my favorite curriculum choices here.  Be sure to read the comments to read what others recommend!
• This post lists some great resources I highly use and love.

Moms (and dads)…please leave comments here letting us know your favorite homeschool resources, aids, curriculums, books – anything you’ve found helpful in your homeschool journey!