A commenter on the families.com homeschooling forum stated that they want to homeschool, but are concerned they are not smart enough. I think the ability to make such as statement makes this person uniquely qualified to homeschool their kids.
A wise person is aware of what they do and do not know. A wise homeschooler is afraid they will not do a good job. They are not over confident in their abilities. They know their strengths and weaknesses. They do not think they can do it all. They know when to ask for help.
Overconfidence in abilities causes a person to get careless and make mistakes. It is when you most feel that you cannot go wrong that you do. Your child’s education is not an area where you want to make mistakes. Feeling insecure about teaching your child will keep you learning, researching, and discovering new ways to impart knowledge to your child. A parent, who feels like they do not need any help at all, will very likely find out otherwise.
When I began homeschooling my kids, while I felt secure in my academic abilities, I was also secure in the fact that I was short tempered, impatient, and that I knew nothing about education in general. I took the six months before we would officially begin homeschooling to teach myself what I felt I should know. I probably read 30 books on homeschooling and raising children during that time. I was then able to begin homeschooling in confidence. However, that does not mean I have stopped learning and trying to improve myself to further boost my kids homeschooling experience.
If you feel insecure about your abilities to homeschool, you need to educate yourself. Read books about homeschooling. Brush up on those skills that you feel least secure about. Learn what you know you do not know.
Read the homeschool glossaries to get started educating yourself on homeschooling.
*Have a question about homeschooling? Just ask.
* Have you seen the homeschooling curriculum glossary?