Homeschoolers get asked a lot of questions. I asked—and still continue to ask—my fair share of questions so I am not offended when people question me about what we do. In fact, I kind of enjoy it.
What most people want to know can be grouped into a few common categories. So here are my answers to the most common homeschooling questions:
Teacher Qualifications
- How do you teach a curriculum you do not know well?
- Where do you find the stamina to do teach every day?
- What if your child is smarter than you?
- How do you structure your day?
- Do you feel qualified to do teach?
Let me be the first one to shout to the masses, “WE DON’T ALWAYS FEEL QUALIFIED!”
But let me ask a rebuttal question: does anyone ALWAYS feel qualified to do his or her job? Heck no!
But one thing a good homeschool parent learns is to ask the right questions of the right people to dig for the right answers. We become lifelong learners and pursuers of information. We learn to think for ourselves.
End Results
- Do you worry about the learning pace and quality of education?
- Will your kids be prepared for college?
- What would you do differently?
- What would you keep the same?
Again, let me be the first to admit, we worry about our children’s academic success. But doesn’t every parent?
If you’re shipping the kids off to school every day and never thinking of how they will turn out- no matter the prestige of the school, then we have parenting issues to talk about, not educational.
Homeschooling allows for tailoring coursework and curriculum to the needs of the child. This produces a well-rounded, well-prepared life learner. When you start homeschool planning with the end in sight—whether that be a temporary schooling situation or an entire schooling career—you can plan accordingly.
Practicalities
- How do you structure your day?
- Do your kid’s listen well when mom is the teacher?
- How many hours do the kids study each day?
- How do you get your kids to stay focused?
- What do you do with the little kids while the older ones are learning?
- Do you wear pajamas all day?
These are my favorite types of questions, actually, because I get to share with people how WE do it. The beauty of homeschooling is that it is designed to be personal.
I love opening the homeschool cabinet and explaining our particulars. It’s exciting to talk about something I am so passionate about. Isn’t it that way for everyone?
As far as practicalities that homeschoolers aren’t good at, think about things such as standing in a line (DMV will teach them that, don’t worry), raising their hand to ask a question (does anyone do that as adults in their workplace?) and the morning rush to the bus stop.
Socialization
- Are you worried your kids will be “weird”?
- Are your kids doing what everyone else is doing?
Many people worry that homeschoolers aren’t doing what everyone else is doing. Well, we aren’t—and we are.
A homeschool student learns about the presidents, the Bill of Rights, proper sentence structure, how to write a business letter, the periodic table of elements, and all sorts of great things. A mom/teacher deals with bad attitudes, tired kids, hormones, grumbles, and resistant learners.
Homeschool kids are given opportunities to socialize with all sorts of people, no matter their age or stage of learning, because they do it all day. Kids in homeschool co-ops and other community clubs get plenty of time to play and hang out with friends, which teaches them how to be in relationship with others.
In Closing
For the curious mom: if you find yourself asking questions of a homeschooler, be warned! You’ll either release a wealth of information you might not want or receive impatient looks. Ask your questions kindly—remember, you were socialized, right?
For the homeschooler mom: when it’s your turn to be interrogated on the playground, show people that homeschooling is not a second-rate, back-woods, ultra-protective way of sheltering our kids. Give grace to those who are unfamiliar with our counter-cultural ways. Be an educator of adults for a change. Represent us well!