Changed By The Maker

Am I Qualified?

Sometimes I run into women who ask me about homeschooling. They wonder about how it works, and they ask me how I do it. If I tell them that I used to be a public school teacher, it seems to either relieve their minds (if they are just curious bystanders) or discourage them because they don’t have the same experience.

The fact is, although it’s not rare (as far as I can tell), it’s not typical either for homeschool moms to have my background. Most of my homeschool friends have never been professional teachers, but they are very qualified to teach their own children.

I don’t want to take anything away from professional teachers. There is a lot of time, effort, and training that goes into learning how to handle a classroom. What I will say is that much of that training, especially that which is not administrative or behavioral,  is rather practical. At least, I thought my teacher training was quite practical.

I think most professional teachers could agree that some people are just born to teach, and the degree is a formality. But even if you’re not one of those, you can learn!

I must admit that my teaching experience, though I was a special education teacher, and all of my teaching years were with kids who were on the autism spectrum, did initially give me some comfort. It gave me confidence to at least get started homeschooling.

What I learned, however, after about a year or so of plugging away at teaching my little kindergartener, is that I still had a lot to learn! My degree and teaching license, in and of themselves, did not fully prepare me for every eventuality!

I had then, and I have now, ceaseless questions about what I’m doing. I don’t believe that is an indicator of my incompetence but, rather, of my competence. I felt exactly the same way when I was teaching in a public school, and I never heard anyone suggest that I was anything other than a competent teacher!

The fact is: I will never know everything about the “best” way to teach my child every particular subject, and neither would a public school teacher, competent and qualified as they might be. In fact, knowing that I don’t know it all is the beginning of knowing (isn’t that a famous proverb??), because I recognize my need for One who is greater to fill the void.

When I don’t know something that my child needs or really desires to know, I will find the answer for him or I will find someone else who can give him the answer. That’s my job.

What Makes You Qualified

So here’s my point — it’s not an advanced degree or a teaching license that qualifies you to teach your children (though that might get you over a few initial hurdles). These are the characteristics, in my experience, that qualify you for the greatest job on earth:

Deep and abiding love and concern for your children

Knowing that there’s more to an education than a math grade or an ability to excel at academics

Tenacious problem-solving skills

A lively curiosity about everything

Love of learning

Humility to ask (beg or plead) for help when you don’t know something

Confidence that God wants you to homeschool

Trust in God to know that He will provide for all your (and your children’s) needs

Resourcefulness

Determination and perseverance

Security to know that you can stop, regroup, and start again fresh if needed

Ability to organize (in whatever way works best for you and your family)

Support from your husband and, hopefully, a group of like-minded homeschool moms

Sacrificial commitment

I’m not going to say that everyone can homeschool their children successfully, because there might be some particular reason why you shouldn’t take on that commitment. You would know that better than me.

I will go so far as to say that if you have a great desire to homeschool your children, especially if you feel the Lord leading you in that direction, you are qualified.

Start demonstrating (to yourself) right now that you are qualified! You can learn more and check on the requirements for your state’s homeschool laws at the Home School Legal Defense Association.

What would you change on my list of qualifying characteristics? Are there qualities you would add or delete?

This post is linked to The Momma Knows, Raising Mighty Arrows,Our Simple Country Life, and Far Above Rubies.

photo credit: one more dreamer