| One of the greatest obstacles facing parents who | | | | and researching the topic. |
| wish to take their children out of the public school | | | | There are a number of different resources and |
| system for home schooling is fear – especially | | | | paths to take when you’re teaching your |
| fear about their abilities to teach. No parent wants | | | | child. Why take the ‘traditional’ route |
| to be responsible for their child missing out on any | | | | when you’ve already decided that it’s not |
| important educational elements but, in most | | | | right for your child? When it comes to subjects |
| states, parents don’t have to be certified | | | | you’re unfamiliar with you could: |
| teachers in order to instruct their children at | | | | • sign your child up for an individual class |
| home. | | | | (either in school, online or at a community center) |
| When it comes to home schooling, parents have | | | | • arrange for your child to sit in on college |
| to be prepared for the fact that they’re | | | | lectures |
| going to be doing some learning of their own. You | | | | • attend a speech or other community event |
| can’t automatically be an expert in every | | | | • attend a tour guided by an expert |
| topic that you’ll need to help your child with, | | | | • consult an author or other type of expert |
| and each parent will find their own strengths and | | | | for tips, or even invite them to your home to |
| weaknesses. The key is to avoid passing those | | | | speak with your child |
| weaknesses onto your child. Angela MacArthur, | | | | • canvas other home schoolers and see if |
| editor of homeschoolingplus.com, reminds parents | | | | there are lessons that you could ‘pool’: |
| that “The trick is to be ready to be flexible | | | | you teach several children in your area of |
| and creative. The fact is, parents can teach – | | | | expertise and your children attend |
| and they might actually prove to be the best | | | | ‘classes’ at another home schooler’s |
| teachers for their children!” | | | | place for any topic that you need help with |
| Really, the great thing about home schooling is the | | | | If none of these options appeal to you, then |
| flexibility – you decide what’s going to be | | | | it’s your responsibility to educate yourself in |
| taught and how. This means, if there’s | | | | the subject area so that you can pass that |
| something that you don’t feel comfortable | | | | knowledge on to your child. Make sure you do |
| with you can always find alternate ways to teach | | | | your homework and be prepared for questions! |
| it to your child. This is where you really get the | | | | Don’t let fear or uncertainties stop you from |
| chance to give your child an education they’ll | | | | home schooling your children. Remember, |
| never find in a traditional school. Many home | | | | teachers don’t know everything! Most public |
| schoolers take advantage of video and internet | | | | school teachers specialize their learning throughout |
| sources (as do many teachers and professors in | | | | their post secondary education and have to |
| campus school settings). Some also decide to | | | | refresh their memories – or even learn |
| learn with the student so that a sense of | | | | something new – when they’re preparing |
| exploration and discovery shape the lesson. | | | | to step into the classroom. Things will be no |
| Instead of providing straight answers and direct | | | | different for a home school teacher. |
| guidance, parents join the child in solving problems | | | | |