Does Math terrify you?
Would you rather jump into an ice cold lake than teach your child Science?
Is Music just not your thing?
You are not alone. Many parents ask themselves, “How do I homeschool these subjects that I am terrible at?”
Don’t despair.
You don’t have to throw in the homeschool towel just because Spelling isn’t in your genes. There are resources available that can help you both from above and down here. There are even some inside you, but we’ll get to that in a bit. Let’s start with the highest resource that you have access to.
Pray About it
God doesn’t give you more than you can handle. He knows what you are capable of. He knows what your child needs. He has many resources available for you. Trust Him and talk to Him.
Prayer is the key to getting God’s assistance. When you need help with a challenging subject, all you need to do is ask Him. Ask Him to help you learn it. Ask Him to help you teach it. Ask Him to provide you with any outside help you might need. Ask Him to give you the resources you need. Ask Him, ask Him, ask Him. He loves to hear from you after all. 😉 And He is capable of giving you just what you need at just the right time if you only ask Him.
Get Outside Help
Nowadays there are TONS of resources available to help you teach your child any subject. Some of those resources are on the web, some are down the street, and some are in your own home. Here is a list of some of those assets that you can take advantage of when homeschooling your child.
Your spouse. This is one of your best assets. 😉 Is there a subject that you struggle with that your spouse can teach instead? Let him do it with your child in the evening or on weekends.
Another relative. Grandparents, aunts, uncles, first cousins, second cousins twice removed, and in-laws are all possible sources of help for you.
A friend. Do you have a friend who is a scientist? Could she help answer any questions you and your children have about Science? Does your best friend’s husband teach college Math? Could he help your child with an Algebra II problem? Is there a friend or neighbor you trust that could give your child art lessons on a regular basis? All of these people are possible resources to assist you.
Another homeschooler. Could you partner up with another homeschooler in your area and split some subjects between you? Perhaps, she could teach Math and Science while you teach Language Arts and History. Or she could teach Music 3 days a week while you teach Art. There are plenty of possibilities.
A homeschool group. Is there a co-op in your area that offers classes for your child to take? They can be a very helpful and supportive resource.
Extracurricular activities. Can you sign your child up with some activities or groups in your community? Some possibilities include martial arts classes (for P.E.), theater groups, science museum classes, and music lessons.
Online courses. You may be able to take advantage of some online courses offered through a virtual school (public or private).
Web sites. The internet abounds with information. When you don’t know something, Google it. Hook your child up with a site like Khan Academy that has free educational videos. Find a site with science experiments. Follow a homeschool blog that shares activities for that difficult subject.
Learn it Yourself
Yep. You heard me right. Learn that difficult subject yourself. You CAN do it.
Homeschooling is an opportunity to learn the things you didn’t when you were young. If you didn’t understand how to solve an equation with two variables when you were a teen, you can learn it now. You have much more knowledge and wisdom under your belt. You can figure out how to learn according to your learning styles. Take advantage of that.
What does it take for you to learn something new or challenging? Desire. Prayer. Belief. Resources. Time. Effort. Those are the tools that will take you through the learning process.
One good thing about studying a topic that you need to teach your child is that you become a role model for him. When he sees you study, he’ll see the value of studying. When he sees you persevere through your struggles, he’ll probably do likewise. Don’t be afraid to set that example for your child.
Finally, know this. Practicing and teaching a skill will help you get good at it. Let me give you an example of this.
When I was in junior high, I was really good at everything in Math except percents. I actually failed a test on it which made me feel horrible because I was typically an ‘A’ student. When I became a teacher, what do you think I had to do daily to figure out grades? Percents. What did I have to teach my 4th grade class? Percents. Have I gotten good at percents? You bet I have because I practiced it and taught it. The same will be true for you with anything that you need to teach your child. As James Howell said, “We learn by teaching.”
So when you find yourself asking, “How do I homeschool _________? The answer is…with faith.
Many blessings,
