by Selena Robinson

Created on: September 21, 2009

Yes! Homeschooling is for everyone! With so many methods, schedules, and curricula available today, anyone who chooses to can successfully homeschool their children. Let's look at a few possible objections and how you can overcome them to educate your child at home.

1) "I'm not a certified teacher!" Neither am I. Most homeschooling parents have no prior experience in the field of education. As of 2009, no state law requires that a homeschool teacher be a certified educator. That's because when you're homeschooling, you're merely doing an extended version of what you do with your children anyway: parenting. Think of the qualities you used when potty training your child: patience, consistency, adaptability. Those are exactly the qualities you need to teach your child math or English or science. As long as you are serious about your child's education, homeschooling is for you.

2) "I'm the most disorganized person on the planet!" Sadly, I'm a close second. Thankfully, organizational ability is not a prerequisite for homeschooling, especially in the beginning. Find space on the floor of a hall closet for a couple of plastic crates. As you collect books and workbooks and supplies, store them there and you'll develop your own efficient system in time. You might choose to have your child keep their school books in their room. Who knows? You might peek in their room to find them perusing their biology book - voluntarily! On the topic of documentation, you will need to keep some basic forms, depending on your state's requirements. Get yourself a clear storage box and ta-da! Instant organization. As long as you can keep a clear idea of what your child should be covering each school year, homeschooling is for you.

3) "I can't afford to stay at home! I have to work!" Homeschooling can present a challenge to you if you have to work out of the home. But only if you're picturing starting and ending school during school hours. Surprise! Homeschooling does not require the schedule you might envision. The ability to not have to adhere to a strict schedule is one of the advantages that homeschooling offers. So dismiss any thoughts of schooling Monday to Friday from 8 am to 3 pm. Not only is that a far cry from the reality of most homeschooling families, it is a recipe for burnout. Once you begin, you'll be surprised at how much your child can accomplish in about half of the time it would take them in school. Many homeschooled students can cover their subjects thoroughly in 3 to 4 hours. So, that leaves you a lot of room to decide what time of day and what days you will do schoolwork. You might even decide to have school on Friday afternoons, Saturday, and Sunday. As long as your child can cover their subjects each week, homeschooling is for you too!

Of course, there is a lot more that each parent will have to consider when it comes to whether they will homeschool their children or not. But, many who don't think that homeschooling is possible for them will find that they can homeschool if they adjust their schooling to their family's particular situation.

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