How to Teach Homeschool Subjects You Don’t Know: 5 Excellent Tips
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It is totally normal for you to wonder how to teach homeschool subjects you don’t know. I bet that every homeschool parent has a particular subject that makes them feel inadequate as a teacher.
Let me let you in on a secret…teachers aren’t experts in every subject. Not by a long stretch. Teachers are amazing but they don’t know everything and they don’t need to.
Homeschool moms don’t need to either. You can give your child a wholesome and well-rounded education even if you know nothing about certain subjects that they need to learn about.
How though? How do you do this successfully?
Below are 5 tips that will set you up to be able to homeschool your child and include subjects that you’re either not confident with or know nothing about. Just keep reading…
How to Teach Homeschool Subjects You Don’t Know
We live in a time where we have so much more access to resources than we ever have before. This can be overwhelming but it is also a great blessing.
Because of this, parents should feel more than capable of providing a well-rounded education for their children.
Now, let’s get into the specifics of how to teach homeschool subjects you aren’t confident in.
#1 Take Advantage of Online Curriculum
There are so many wonderful online curriculums available now. If you are a parent struggling with a particular subject, why not look up what online resources are out there?
One such resource is CTCMath. This is an online math program that we have used and really enjoyed! Check out their website here.
I’ll admit, I’m fairly good at math. I enjoy it but teaching high school math still intimidates me. With the help of CTCMath, I don’t feel scared about it anymore.
The program is so straightforward to use and there are wonderful teachers who are able to walk through concepts with your child.
Because it is self-paced, your child is going to be able to properly learn the concepts being taught and not wind up frustrated.
The video lessons are simple and easy to watch. There are also practice questions and regular assessments so that you can easily see how your child is doing without having to watch over their shoulder.
Here are some things I love:
- It has a simple interface (my brain can’t deal with anything overly complicated)
- I can check my child’s progress without hovering over him
- It gives my child a sense of responsibility and ownership
- The lessons are short and to the point but are also clearly explained
Take a look at what CTCMath has to offer over on their website. Their Homeschool Family membership is a great option for families looking for an easily accessible, cost-effective math curriculum. Right now you can grab a half-price discount here.
You may also wish to try out their program with a free trial.
It might not be math that you’re struggling with but the same principle applies. It doesn’t take much more than a Google search to find what will be helpful.
#2 Go On Field Trips
What better way to introduce your child to subjects you’re not strong on but by taking them on field trips to the experts!
This is an idea that covers so many different learning topics, the list really is endless.
Field trips don’t have to be expensive or extravagant. Honestly, if there’s someone in your life that can offer up their expertise on a subject, why not visit them? It could be a farm or workshop. Think outside the box and reach out to your community.
#3 Employ a Tutor
Here’s a fun fact…my mom never took math past age 13. As a result, she definitely felt out of her depth when it came to teaching her children high school math.
She could have doubted her decision to homeschool and enrolled us in school. Instead, she hired a tutor who I went to once a week to learn math from.
It worked really well. It just so happened that the tutor was a retired teacher from our church congregation. She knew her stuff and taught us well.
There are lots of people out there who are looking for tutoring opportunities. Again, reach out to your local community and see who’s out there.
Another option is to look online. There are more and more online tutoring companies that can be a really great option.
#4 Learn With Them
This won’t be possible for all subjects but many times you will be able to learn right alongside your child.
Think about it, do you remember everything you learned about history from your school years? Chances are the answer is no.
I think many homeschool moms will relate when I say that homeschooling your children is like a beautiful second chance at learning things yourself.
I certainly didn’t appreciate learning when I was a child as much as I do now. Perhaps it’s life experience but it is a joy to be able to learn once again.
#5 Invest In Curriculum That Teaches For You
Once upon a time, most homeschool curriculum was meant for a classroom setting. This often made it really difficult to teach your children if you didn’t have all the answers.
The teacher’s key would have the answer but not the explanation as to why the answer was what it was.
As homeschooling has grown in popularity so to has the number of homeschool curriculums. No longer do we have to use curriculum that was first intended for the classroom. Now we have curriculum that has been specifically developed for the purpose of home education.
This is such a blessing as these curriculums basically do the teaching for you. Many have lessons that are scripted and give you a full and thorough explanation about what your child is learning (and why!).
Don’t make life more difficult for yourself. Invest in curriculum that does the hard work for you and go forth with confidence.
Final Thoughts
There are reasons why homeschooling might not be the best fit for a family, but a parent’s lack of knowledge about certain subjects shouldn’t be one of them.
There are so many wonderful resources available to us now, all it takes is a quick Google search to find some kind of a solution.
You are capable and you can homeschool successfully if you just go forward and try.
