Teaching Qualifications for Home Educators

Are you wondering whether you are qualified to teach your children? Some states require teaching certifications or specific educational levels (such as a GED or high school diploma), so the first thing you need to do is check the homeschool laws in your state. Note that some of the states that require specific qualifications also have religious objection provisions, so be sure to check into that if it pertains to you. Aside from the foregoing, yes, you are qualified! You know your children's strengths and weaknesses better than anyone else. But there's a catch.

Even though the law may say you are qualified to teach your children, and even though by nature are qualified to teach your children, you must be committed to doing so. As a home educator, you are responsible for helping your children reach their educational goals. If you're not sure what to teach or how to teach it, you must be willing to do whatever you can to help your children succeed. Many parents feel overwhelmed or out of their element at first, and one of their biggest fears can be having to teach something they never learned or don't remember. Know, however, that there are resources available to you. If you find you lack knowledge on a particular subject or are otherwise uncomfortable teaching it, know that your child can take the course online, through a coop, or through a homeschool program, and you can seek help from a tutor or another homeschooler.

If you have the desire to provide your children with the best possible education, you are qualified to be their teacher!