Open Letter to Homeschool Parents Who Don’t Know It All
Hey, just so you know … This post includes affiliate links. That means if you use them to make a purchase, I may earn a commission. You can read my full affiliate disclosure HERE.
I have a confession: I don’t know everything.
I’m not an expert at all the subjects my kids need to learn. I’m not a big history buff. I’m not a fan of science experiments. If I was on Jeopardy and the answer they were looking for was “What is a dangling modifier”, I can’t say with confidence that I would have gotten it.
But guess what? There’s nothing in the (nonexistent) Homeschool Parents’ Manual for Success that says that we have to know “all the things” in order for our kids to have a great homeschool experience.
In fact, I don’t know a single homeschool parent who DOES know everything.
Most of us have topics we know a lot about, can get by in other topics, and know nothing (or next to nothing) in other topics.
And that’s completely normal!
So let’s get one thing clear before we move on:
You don’t have to be “qualified” (by someone else's standards) to homeschool your children.
** This is a sponsored post. I received this product or compensation for review purposes only and was compensated for my time. I was neither asked nor required to share a positive review; all opinions are my own. READ HERE for more information.
The Actual Truth
This is a fear for a lot of people who are either thinking about homeschooling their kids OR who have jumped in, only to realize they’ve forgotten a lot of the things they learned when they were in school.
The anxiety that “I’m not smart enough to homeschool my kids” can be so strong it can lead some people to not even begin, throw in the towel, or waste a lot of time believing they’ve done something horribly wrong and are going to screw things up for their kids' academic success.
Honestly, that breaks my heart!
Not only because I believe homeschool can be such a beautiful, life-changing option for so many kids, but because I hate the idea of parents tearing themselves down like that.
Especially when there’s zero truth in it!
The actual truth is this:
The only things you need to provide your kids with a quality, well-rounded education are love, determination, and resourcefulness.
I know you love your kids. And the fact that you have decided that you want to take a hands-on approach to your child’s education shows that you have some degree of determination. After all, homeschooling is still considered by many to be the radical approach to education because it puts you in the driver’s seat as opposed to going along for the ride.
As for resourcefulness, I can see you have that as well.
How?
You’re here, aren’t you?
Whether you came across this article randomly or you sought it out purposefully, the fact that you clicked the link to come to a homeschooling blog to get guidance on something you’ve possibly been dealing with shows that you’re ready and willing to utilize resources to get what you need.
And that’s what matters!
Resources to Help You Thrive
One of the biggest and best life skills we can, as humans, master is the ability to find solutions to our problems…and that skill will serve you (and your kids) well on your homeschool journey.
And guess what? There’s a tool you’re using right now that has soooo many resources for homeschool parents and students alike…the internet!
As someone who grew up when the internet was still mostly only used by tech buffs and the wealthy, I can’t imagine life without it anymore.
Granted, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows, but the internet has made it possible for us to do, see, experience, and become just about anything we want…and we can easily utilize it to create a homeschool experience that is joyful for not only our kids, but for ourselves.
Case in point: Outschool.
If you’ve done any amount of research into online homeschooling resources, chances are you’ve already heard of Outschool before.
Their whole mission is one that aligns so well with mine: to inspire kids to love learning.
And they do that by linking learning with what kids are already interested in and by creating the space for them to connect with other kids who share their interests. Plus, they encourage kids to take the lead with their education by giving them the freedom to choose their own learning path.
In short, they make learning fun, social, and self-directed.
That, to me, is perfection! And it’s why we love Outschool so much. They offer soooo many fantastic classes that my kids and (I have zero shame in admitting) I love. Classes for just about everything you can think of!
Not just your standard math, science, language arts, social studies, and foreign language. They go all in.
Is your kid an avid Minecrafter? They’ve got classes for that!
Does your kid love cosplaying? They’ve got classes for that!
Are they into entrepreneurship? Game design? Babysitting? Martial arts? Gymnastics? Embroidery? Or do they simply need help with study skills?
They’ve got classes for all of those, for students of all ages! Plus a ton more that might surprise (and delight) you.
But the thing a lot of people don’t know about Outschool is that in addition to having a huge library of group classes to choose from, they also offer fantastic options for 1-on-1 tutoring for kids aged 3 to 18.
I know…you might be thinking — well all sorts of things, really?
Perhaps you’re worried about how much it would cost to hire a private tutor.
Or maybe you’re thinking you don’t have the time or energy to wade through a sea of tutors trying to find one that’s actually good at what they do.
Both of those are very valid concerns. A private tutoring program can be costly…and you can’t trust everyone you meet online.
But what I love about Outschool is that they:
- Do the legwork for you as far as vetting the educators and tutors on their platform.
- Give you a lot of options so you can find a skilled tutor who fits your budget.
- Have a built-in user rating system that helps you make a confident hiring decision.
- Make it really simple for you to find the perfect tutor and get right to work quickly.
Tutoring for Kids Made Easy
No booking interviews or getting on awkward sales calls to find that one-on-one attention your student needs.
No shady contracts that lock you into a service you may decide you no longer want or need.
Plus, they offer a Happiness Guarantee to help ensure that everyone has a positive experience with Outschool.
Simply search for a tutor in the subject your child needs help with, select the tutor who seems to be the best fit for your child's needs, subscribe, and you’re good to go! You'll find online tutors for young children all the way up to high school students.
Speaking of the subjects, their 1:1 tutoring options are just as amazing as their group classes. I’ve seen so many amazing choices!
Of course, they have the essential core subjects, like Math, Science, English, Reading, Writing, and Foreign Languages. And within those subjects, they specialize even further. For example, if your child is struggling just with long division, they have an exceptional tutor who specializes in helping them master that area in particular.
But that’s just the tip of the iceberg! They also have private tutors for subjects and special interests like:
- Art
- Coding
- Test Prep
- Acting and Audition Prep
- Audition Pep
- Ventriloquism
- Chess
- Identifying Gems & Minerals
- Life Skills
- Dance
- Sign Language
- Paleontology
With over 11,500 class options and 4,000+ vetted tutors (with thousands of 5-star reviews), you’re bound to find academic support that's a good fit for your family!
Support for All Kids and Learning Styles
Another thing I REALLY appreciate about Outschool is that they’ve made a special effort to accommodate neurodivergence, including (but not limited to ADHS, Autism, Giftedness, Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, and Dysgraphia.
In other words, they have gone above and beyond with making sure ALL kids have a great deal of support when it comes to getting a comprehensive, well-rounded education as well as pursuing their interests and passions. Whether they
And I’m 100% on board with that!
Special Offer From Outschool
If you’ve been reading along and feel a nudge telling you this might be exactly what your family needs this school year, click here to see what Outschool has to offer.
I also have a special deal for you!
When you find a tutoring session or class you would love to try out, enter the code “TECHIENEWBUYERS” at checkout for up to $20 USD off your first class (new customers only).
If you do, I’d love to know which class your kiddos took and how they enjoyed them. Just let me know in the comments.
In the meantime, though, rest assured that you’re not on this journey by yourself.
Just keep your heart on your kids, your mind on doing what’s best for them, and surround yourself with people who will cheer you on.
I hope you consider me to be one of them.
You’ve got this!!!
Related Posts
- 200+ Live Online Homeschool Classes
- How to Teach a Subject You Don't Know: 10 Tips for Homeschool Parents
- 12 Best Online Christian Homeschool Curriculum Options for All Kids
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