I have met many people who have said they could never homeschool.  I have also been told that because I was a teacher I could do this better than they could.  After my first year of homeschooling I was not so sure. I find that teaching in a classroom is totally different from teaching at home. There are different challenges that you face at home compared to school.  Often, we talk about how rewarding homeschooling is…and it is.  However, it is also a demanding challenge that many give up after trying it for a time. 

So, I started thinking, what makes a good homeschool teacher?  What must the homeschooling parent have settled in order to make it as a teacher? 

Here are three requirements of a good homeschool teacher as I see it.

Conviction

First, you must believe that this is something that you know the Lord wants for you and your family. I truly believe this is what God has intended for me. I have a peace that this is the right direction in which I am to go. In Philippians 4:7
See All..., the Bible states, “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”  [Check out article on What is a Conviction?]

Commitment

Second , to be a good homeschool teacher you need to be committed to your child’s education. I was unhappy teaching at school because I got tired of trying to instill godly character in my students only to find out they did not care. Many times neither did their parents. I wanted to put all my energy into my own children so they could turn out godly. Here are a few things I try to do:

I make sure to stay within the home school laws for the state of Tennessee. I have a four-hour school day (or more) and we have our 181 days of school.

We always start with Bible and prayers. One thing I find that helps us, we put our Bible verses to music. I find this helps us memorize faster and stays in our memory longer. I have a goal for my son to memorize 100 verses next year.

As a teacher I go over my lessons for the next day the night before. I gather material needed for each lesson and am prepared for the new day. As a homeschool teacher I do the same thing. If I prepare the night before, I feel like I have a better grip of the subjects.  This also gives me that night to pray about it. I have made a commitment to my child’s education and therefore I will take the time to prepare.

 I am encouraged by 2 Timothy 2:15Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
See All..., “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly diving the word of truth.”

This verse keeps me motivated to keep my schooling on track.

Confidence…In God

Third, I think of Isaiah 28:9-10 [9] Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. [10] For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:
See All..., “ Whom shall he teach knowledge? And whom shall he make to understand doctrine? Them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breast.” “For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line, here a little, and there a little.”

Home schooling is an every minute thing. You teach by every word you speak to your children and by every action towards them. My job is to teach knowledge to my children, but I get that knowledge from God. James 1:5If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
See All... states, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him."  There are many times I feel I lack wisdom, especially during a very busy day.  But I find that God will give me the wisdom I need for each hour if I only look to Him for His guidance.

So, what makes a good homeschool teacher?  It takes someone who is led by God to be a homeschool teacher. It requires a committed Christian who tries to keep things in order, and someone who realizes he must get his or her wisdom from God on a daily basis. 

 Just remember Philippians 4:13
See All..., “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”