Back To School (But Make it Homeschool!) Part 2: How to Teach in Homeschool
But I'm Not a Teacher, How Can I Teach my Kids?
You know that moment when you're scrolling through homeschool Instagram, seeing all those gorgeous learning spaces and craft activities, and that little voice in your head whispers, "But what if I mess my kids up?"
Yeah. I've been there too.
Maybe you've already tackled the "What about socialization?" question, joined a few Facebook groups, maybe even toured a co-op or two... and now the real panic sets in:
Wait... how do I actually teach my child?
Do I need a teaching degree? Do I have to quit my job? Where do I even start? And honestly, am I qualified to do this?
As someone who coaches executives for a living, I thought I had a decent handle on teaching, at least when it came to adults. Not so surprising spoiler alert: kids are a whole different story. I teach adults how to lead teams, communicate effectively, solve complex problems. Suddenly, I was trying to teach my kindergartener the difference between a short and long vowel while making dinner and thinking, "I can't do this. I'm not a teacher. I don't even know where to start with explaining this."
Here's what I wish someone had told me from the beginning: You don't have to be the teacher. You just have to be the guide.
The Research Says You've Already Got What It Takes
Before we dive into the how, let's talk about the elephant in the room: Do you actually need a teaching degree to give your child a quality education?
The research is pretty clear on this one, and it might surprise you.
About 90% of homeschooling parents have never been government-certified teachers, so you're not alone in doing this. Now for the really good news. Multiple studies show thatbeing a certified teacher is not correlated with their children's academic achievement. Let me say that again: Whether or not you have a teaching degree has zero correlation with how well your homeschooled child will do academically.
But here's what gets even better. A study published in the Journal of School Choice found that homeschooled students in the United States outperformed their public school peers by an average of 15 to 30 percentile points in standardized tests. And when it comes to social and emotional development? 87% of peer-reviewed studies on social, emotional, and psychological development show homeschool students perform statistically significantly better than those in conventional schools.
So while you're over there doubting yourself, the actual data says you're probably going to knock this out of the park.
You Don't Have to Reinvent the Wheel
Here's the best-kept secret of homeschooling, and the one I wish I knew before crying on the kitchen floor that we made a terrible choice: You don't have to create your own curriculum from scratch (unless you want to, you fantastic overachiever, you).
There are incredible resources out there, crafted by experienced educators, backed by research, and designed to make life easier for busy parents. And yes, many of them are totally open-and-go, which means you can homeschool and work full-time.
The real question isn't "Can I teach?" It's "Which type of homeschooling support works best for my family?"
And honestly? That's where things get fun.
Finding Your Homeschool Sweet Spot
Look, I spent way too much time in the beginning trying to figure out if I should go Charlotte Mason or Unit Studies or Waldorf or Montessori... when what I really needed to figure out was how much support I needed as the facilitator.
Because here's the thing: some families thrive with total creative freedom, others need everything planned out to the minute, and most of us fall somewhere in between.
So instead of getting lost in educational philosophy rabbit holes (though those are fun too), let's talk about what actually matters for your day-to-day success.
The "How Much Support Do I Need?" Breakdown:
The DIY Designer - You love flexibility and probably have strong opinions about what your kids should learn. You enjoy researching and planning, and you've got the time to make it happen. Budget-friendly bonus: lots of amazing free resources out there.
The Open-and-Go Strategist - You want quality curriculum without the overwhelm. You're happy to tweak things here and there, but you don't want to spend your evenings lesson planning. You probably work, (maybe from home, maybe not) or have another child at home to care for as well, and need something that just works.
The Full-Support Seeker - You need simplicity and structure. You want someone else to handle the scope and sequence, tell you what to do each day, and provide some teacher guidance, maybe even coaching for those tough conversations like explaining why the letter e breaks every rule to a 7-year old.
The beautiful thing? None of these approaches is better than the others. They're just different tools for different families in different seasons. Maybe even different tools for various topics. I like a DIY approach to science right now, but when it comes to learning to read? Please give me all the support!
But Which One Are You?
Okay, this is where I'm going to help you figure out your homeschool sweet spot with a quick quiz. Because while it's fun to read about different approaches, what you really need is to know which direction to head when you start researching curriculum.
Fair warning: Answer these honestly, not how you think you "should" answer them.
5-Question Quiz: Which Homeschool Style Fits You Best?
1. How much time can you realistically spend planning lessons each week?
A. Hours! I actually love a good spreadsheet and planning session
B. 45 minutes or less, please
C. Absolutely none. Help.
2. What kind of learning experience do you want for your child?
A. Custom-fit to their interests and my values
B. A structured approach with some creative wiggle room
C. Fully guided and consistent, created by certified experts
3. How important is it to you to research the pedagogy behind your curriculum?
A. Very - I want to understand the why behind what we're doing so I can know I'm doing it correctly
B. Somewhat - I want solid, proven curriculum I can trust with guidance for me on how to teach it
C. Not at all - I want it done-for-me by experts, script out what I need to say or let's do something online please.
4. Are you comfortable modifying or combining curriculums?
A. Yes, I love creating mashups that work for our family!
B. Maybe a little tweaking here and there
C. Please no. One thing, no changes, make it simple.
5. How flexible is your schedule?
A. Very - I'm home most days and can be spontaneous
B. Somewhat - I work but have flexibility in my schedule
C. Not at all - I'm juggling a lot already and need predictability
Your Curriculum Fit:
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You thrive with flexibility and love creating your own curriculum. You're probably going to love exploring Ambleside Online, The Roadmap to Literacy, and Waldorf curriculum resources like A Child's Seasonal Treasury. Pinterest is your friend, and you're not afraid of a little trial and error.
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You want quality without overwhelm, and you're willing to invest in good curriculum to save your sanity. Look at programs like Blossom & Root, Math With Confidence, All About Reading, Earthschooling if you lean Waldorf, or Child of the Redwoods if you lean Montessori. These give you the structure you need with room to breathe.
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You need simplicity and structure, and there's absolutely nothing wrong with that. Check out Miacademy for classical education, Guidepost for Monetssori, or Seasons of Seven for Waldorf-inspired virtual learning. These programs handle the heavy lifting so you can focus on being present with your child.
What We Actually Use (Real Talk)
Since you shared yours, I'll share mine. We're definitely in the "Open-and-Go Strategist" camp, but I also love to blend curriculums. Here's what's working for us:
Math With Confidence - Hands-on and engaging, this curriculum helps us meet standards through play. My daughter's favorite is our homemade "store" with the math gnomes (yes, it's as cute as it sounds).
All About Reading + Spelling - Research-backed and effective. It takes some creativity to fit it into our nature-based rhythm, but it's worth it.
Blossom & Root - Nature study + art + gentle planning. Perfect for our seasonal rhythm and my need for some structure without rigidity.
Oak Meadow for health (gotta meet those state requirements plus it's actually super valuable content!)
Earthschooling for songs, seasonal stories, and that magical vibe that makes our days feel special.
And while I love pulling from multiple sources, you don't have to! Many families thrive with just one great program that fits their style.
The Bottom Line: You've Got This
You don't need a teaching degree. You don't need to be perfect. You don't even need to have it all figured out before you start.
What you need is love for your child, a willingness to learn alongside them, and the right tools for your family. Whether you build it yourself, lean on ready-made programs, or go full virtual support, you can create a homeschool experience that fits your life and helps your child thrive.
And here's what I know for sure: there's nothing more fulfilling than watching your child light up when they finally "get" something, and knowing you were there to guide them through it.
The research backs you up. Your heart is in the right place. And honestly?
Your kid is lucky to have you.
Ready to dive deeper? Grab our free Homeschool Decision-Making Guide with curriculum recommendations, planning tips, and all the clickable links to get you started by subscribing below!