Eliminating Self-Doubt in Education

Mission: Eliminate self-doubt about your ability to educate your child adequately for their future.

Introduction

Whether you call yourself a seasoned homeschooling parent or you want to start homeschooling, self-doubt about teaching your child can come into play. There is nothing wrong with this; in fact, it means that you care. While it’s completely normal, it doesn’t mean we should tolerate it in our lives. We live in the modern age, where we can easily access information (see resources below). No one on this planet cares about your child as much as you do. That means no one can give them the time and energy you can.

Society naturally perceives that the teacher holds the best title to educate our kids. We are programmed to believe that because they are the “perceived authority.” We fail to consider important factors such as the teacher's background, values, beliefs, or even level of commitment to their pupils' success. Not to mention every study shows one-on-one learning is far superior to one-on-many.

Proof

Studies have shown that homeschooled kids score 15-30% better on standardized tests than the national average (ERIC Clearinghouse, 1998). These homeschooling parents aren’t geniuses; they are everyday individuals just like yourself. Trust me, I know from experience. My mom performed an annual evaluation for a certain family. Their son was the smartest homeschooler that we knew. He graduated years early. His parents had no idea about the math and physics he learned. But they sought out tools and resources that could help their son learn.

“Your intelligence does not determine your child’s educational success. Your problem-solving ability does.”

How to help you realize that you can homeschool your child(ren):

You care more than any teacher

You can do whatever is necessary to make sure they succeed because it’s your child.
You can help them to relearn something until they grasp it, no matter how long it takes.
You can implement different learning styles until you find the one that works best.

1 on 1 creates more success compared to 1 on 30

A homeschooled child who receives one-on-one learning will be far better off.
A homeschooled child isn’t embarrassed to ask questions and can openly communicate.
A homeschooled child will see fewer distractions around them while studying at home.
A homeschooled child can learn at their own speed and timing without being rushed.

The rate of learning can be customized to individual needs

A homeschooled child isn’t slowed by other individuals in class.
A homeschooled child isn’t rushed to reach a certain time frame laid out by the school system.
A homeschooled child only moves on once mastery of the subject has occurred.
A homeschooled child has the flexibility to learn anywhere at any time.

Customized learning plans

You can teach your child via their preferred learning style.
You can help your child to learn math one way and history another.
You can create a fun learning environment in comparison to the lecture approach of public schools.
You can discover why your child struggles with a subject, which keeps you in the loop and gives you the ability to make changes.

Constant guidance

You can cultivate proper role models (including yourself) for your child.
You can mold your child into an outstanding individual.
You can live what you preach day to day, which creates a level of respect and understanding that strengthens your leadership ability.
You can quickly eliminate bad behavior or habits.

Family values can be incorporated into learning

You can cultivate good family values: Family values are what make a strong country, a strong family, and strong individuals.
You can protect your child and show them vital information, which the school system wouldn’t do.
You can raise your child with your values and beliefs.
You can give them a strong self-identity.
You can show them how to represent your last name.
You can create a strong, positive self-identity for yourself and your child that correlates with both happiness and success.

Resources:

Google

My mom taught successfully with only Google and YouTube (she was a math teacher, so she was informed on topics like math and biology).
My mom taught us on our level (if we didn’t understand something, she would scour the internet for information).
A parent can easily find information using online sources and Google.
A parent can educate their child, using the right problem-solving mentality, light-years ahead of any teacher.

AI allows you to streamline the amount of effort and time it takes you to educate.
AI will also grade tests for you.
AI will create tests for you as well.

Books/Information

You can easily find information using new informational products (see our book list).
You can distinguish fraudulent information from the real information.

Virtual school

You can give yourself the peace of mind that your child is learning the same information as children who are in school (the same benchmarks for each state).
You can work because virtual school also comes with a full-time teacher.
You can prepare for your child’s future because virtual school, state, and local colleges will accept transcripts.
You can prepare for your child’s future because a student can receive a Diploma from a virtual school.

Co-ops

Co-ops help cultivate learning and can help you partner with local homeschooling families.
Co-ops also provide more help than traditional homeschooling.
Co-ops also allow parents to work and run errands.
Co-ops provide a community.
Co-ops help your children make connections.

Learning apps/websites

You can easily find an app or website to help you teach your child.
You can teach all different age and grade levels.

Communities

You can use Nxt Era Edu’s community to inform you with all sorts of resources and tools to become a successful homeschool parent.
You can find numerous groups and communities all centered around homeschooling.
You can connect with like-minded families as you teach your child because of the growth of homeschooling.

Source: “Scholastic Achievement and Demographic Characteristics of Home School Students in 1998.” Published by the ERIC Clearinghouse on Assessment and Evaluation, University of Maryland.