How to Be a Good Homeschool Teacher: Master Rule #1

“Maybe I don’t know enough to teach my kids.”

If you’ve ever whispered these words to yourself, you’re not alone. Right now, thousands of homeschool parents are worrying about the same thing.

Here’s the truth: feeling uncertain about teaching doesn’t mean you’ll be a bad teacher. In fact, it might make you a better one. They’re wondering if they remember enough math, if their grammar is good enough, or if they can explain science concepts clearly enough to be their child’s teacher.

Think about the last time you taught your child something – maybe how to tie their shoes, crack an egg, or ride a bike. That natural teaching ability is exactly what we’re going to build on as we explore the first and most important rule you’ll need to master if you want to learn how to be a good homeschool teacher.

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This post is part of a series about an old book with some great advice called The Seven Laws of Teaching. If you’d like to improve your homeschool teacher skills so you can give your kids a great education from home, join me in my Facebook group where we work together to do just that!

The Truth About Your Own Education

Did you get good grades in school? That’s great – but it might not help you as much as you think. Did you struggle in school? That’s okay, too – it might actually help you be a better teacher.

Here’s why: Most of us went through 13 years of school being taught in ways that made subjects more confusing than they needed to be. We memorized formulas without understanding why they worked. We learned reading through complicated systems instead of natural progression. And somewhere along the way, many of us lost confidence in our ability to understand and explain basic concepts.

But here’s the good news: You can change this pattern with your own children. By recognizing that your education wasn’t perfect, you can make better choices now. You can learn alongside your kids, finding clearer and simpler ways to understand subjects. When you encounter a topic you don’t fully grasp, you can view it as an opportunity to learn it the right way – this time with real understanding.

What School Really Taught Us

Think about it: You managed to build a good life despite any gaps in your education. You make decisions, solve problems, and learn new things when you need to. These are the real skills of a lifelong learner – and these are exactly the skills you want to pass on to your children.

Your job isn’t to be perfect or to know everything. Your job is to show your children how to learn, how to find answers, and how to keep going when things get tough. That’s something you already know how to do – you prove it every day.

You Know More Than You Think

Ever watched a toddler learn to walk? You didn’t give them lectures about gravity or body mechanics. You created a safe space, offered encouragement, and celebrated their progress. That’s real teaching – and you already know how to do it.

Parents are natural teachers. Every time you help your child learn something new – from using a fork to making their bed – you’re teaching. Without even thinking about it, you break down complex tasks into simple steps. You watch to see what’s working and what isn’t. You adjust your approach based on your child’s needs.

Real-Life Skills That Make You a Good Teacher

You’re probably already using these important homeschool teacher skills:

• Explaining things in ways your child understands
• Noticing when they’re confused or frustrated
• Breaking big tasks into smaller steps
• Knowing when to help and when to step back
• Finding different ways to explain the same thing

These same skills work for teaching math, reading, or any other subject. The only difference is that now you’re doing it on purpose, with a plan.

Why Being “Good at School” Isn’t the Same as Teaching

Here’s something surprising: Sometimes being naturally good at a subject makes it harder to teach. If math always came easily to you, you might struggle to understand why your child finds it confusing. If you learned to read without effort, you might not know how to help a child who struggles.

Good teaching isn’t about being an expert. It’s about being able to break down subjects into clear, logical steps. That’s why having to work at understanding something yourself can actually make you a better teacher.

The Secret to Teaching Well: Learn Alongside Your Child

Want to know what makes homeschooling special? It’s not about pouring knowledge into your child’s head. It’s about learning together, growing together, and discovering together.

Why Expert Knowledge Isn’t Always Helpful

Think about teaching your child to bake cookies. You probably didn’t start with a lecture about chemical reactions or the history of baking. You started with “First, we wash our hands.” Then you moved step by step through the process, learning and adjusting as you went.

Academic subjects work the same way. You don’t need to know everything about multiplication before teaching the 2’s table. You just need to:

• Understand the current lesson clearly
• Have a good resource that shows the next steps
• Be willing to learn new things yourself
• Know when to slow down or speed up
• Ask for help when you need it

How to Stay One Step Ahead

Here are some simple ways to prepare for teaching any subject:

• Read tomorrow’s lesson tonight
• Watch online videos about topics you’re unsure about
• Join homeschool groups where you can ask questions
• Use curriculum that includes teacher guides
• Keep a notebook of things you’re learning along the way

Remember: Your child doesn’t need you to be perfect. They need you to show them that learning is a lifelong journey – and that it’s okay to say “Let’s figure this out together.”

Choosing Resources That Do the Heavy Lifting

Good curriculum is like having a master teacher guiding both you and your child. It breaks down complex subjects into clear, logical steps – which means you don’t have to figure that out on your own.

Why Even Expert Teachers Need Good Curriculum

Did you know that even classroom teachers use curriculum guides? They don’t make up every lesson from scratch. Instead, they:

• Follow proven teaching sequences
• Use tested methods for explaining concepts
• Build on previous lessons in a logical way
• Have clear goals for each lesson
• Know what comes next and why

As a homeschool teacher, you can do the same thing. In fact, it makes even less sense for you to try to re-create the wheel by building lessons from scratch for a very small number of children. Let your curriculum be your guide while you focus on what you do best – knowing and teaching your unique child.

Finding Resources That Match Your Teaching Style

The best curriculum for you will:

• Explain things in ways that make sense to you
• Give you clear teacher instructions
• Show you how concepts build on each other
• Provide answers and explanations
• Include tips for helping struggling learners

Remember: A curriculum should make teaching easier, not harder. If you’re constantly confused by your teacher’s guide, it’s probably not the right fit for you.

How to Choose Without Getting Overwhelmed

In 2025, homeschool parents have more curriculum choices than ever before. But here’s the good news: There’s no single “best” curriculum. The right choice is simply the one that:

• Makes sense to you
• Works for your child
• Fits your daily routine
• You’ll actually use consistently

Start small and smart:

• Don’t buy a whole year’s worth of curriculum when you’re just beginning
• Take advantage of free samples from different companies
• Try one subject at a time
• Give yourself permission to change if something isn’t working
• Ask other homeschool parents what they use and why they like it

Remember: The most expensive or popular curriculum won’t help if you don’t enjoy using it. Spend your first few months exploring different options through free samples and trials. Pay attention to what feels natural and what creates stress. Your perfect curriculum match might be something completely different from what works for other families – and that’s okay!

When Kids Can Teach Themselves (And When They Can’t)

Have you noticed that sometimes kids can teach themselves what they really want to learn? Maybe mastering a video game, learning to draw anime characters, or figuring out how to make slime. Kids are naturally good learners when they’re interested and motivated.

Natural vs. Structured Learning

Children learn many things naturally through their everyday activities. They watch others and try to copy them. They experiment through trial and error, following their curiosity wherever it leads. When something interests them, they practice it over and over, learning from their mistakes and trying new approaches until they succeed.

But some skills and subjects need more structure to learn effectively. These are often things that build on specific foundational skills or need to be learned in a certain order. Many academic subjects involve abstract concepts that aren’t naturally interesting to most kids. And some skills, while they might not be exciting to learn, are essential for future learning.

Finding the Right Balance

Your job is to:

• Provide structure for essential skills like reading and math
• Allow space for natural learning through play and exploration
• Notice when your child is ready to work more independently
• Step in with extra help when needed
• Celebrate both structured and natural learning successes

Remember: Even when kids are learning independently, they still need you to guide them, encourage them, and help them stay on track. Independent learning doesn’t mean leaving them completely on their own – it means teaching them how to learn by themselves. Meanwhile, notice and appreciate when your kids can teach themselves things that they are motivated and interested in learning.

Now You Know How to be a Good Homeschool Teacher!

Remember that parent who was worried about not knowing enough to teach their kids? That might still be you right now – and that’s okay. Because now you understand the first and most important rule of how to be a good homeschool teacher: You don’t need to know everything. You just need to be willing to learn.

Start with what you know. Use good resources to help you teach. Learn alongside your children. And most importantly, trust that same teaching ability that helped your toddler learn to walk and talk. That natural teaching skill, combined with your willingness to learn and grow, is exactly what your children need.

Want help getting started? Download my free Super Simple Homeschool Planner to organize your teaching journey in a way that works for both you and your kids.

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