Do Homeschool Parents Need Teaching Degrees?

Written By: The Good and the Beautiful Published On:

“Am I qualified to teach my child?” and “Do I need a teaching degree?” are two commonly asked questions among homeschool parents. Jenny Phillips shares some very reassuring statistics about why homeschool parents are qualified to teach their children and how homeschooled children may even have a better opportunity to reach their full potential—no matter their parents’ education level.

Do you worry that you might mess up your kids’ education if you homeschool without a teaching degree? It’s natural that the idea of homeschooling often stirs up fears—that we might fall short, let our children down, or hold them back from reaching their full potential. The truth is that homeschooling is a wonderful way to help your children reach their full potential. This video talks only about academics, but keep in mind that academics are not really what matter most in life. And I personally would rather have my child get less academics for blessings in return that come from homeschooling: deeper faith, stronger family ties, greater moral character, and more joy and confidence in life. But the beauty of homeschooling is that you don’t have to sacrifice academics for these things.

  • A mother and her two children sitting at a table working together on the history year 2 curriculum | The Good and the Beautiful

  • Think about this: Less than 27% of homeschool parents even have a college degree, and yet approximately 78% of peer‑reviewed studies report that homeschoolers perform significantly better in academics than students in public school.

    Also, decades of research show that the most accurate predictor of student achievement is not the school or the teacher—but actually parental involvement in academics. That means that the kids who have parents at home to help them with school are the ones most likely to excel in academics. Academic success isn’t dependent on a degree—all it takes is a parent helping a child. Truly, a parent teaching a child is powerful.

Why is this?

Let’s go over several reasons why parents without degrees can teach very effectively.

1. Parents can give individualized attention.

Homeschooling isn’t the kind of teaching where one person runs a classroom of 20 or more students—this is private tutoring. It can allow them to catch learning struggles early, often before they even become serious obstacles. This is more important than most people realize. Research consistently shows that when academic difficulties go unnoticed, it becomes much harder for children to catch up. Intervention works best when it happens early—waiting too long can dramatically reduce its effectiveness. In fact, many families turn to homeschooling after discovering their child has spent years in a classroom falling behind in certain areas without anyone noticing. But with one-on-one instruction, you see the signs right away and can stop, slow down, reteach, and give support.

  • A mother and her young daughter sitting at a table as the mother holds a pretend dollar and helps her daughter with the math 2 curriculum | The Good and the Beautiful

  • 2. A good curriculum does a lot of the teaching.

    You might think, “I don’t know teaching strategies.” But a good homeschool curriculum has the teaching strategy built right into it. All you have to do is follow it, and then use your natural intuition to adapt if you need to.

    If you are using an academically solid curriculum like The Good and the Beautiful, you can feel confident that you are covering what needs to be covered and are not going to have large gaps in learning. Homeschool curriculum is different from public school curriculum in some really amazing ways. It can be more tailored to the child, it can better match your values, it can be more engaging and meaningful to the child, and it is specifically designed for parents without teaching experience to succeed. It’s open and go, and it guides you through being a great teacher, with great content, learning right alongside your child, which is a beautiful experience.

3. No one cares more about your child than you do.

God blessed you with caring for and raising your child. There is no one better equipped to love, listen to, understand, and advocate for your child than you. You have your child’s best interest at heart.

4. You can outsource when needed.

If your child needs extra help in math, seek out a tutor. Want them to learn a foreign language or take chemistry? Sign them up for an online class or join a local homeschool group. You’re simply in charge of tailoring their education—and the best part is, you can adjust it any time, in whatever way works best for your child.

Reasons you don’t need a college degree to teach your children:

  • While working one-on-one with your child, you see your child’s strengths and weaknesses.
  • You can tailor your child’s curriculum and learning to fit their needs.
  • No one cares more for your child than you do.
  • And, it’s okay to outsource subjects to tutors and classes.
How to Start Homeschooling | The Good and the Beautiful

Key Takeaways

So, if you’re feeling that quiet pull to homeschool, don’t be afraid and don’t listen to limiting beliefs. The truth is, you are more equipped than you think. It’s exciting to learn along with your child. Every year, you will become more attuned to your children and how to work with them in the most effective ways. 

Consistent effort over the years, although quite imperfect, will add up to something incredible. I have experienced that myself. I have seen it in thousands of families. The Good and the Beautiful is here as a resource to assist and encourage you as you raise your families in light and truth. Our academically sound, award-winning K–8 math and language arts courses are completely free. And we also have a free book list that is worth checking out. See the links below.

  • Free Resources from The Good and the Beautiful Banner | The Good and the Beautiful
  • The Good and the Beautiful Book List — A free searchable, downloadable list of book recommendations.

Footnotes:

 New U.S. Census Bureau Data Confirm Growth in Homeschooling Amid Pandemic

 A Systematic Review of the Empirical Research on Selected Aspects of Homeschooling as a School Choice

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