Hey, Mama,

Have you ever asked yourself, “Am I qualified to teach high school?” If so, then consider these questions:

- Did God lead you to homeschool your children in the first place?

- Has homeschooling been good for your family and your children (most of the time—grin)?

- Are the reasons you began homeschooling still valid?

If you answered yes to those questions (especially the first question), of course, you are qualified to teach high school! Just as God has carried you every step of the way in your homeschool journey, He is not going to stop now just because you have a teen.

So, let’s take a look at the real vs. the nonsense.

You get these bizarre ideas sometimes that you’re a BFF (big fat failure). You figure, "What’s the point? I’m useless." Now, I’m here to remind you that THIS is a lie from the pit. God gave those children YOU. You are the Mama and perfect for them. Does it mean you are a perfect parent? Will your kids be ruined because you are not a perfect robot Mama?

Listen, God didn’t make you a robot. He didn’t make your kids robots, either. You are the Daughter of the King, and your kids will be fine because you are taking it a day at a time—the good, the bad, the ugly. You keep it all real, and your children see that. You’re not tiptoeing around pretending to be something you’re not. You may be a disaster at times, but PHONY you are not.

They see you fall and get back up. They see you blow it, but stick around. They see you super mad, but then cool as a cucumber. They watch you stumble, but observe that you’re able to laugh at yourself. Stability—that’s you, Mama.

And you are a BFF, but not the kind you keep thinking. “She’s my BFF.” Someday that’s what your kids are going to say about you. Mama ends up being their best friend . . . forever.

Keep walking. Get your head out of the pit, and look up. His hand is on your head tonight.

~gena

publisher@theoldschoolhouse.com

Whether you are selecting software for homeschooling, or you are trying to supplement your child’s school education, making a confident choice of an educational software title can be challenging. Here are some tips that will help.

Search the Internet for the product title. A significant number of hits on the product is encouraging, but watch for paid search links usually marked as ‘ads’.

It is important to know the difference between paid links and those that naturally arise such as links to the publisher’s website and articles about the product. A healthy number of naturally appearing links give you a sense of the product’s presence over the Internet and may yield great information.

Now search using the publisher's name and add the word ‘complaints.’ Even the best of publishers can generate complaints, and there are a lot of complainers out there. However, look for comments that shine a light on the publisher’s honesty or support. Also look for any responses from the publisher. The exchanges can be very telling.

Visit the publisher’s website. A spiffy website is no guarantee that the company’s products are excellent, but a well-done website is encouraging.

I look for how transparent the publisher is. How hard is it to find a physical address on the site? A phone number? A support link that is not just a link to an FAQ page? How interested is this publisher in communicating with its customers, or is it looking for every way to hide?

While you are on the site, look for signs that this publisher knows their business. Education is a professional science, and educational software should be developed by appropriate subject experts and qualified educators. Too many allegedly educational programs are developed by authors who have little or no educational credentials.

Carefully read product reviews. Reviews are less about whether somebody liked or did not like a product and more about their experience with it. What matters is whether that experience is the one you are looking for. For example, some people value educational programs by how much they entertain their children. If that is what you are looking for, great! But many parents are looking for something of more substantive value.

I recently accepted a call from a customer whose first statement to me was, “You’ve passed the test!” She went on to say that she called our phone number just to see if a real live person picked up the phone, and whether she could discuss her needs with somebody. Clever move!

At Bytes of Learning we are pleased to say that we strive to pass all the above tests. Visit our website at bytesoflearning.com or give me a call at 1-800-465-6428; dial 2221 at the company greeting.

Art Willer, M.Ed., President, Bytes of Learning.

©Copyright 2017 Art Willer

Before you answer the given question, think about this . . . Why are you homeschooling? Do you realize the word “qualify” (in any form) is never mentioned in the KJV Bible? Why is this? Possibly because God never put an emphasis on the “title,” but the “heart” and motive of a parent.

Proverbs 22:6 says, “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” And Ephesians 6:4 says, “And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.” God has instructed us to “train up” our children and to “bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.”

Deuteronomy 6:5-7 says, “And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.” I do not see any of these verses ever showing that we could possibly be “unqualified” from completing these commands of the Lord. I once heard a wise preacher say, “God doesn’t call the qualified; He qualifies the called.”

My assumption is that you chose to homeschool your children because you love them and want what is best for them. Homeschooling your children of any age doesn’t involve “qualifications;” it involves a love, devotion, and commitment of yourself to God and your child(ren).

If we keep the perspective of what the Bible says, “. . . the things which are impossible with men are possible with God” (Luke 18:27), we can take comfort in knowing that even when we feel inadequate to teach a certain subject area, we can trust that God will help us and make a way. There are so many avenues today that can assist the parent when it comes to subject areas they are not comfortable with, that a parent really doesn’t have any excuses.

We shouldn’t be worried about being “qualified.” Rather, enjoy the opportunity of being personally involved in every area of your child’s life. There is absolutely nothing wrong with even learning right alongside them! “[According to the power of God] Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began” (2 Timothy 1:8b-9).

~Jodi

Jodi has been with TOS since April 2016. She serves as a Human Resource and Operations Assistant. Jodi is a pastor’s wife and has 3 boys. She has homeschooled for 16 years and also taught in the private and public school settings. Jodi enjoys teaching, playing the piano, scrapbooking, and making cards. Her heart’s desire is to help others learn to enjoy these things as well!