and oh, recruiting help from someone outside the family gives the child an opportunity to learn socialization too.
My kids get plenty of socialization! Homeschoolers realize that we are the ones that get the most REAL socialization! But I agree that pulling people in for different things you may not be strong in, can be a big help!
I have a Bachelors of Science in Animal Science and a Master of Science in Forensic Toxicology...or I will next December after I finish exams. I don't think you need much college to go ahead and do a great job in Middle and High school grades. What you need most - and this is true of everyone regardless of education level, is motivation and desire.
I have a Bachelor's degree in Accounting and a Master's in Taxation.....have a CPA certificate but its been inactive for years (too costly to maintain if I'm not using it...but I can get it reactivated in the future if I want/need to). I don't think any of my college degrees qualify me "more" to teach my kids than if I had a HS diploma, the will to do it, etc. Actually here in VA, you can HS your kids without either parent having a high school diploma (although you have to jump thru extra hoops but it can still be done).....I think will and motivation qualify all of us to a certain extent. If we have that then we'll get the additional knowledge we might need to make it happen....or find someone who can help us. I know when its time for Algebra, Chemistry, etc....I'll find help or good DVDs or community college, Teaching textbooks, etc. I took all those classes and did well but I don't have the knowledge to teach them to someone ...I barely remember doing them myself:roll:. Rhonda
Well right now, believe it or not, I'm actually in the animal science field. I inspect large commercial swine farms for the government. I love my job so I'm torn with moving departments and going over to toxicology when I'm done. I might not ever use that degree but I'm guaranteed a raise at any rate.
High school grad. I was accepted to a college, but didn't go. I had my dd in my senior year & couldn't afford to live in Chicago to go to the college I wanted to go to. Since I was a single mom, I started working instead of continuing my education. A degree is not needed to provide a good education for your child. You just need to be able to do the research to find the right materials, opportunities, etc. for your child, and be willing to invest the time & effort it takes to give them a good education.
Long time ago I had a nursing licence. Expired after numuber 2 arrived 4 years ago. Some day I am go back to college but doubt it.
Well no...LOL...I inspect on an Air Regulation so I don't look at the animals very often, only how they manage their wase systems and mortality storage. I rarely go inot the barns because of the biosecurity - you have to shower in and shower out- and showering in those barns creeps me out. I always figure they have a peep hole and 5 guys standing around laughing....I'm paranoid, but anyway I don't like seeing the actual barns because corporate farming isn't pretty, though I believe it is necessary to some degree. But if I saw something funny animal wise I would definately bring it up and I think they know that. Animal Science is definately a niche industry - but I've never experienced a lack of professional opportunity. There seem to be jobs everywhere if you're willing to relocate.
I have a Bachelors degree in Human Science Education and a Masters degree in Guidance and Counseling (I'm a licensed therapist). I have a few teaching certificates, but--- I have always said (and truly believe) that all of these certificates/degrees can't fill a teacher with the desire to teach. You have to first love the student (which as parents we have the real advantage) and also have knowledge about teaching methods and learning styles (which anyone can learn/research). With today's wonderful resources on the internet and all the great books out there..I really think the certificates and degrees won't make or break a good homeschool teacher. Stay confident in your own ability to figure things out..because it is more important for our children to see us work through our own struggles and to see us use "common sense" to research info we need...than to see a degree hanging on the wall.
Hi I have a BA from UW-Madison. I have no idea if it has helped me in hsing my children. I think the only thing that has helped is that I know how to find information. I don't know if I picked that up from college or if it helped me more that I worked in 5 different libraries between my high school years and my career before kids.
This is a "classic!" There are so many good threads in this Homeschool Spot, that I don't get a chance to read all of them. However, this morning I'm glad I took some time to browse this thread--so many good thoughts shared on it! I have a few hours toward a Master's in Special Ed, but what I earned at home with our own special students is inimitable. Eyeofthestorm, you, Deena, and others said it better than I could have, and I want to thank you for putting your thoughts into words for us!
I think that my level of education is constantly improving, and that it has nothing to do with how much school I've attended. Everything you learn is either from reading books, learning from people who read books, trying things, or learning from people who tried things. Pretty much. So whether that is from a university, your library or experience doesn't really matter. If you were to ask everyone here to tell what their weak points are you'd have no problems getting answers. That's all you need to teach your kids well. An ability to recognize weak points. Some weak point you will accept. Others you will feel compelled to change out of desire or necessity. Don't doubt yourself, you will do great.
