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Okay, I will admit that life has been crazy. Who’s hasn’t? It’s been a summer like no other, and hoping there isn’t much more to come.
I must say I am so thankful that my kids are not “school-age” yet, especially this year and COVID school nuttiness.
But then it comes to me. Of course I am still teaching my kids, even if they are not of school age yet. They see and repeat everything I do; the good, the bad, and sometimes, the really ugly.
And then I go even further, thinking about the future. Can I stomach having someone else teach my kids when they are of age? Will they get the same attention, respect, and family atmosphere that I could give them?
Probably not. Then come the fears, the concerns, and the begrudging feeling that I will take with task upon myself. The job of being the official first teacher!
Let me back up a bit. I was homeschooled from K-8th grade, and I did not like it. I thought my siblings were annoying, I got into fights with my mom a lot, and I had to do other things around the house (chores, you know) that took me away from reading and creating and singing whenever I felt like it.
And then I loved high school. I needed the competition of peers in the same class, of hoping to do better than them to feel smarter (or whatever, I can’t really recall that much about my ego/competitive spirit then). And I loved the chance to take fine arts courses.
So believe me when I say I know how hard a decision like homeshooling or part-time religious edding or whatever is.
It is crazy hard.
There are so many things to consider and so little time to do it! (my oldest will be ready in a few years, when did that happen?)
In light of all of this, and to perhaps appease myself of my own doubts and unhappiness at feeling called to homeschool my children (I am a stubborn Christian sometimes), I have outlined some of the best reasons to become your child’s first (and maybe middle and high school, too) teacher.
Yes, it can be hard juggling your schedule already, so it would seem even harder to fit in 2-6 hours of school a day (depending on the grades). But wouldn’t you be able to decide when? Oh, yeah!
You also can decide when to fit snack(s) in, how long to break, how much time you spend outside, include other home activities, like chores, cooking, cleaning, and general life lessons.
You can add in as much teaching about the Catholic church, any Bible reading, or whatever else you want to add to your day!
Well, to a certain extent. It depends slightly on what your state requires to be registered as a homeschool family. But other than that, you have FULL control over what gets taught in your home.
There is a ton of different homeschool resources out there, and I will cover some of the most popular programs at the end of this article. In the meantime, you should check out this wonderful resource for Catholic homeschool links from Catholic Homeschool Connection.
Unless you are a part of a group of homeschooling group or coop that shares teachers and resources, you don’t have to dress up. I did school in my PJs (the mornings my mom would let me). You can teach in sweats and ratty t-shirts if you want.
So can your kids.
But, I will have to say, you as a teacher and them as students will probably perform much better if you get dressed like you would for school anyway. Casual, but neat, clean, and tidy.
One of the freedoms you can have is to add extra trips for your kids. You can take a day off from the normal schedule to go on a fun nature field trip or to the nearest historical museum.
Or, you can take a trip to the library and find new and exciting books to read (that was always my favorite!). And when things like doctors appointments and last-minute errands pop up, it might take a little work, but you can work around it, get it done, and get back to business later that day or the next day.
Homeschooling your kids as their first teacher can be really flexible.
Now that I’ve covered a few of the obvious and somewhat silly reasons why doing schooling at home could be an option for you, let’s get the real reasons.
As parents to your children, you are the first teacher. No one can take that away, no one can replace that role. It is a honor, a privilege, and sometimes a burden. But also as parents, you know your child the best. You know what’s best for them. You know your family culture and goals that can influence their lives in a positive way.
Already, you have had the role of the first comforter, first listener, first boo-boo kisser, and first bedtime fall-asleep buddy. There’s a bond there that is hard to shake and should be.
Continuing that trend of being the person to teach them almost everything, especially in their formative years, is impactful. It’s powerful, comforting, and known to your child.
So no matter what, you are and always will be the “First Teacher”.
That’s a great question. In this section, I will outline the most popular Catholic homeschool curriculums for you to browse on your own. I have just listed these in order of how I researched them, not of preference or anything like that!
| Catholic Homeschool Curriculum | Grades Covered | Type of Education | Cost/Price Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kolbe Academy | K-12 | classical, flexible, Ignatian inspired, Online, traditional, and self-paced options | Traditional prices: $240 – $400, depending on age of oldest student |
| Queen of Heaven Academy | 4-12 | live, interactive online courses, full-time or part-time | $300 – 2500 full-time, part-time prices vary |
| Seton Home Study School | Pre-K-12 | Christ-centered, academically rigorous, Traditional homeschool | $240 – 910, depending on grade (also multi-student discount), includes books and other resources |
| Mother of Divine Grace School | K-12 | A classical traditional approach, with many levels of support, structure, and flexibility | $300 – 1250, depending on a few factors and what levels you choose. |
| Catholic Heritage Curricula | Pre-K-12 | traditional approach with exclusive materials and approach, offered in a gentle, flexible manner. | $390 – $500, depending on how much you decide to do |
| Mater Amabilis | Pre-K-8 | structured Charlotte Mason style Catholic curriculum | Free, you are given syllabus and Lesson plans |
| Aquinas Learning | Pre-K-12 | classical, scholastic, traditional learning, family-friendly, integrated approach | $175/level/family or $75/course (upper levels), books and other fees are extra |
| Angelicum Academy | Nursery-12 | classical Catholic Homeschool, online for 3rd grade up, accept enrollment at any time of the year | $55 – $3500 tuition fees, discount with siblings, varies with book purchases |
| Our Lady of the Rosary School | Pre-K-12 | Roman Catholic homeschool program, books/materials returned at the end of the year. | $25 registration fee, $95 – $529 tuition depending on grade, extra fees for certain things |
| Our Lady of Victory School | K-12 | Catholic scholastic method, example of St. Thomas Aquinas, full program or independent study | Tuition: $300 – $350, plus registration fee and books |
I’m sure there are a few more out there, but I covered the ones that seemed the most popular, accessible, and mostly catered to starting early! I had a great time researching these, so pick a few and check them out.
Options are sometimes overwhelming, but hopefully I’ve given you a quick rundown so you can eliminate quickly! As your child’s best and first teacher, I’m sure you will make the right decision!
And I’m sure, in a few years, you’ll hear me talk about how this or this program is great for our family. We are actually planning on doing a Pre-K or K program in the next couple of years with my oldest just to try it out!
I will probably be hooked from there on out, but you never know. God might have other plans!
Other than the fact that you naturally already are, think about it in the sense of formal schooling, too. How important is it to you to have a Catholic and personalized education?
You might not think you have the skills to be a teacher, but most of these programs come with tons of resources, support from faculty or a community, and ways to make the transition not so hard. Whatever reason you decide is worth it, the flexible schedule or teaching them what you choose, there are so many reasons to become your child’s first teacher!
You are the best teacher. The first teacher!
What Catholic homeschool program have you considered? Or do you have one that you are doing now that you like?
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