Last February, I began teaching online on a whim. I wasn't sure what to expect since I had never taught online, and the last time I put myself in a classroom situation, it wasn't the greatest experience. Honestly, my last public teaching experience made me feel like I would never teach again, and after years of teaching at a local co-op and coming to the conclusion it wasn't my most favorite way to teach either mostly because of class size, I began to wonder if teaching would indeed be a part of my life outside of homeschooling.  Now one year later with Outschool, I can happily say that teaching is definitely a part of my life, and I enjoy it. 

3 Lessons I've Learned from Online Teaching

The internet can help you do what you really want to do.

When I first decided to become a teacher, I only saw it one way—in a public or private school setting. No where in my imagination did I see myself impacting hundreds of students each year from my home. Teaching from home gives my students their best teacher because I am more comfortable. I don't have the sense of someone hovering over me (I despise hovering), but instead parents reach out when needed and students often share more about what they need to become successful in the classes I teach and other classes they are taking. This type of teaching is what I prefer. 

If you have a desire to do something that seems impossible, I am sure if you do some searching you'll find a few tips to make it possible. As a homeschool mom, it's not always possible for me to pursue opportunities outside of my home. I have found quite a few opportunities for things I wouldn't have imagine for myself through perusing the internet and from interacting in various online communities from writing for publications to selling literature guides.

Parent review for my Middle School Foundation Part 1 class

I can work and homeschool.

When I began my journey as a homeschooling mother, teaching and homeschooling were both tugging at my mind and heart. We have included other children in our homeschool, I taught at co-ops, and I tutored public school students after school, but I still struggled plus all of these methods took away from my time with my daughters for longer than I would like and at inconvenient times. Now, I teach at times that best fit our schedule, and I can plan breaks as needed for my family.

When I began my journey as a homeschool parent, I felt like working and homeschooling was considered a sin in the homeschooling community. I know this also played into some of the struggles I had in my earlier years. Now I am grateful that I have been given the opportunity to do both without the internal battle. If you are thinking about adding either homeschooling or working to your plate, it can be done. I do believe it's a little easier if your work is something you truly enjoy, you've blocked out naysayers, and you diligently use a planner to help you stay the course. 

Teaching will forever be a part of me.

No matter how much I try to get away from teaching by creating different opportunities for myself like my former jewelry business and this blog, I still have an internal desire to teach outside of my family. I often would try to shake this feeling, but I no longer fight it. After I started teaching regularly online, I felt encouraged to teach in my community too. I teach basic computer skills to adults in our area, and I enjoy it more than I thought I would. It's an amazing reminder that teaching others is beneficial to our communities no matter who the students are. 

I believe in lifelong learning and a part of learning is being willing to share your knowledge with others even if it isn't in a scheduled class or group learning environment. We are all teachers to some extent even when it's something as simple as teaching a new homemaker how to fold sheets or teaching your daughter how to braid her hair. There's really no way to get away from sharing information with others.

Parent review for my Homeschool Art class

After a complete year of teaching and the newness wearing off, I am still thrilled to teach classes online. I am looking forward to adding a new course or two to my class offerings and meeting more students.  

Have you considered teaching online?