One of the most frequently asked questions we hear from prospective homeschooling parents is, “can I homeschool if I’m also working part-time?” We’re here to tell you that the answer is YES! Although homeschooling while managing a part-time job can be challenging, it is definitely possible and may not be as hard as you think. Here are our tips for successfully homeschooling while working part-time.
Make a Plan
Whether or not you are a working parent, homeschooling will always lead to the best results when you have a solid plan. First consider what your work commitments are. If there are specific times you will have to be at work or in online meetings, block out these times on your schedule. If some or all of your work can be done from home, figure out how much additional time you need to block out on your schedule each week.
Once you have set aside the time you need for work commitments, begin planning what times of day you will homeschool your child. As you block out times for homeschooling, remember that there is no specific time of day your kid must do school. Perhaps it works best for your schedule to get it all done first thing in the morning. Some families like to do a morning session and another session of work later in the afternoon. You may even assign certain subjects to the evening, such as reading or art. Instruction can also take place on the weekend, and some homeschoolers only do school four days a week. Because homeschooling allows for maximum flexibility, you can choose an instruction schedule that accommodates both your child’s learning needs and your work schedule.
Once you’ve made a plan, don’t stress too much if you don’t stay on your schedule everyday. It’s okay to be flexible, and you can always update your plan as you figure out what is and isn’t working.
Homeschooling Doesn’t Have to Take All Day
When you are creating your homeschool schedule, it may seem like you don’t have enough time left to homeschool your child after you’ve factored in your work commitments, but you are probably wrong. Because traditional schools run for seven, eight, or even more hours per day, new homeschoolers often assume they will also need to spend the same amount of time on their kids’ instruction, but this is false. Almost all homeschool veterans will tell you that their kids routinely finish all their work in half the time (or less) than their peers spend at school.
Although instruction takes less time when you homeschool, this does not mean your child will struggle academically or “miss out” on important learning. On the contrary, studies have consistently shown that homeschooled kids score equally well or better on standardized measures of academic success. The reason homeschooling takes less time is simply because it is more efficient and there is far less time wasted on extraneous activities and disciplinary problems. Your child does not have to wait for other children to finish their work in order to proceed onto his next subject. Because homeschooling is tailored uniquely to your child, she will efficiently proceed through her work at a much faster pace than she would be able to in a traditional school setting.
Choose a Curriculum Requiring Minimal Parental Assistance
When you get started homeschooling, you will find that there are many different curriculum options to choose from. As you research these different options, look for curriculums that require minimal parental assistance. If your child is in middle or high school, there will be more options for curriculums that can be done fairly independently. If you are combining different curriculums for various subjects, you might want to make a daily schedule for your child to follow. Some parents like to make a “to-do” list on a whiteboard for their older children to follow each day.
If you choose a complete curriculum for your child, you’ll have to spend even less time planning your child’s day- to-day tasks, as these are usually already laid out for you. If your child is younger, you may need to spend more one-on-one time explaining the material. The overall amount of daily material for a young student is less than for an older child, however, so it still shouldn’t cost you too much time. If your children are young, look for fun activities that they can do on their own to supplement their curriculum, such as printable coloring pages, word searches, or logic puzzles. If your part-time work is home-based, you’ll be able to work alongside your child.
Consider Dual Enrollment
Dual enrollment, which allows your child to be enrolled in the local public school for some classes while being homeschooled in others, is another great option if you are a part-time working parent. Many homeschool families take advantage of dual enrollment for elective courses like band or foreign language. This is also a great option if you don’t feel comfortable overseeing your child’s education in a certain subject and know there is a great teacher in that subject at the local public school. If you are working part-time, you may be able to fit your work schedule around your child’s part-time public school schedule, completing your own work while your child is away. Dual enrollment rules vary by state and district, so check out the requirements in your area.
Enlist the Help of Friends and Family
Family and friends can also be great sources of help if you are homeschooling while working part-time. If your child’s grandparents live near by, for example, ask them if they might be willing to help with homeschooling by overseeing one or two subjects that they feel comfortable with. Perhaps your kids can have “Grandma homeschool” twice a week, during which time you can fulfill some of your own work responsibilities. Even if your relatives don’t live nearby, they may still be able to help remotely by practicing reading or teaching simple lessons over video chat.
Family and friends can also be great sources of help if you are homeschooling while working part-time. If your child’s grandparents live near by, for example, ask them if they might be willing to help with homeschooling by overseeing one or two subjects that they feel comfortable with. Perhaps your kids can have “Grandma homeschool” twice a week, during which time you can fulfill some of your own work responsibilities. Even if your relatives don’t live nearby, they may still be able to help remotely by practicing reading or teaching simple lessons over video chat.
Friends can also be a great help to homeschooling parents who work part-time, especially if those friends are also homeschoolers. Consider doing a teaching exchange, where your child spends one afternoon a week at a homeschooled friend’s house and that friend’s child spends another afternoon at yours. Perhaps your friend will do art afternoons on Tuesday while you’ll cover simple science experiments on Thursday. This way, both parents have a regular timeslot during the week to fulfill their part-time work responsibilities.
Conclusion
If you are new to homeschooling, it can be overwhelming, especially if you are also working part-time. If you are wondering whether homeschooling is possible for part-time working parents, the answer is definitely YES! Sit down and make a plan for when you will fulfill your work commitments and when you will fit in homeschooling. Remember that homeschooling can take place anytime of day and doesn’t have to follow a standard school schedule – some homeschooling families school on the weekends, in the evenings, or may only homeschool four days a week. As you research curriculums, look for one that requires minimal parental assistance, and find supplementary educational resources that your children can use on their own. Consider enrolling your child in the local public school part time, such as for music or foreign language classes. And finally, enlist the help of friends and family in educating your child. There is no need for home instruction to be carried out in isolation, and friends and family often love to participate. Although you will certainly have hard days when homeschooling while working part-time, remember that you don’t have to do it perfectly. Just do your best, make a plan, and be flexible.