I am a single parent who would like to home school my children...?

Question

Is there anyone out there who is a single parent and home schools their children? My question (or better yet dilemma) is how does a single parent like me combine home school and career? I can't stop working (I got to keep the kids cared for and the bills paid) but at the same time, I want the kids schooled at home, any suggestions?

Answer 1

I am a single parent who has homeschooled my child for a little over a year.

When I first began homeschooling, I had a contract with a medical transcription company--but later I lost that contract. Since that time I have done contract work for other companies.. However, very recently, I found a work at home position (employee status--not contract) which offers flexible hours and will allow me to continue homeschooling.

There are many people (single and married) who work and homeschool and yahoo has an online list for those who do:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WORKandHOMESCHOOL/

Regarding how much time it takes to homeschool your children each day, every state's homeschooling laws are different; some states require a certain amount of time you must spend on homeschooling and others do not. The Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) has information on how to legally homeschool in your state:

http://www.hslda.org/laws/default.asp

Also, keep in mind, that homeschooling does not have to be done during conventional hours; my schedule allows for conventional "school" hours for my homeschool. However, this is not the case for many homeschooling parents, but that's the beauty of homeschooling. You can homeschool in the evenings and on weekends too. You also have the option of choosing a curriculum that allows for more independent study (depending on the ages of your children.)

If you are convinced that homeschooling is the best option for your children, I encourage you to find a way to make it happen. Please e-mail me off-list if you need more information, and I hope the above is helpful.

Answer 2

Some single parents find a family-based daycare to look after the kids during the day and do the homeschooling with the kids when they are with them (possibly leaving school work for the kids to do while they're in the daycare). Others find another homeschooling family where the children can do their homeschooling with them. Yet others have figured out ways to work from home (this, of course, is not always possible).

You can also try doing a seach for _single parent homeschool_ or _single parent homeschooling_ in Yahoo/Google--lots of sites come up. I'm sure there are more ideas out there.

Answer 3

Oh, please, the people crying "socialization" are ignorant; not all kids in school have friends or any positive socialization at all-- look at all the screwed up, strange and freakish kids and people in the world-- we all know that the vast majority of them went to public school, we all know public school is no garauntee for normalcy.

People-- have you really never had a life outside of the school walls? Gosh I pity some of you that don't realize there is a whole world full of people and opportunities out there.

Anyway, AS FOR WORKING AND HOMESCHOOLING It can be done, but there are some things to think about.

First off, you didn't mention the ages of the kids. If they are teens they can absolutely do a lot of work independantly, plus get involved in social activities, volunteering work, etc., outside the house.

If they're young, like elementary school age, you'll need to consider who they'll be with in the daytime-- do you have a sitter? Someone who will not only make sure they get some work done while you're gone, but also take them out so they get some social interaction? If at least one of your kids are mid-teens and up, they might be a great asset to you.

For a while when I was working full time out of the house my boys were with my mother in the mornings; they'd read, do some workbooks/worksheet pages, work a little on a research project or a computer program, then at 2 pm go to a boys club where I would pick them up around 6 pm. I would go over new concepts and things with them on Saturday mornings or a couple of nights per week after dinner.

We would also work through the summer and take vacations/days off whenever we wanted. That way I could not worry about preparing lessons or grading papers during my busy season at work but get a lot done during the dog days of summer.

Oh, and don't let people try to guilt you if you let teens watch younger kids, or if you give your kids house hold chores to do or responsibilities-- that's one of the biggest problems with kids today, people have forgotten that giving kids real responsibilities is GOOD for them, it helps raise responsible adults. The whole family should be pitching in to help each other with education, chores, and fun.

Answer 4

The great thing about homeschooling is that you can set your own hours. Each state will have its own laws, check into the laws for your state. In many states only 4-6 hours per day are required; and those hours can be at any time you choose - whatever works best for both you and them! You can browse online websites to get an idea of what type textbooks you would like to use. There are workbook types like Alpha Omega and there are computerized programs like Switched on Schoolhouse. There are also a lot of umbrella or parent groups/organizations that you can join if you wish to help oversee things and help give you pointers, etc. Many of these homeschool groups meet and get together for projects or social activities; some of them also test periodically; and some of them are even accredited (like Gateway Christian schools). Some of them require church attendance to help build social skills. If homeschooling is something you are interested in, then you might contact Gateway or some other umbrella school and ask them to send you some basic information on homeschooling (they'll be glad to do that). If you know other homeschoolers in the area, it would be a good idea to talk to them also; they can answer questions you might have or even give you ideas or tips on various types of programs/literature/textbooks, etc.

Answer 5

How old your kids are will have an impact on how difficult that will be. If they are too young to stay alone you will have to find someone to stay with them, even if you can manage to do the homeschooling on your off times.

If they are old enough to stay alone sometimes, and they are trustworthy enough to BE alone, you could assign some things for them to do during the day while you are gone, and then when you get home you could go over the work and discuss problem areas, etc.

I am not single, but I have known some single people to make it work, most of them had teenagers though.

Answer 6

I'm a working single mom and I work weekend nights so I can be home during the day on weekdays. My kids stay with their dad on weekends. Can your child stay with a relative while you work? Could she possibly be a 'mother's helper' for another homeschooling family? We don't use a curriculum so can't help you there.

Answer 7

I'm going to say, ask your kids what they want to do isn't that
the one thing most important in life is to keep your kids happy? i was home schooled when i was 13 i hated not talking to my friends and my dad and uncle didn't really get along w/each other now cause of it.

Answer 8

Im homeschooled myself!!! RIGHT NOW!!!I went to public school just last month!!!
listen up people heres the deal!!! People can be mean. People can be snobs. socialization was the worst part of school for me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (math came in second) If you have minutely death threats and sexual herassmet such as "when ya goin to do it with him*?"
its too far homeschooling is the best thing thst has probly happened to me at school!!!!!!!!!!!


*i will not say any names

Answer 9

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Answer 10

your kids need to have a parent (at night and day) do what you think will be best for your children. they need to be social and not afraid so i personaly think dont hopme school them but it is your chose