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Working While You Homeschool – 4 Helpful Tips

Updated: Jul 7


Many people equate homeschooling with the idea that the parent mainly involved in learning must devote the entirety of their time to this pursuit. While it is true that homeschooling can involve a large chunk of time, it simply isn’t true that it has to be an all or nothing approach when it comes to homeschooling your children or building your career. The two endeavors can coexist if you have the necessary tools in your box. Here, we’ll talk about our top four tips for working while you homeschool.


Tip #1

Schedule like it’s your job, because it is! One of the most important parts of any homeschool program is the schedule, but even more so when you are also building your career. Look at your work schedule and determine the best time for you to devote to homeschooling. If you work during the day Monday through Friday, you could schedule your school hours in the evenings or on the weekends. Alternatively, if you work nights and weekends you can school during the day Monday-Friday. One of the best perks of homeschooling is the flexibility it allows. No rule says you have to follow a traditional school schedule. Create the schedule that works best for you and your family.


Tip #2

Keep all 168 hours in play. That’s exactly how many hours are in a week-168. If you work 40 and homeschool 20 (remember that homeschooling is much more time effective than traditional schooling and 20 hours a week of actual learning time will easily match what is offered at your local school when you take out recess, lunch, transition time, and classroom management), you can still sleep 8 hours a night and have 52 hours left over for other things.


Tip #3

Consider childcare if necessary. Often described as the biggest challenge to homeschooling, finding childcare while you and your spouse both work full time can seem overwhelming. Many parents get around this issue by working opposite schedules so one of them is home with the kids at all times. If this is not possible, consider hiring a reputable nanny or other childcare provider to help fill in the gaps.


Tip #4

Utilize your resources. When planning your homeschool program for the year, be realistic about how much time you can devote to lesson planning and development. If you don’t have a ton of time to devote to creating a curriculum and lesson plans yourself, find one that does that part for you. There are many reputable and highly recommended curriculums, both in book form and online, from which to choose that have lessons and scheduling built in. Additionally, many parents join a co-op or hire private tutors to allow all the pieces to fit.

If you are passionate about homeschooling and building your career, know that it is possible! With some creative time management and reaching out for assistance when necessary, you can successfully educate your children while pursuing your own professional goals.

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