Homeschooling when working full time?

[Anonymous]

Given the school year's unique challenges ahead we are considering homeschooling to avoid a day of Zooms/Teams/Screens. We both work full time, and our kids are in 4th and 6th. Is this a reasonable undertaking for us given that we don't have a parent at home full time? I'm just starting to research homeschooling and don't know if I should even pursue it.

TIA for any thoughts on this!

[Anonymous]

We are doing the same for the same reasons this year. Based on my research I think it’s doable only because we’d be spending time anyway with virtual. Between me and DH we plan to spend 2-3 hours a day (combined) teaching 4 days/week and the rest will be some independent work, which we check in on. We chose “open and go” curriculum, not online. My DH and I will be home, but work is busy so we will need to be organized but I think it makes the most sense. Will anyone be home with your kids tomorrow to keep them on track?

[Anonymous]

Yes because you can do it around your own schedule

[Anonymous]

With those ages, if they're self-motivated, you could do it. The hard part will be all the prep you will have to do so that they have a set schedule to follow, and a way to learn the curriculum. If you are able to take time off during the day to run science experiments and do the hands-on teaching, that will be better.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks for the feedback so far!! Our schedules will be TBD, but we anticipate being able to duck in and out to check on them. They're not exactly self motivated in school and really hated the distance learning so that was a struggle that we hope to avoid. We have a younger one at home so we'll need to find a nanny who is willing to also help manage our school-age children's activities. I think once I feel like we can manage it, I'll start figuring out the curriculum piece. Since it's on our own time, it also seems like we can use weekend time to better work around our schedules.

[Anonymous]

For those ages, I'd invest in an open and go curriculum. Moving Beyond the Page, Build Your Library, Bookshark (but this is not completely secular) Concentrate on reading, writing, and math. Since you are both working, do not worry about science experiments. Books and documentaries will be fine for science and social studies for the time. David Attenborough, Crash Course, Maybe get a science kit that they can do independently. My rising 5th graders loves Eureka create. Use weekend time for more intensive stuff - art, nature walks, science stuff, history visits (if places are open). Find an outschool class on areas that interest them in science or social studies. Be sure to read the reviews. Duolingo, Rosetta Stone, or Mango languages for second language learning.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thank you to the previous poster - those are such great and helpful tips!! To continue my research, what are outschool classes and how do I go about finding them?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thank you to the previous poster - those are such great and helpful tips!! To continue my research, what are outschool classes and how do I go about finding them?

NP.

This is the Outschool invite that I received from another post:

https://outschool.com/invite#usKiBvNMdV

You get $20 off a class when you use it so you can try a class.

[Anonymous]

Homeschooler here. We work on our own schedule, including nights and weekends. That's your right.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Given the school year's unique challenges ahead we are considering homeschooling to avoid a day of Zooms/Teams/Screens. We both work full time, and our kids are in 4th and 6th. Is this a reasonable undertaking for us given that we don't have a parent at home full time? I'm just starting to research homeschooling and don't know if I should even pursue it.

TIA for any thoughts on this!

Are you talking about leaving the kids home alone, or would there be an adult at home, just working?

[Anonymous]

OP here. One or both of us is home with them but working so, conceivably, we'll be able to flex our days when needed. We'd also like to bring in a tutor to help for a couple of hours (per day perhaps, not sure).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. One or both of us is home with them but working so, conceivably, we'll be able to flex our days when needed. We'd also like to bring in a tutor to help for a couple of hours (per day perhaps, not sure).

I'm the PP who asked.

We are pretty much doing this next year. We'll have some work that a parent can supervise lightly while working (e.g. come sit next to me and do Beast Academy while I work), and some work will get shifted to weekends or evenings or breakfast time, and some work that might be shifted to summer. I think it will be OK.

[Anonymous]

NP here, what is an open and go curriculum?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP here, what is an open and go curriculum?

Everything is laid out for you. day 1: list of vocabulary, reading selection, things to discuss, writing prompt. Etc. no need to plan long term

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thank you to the previous poster - those are such great and helpful tips!! To continue my research, what are outschool classes and how do I go about finding them?

I’m the PP from above. Since you have s nanny, i’d suggest asking him/her to do things like outside exercise, quiet reading time, music practice, supervising anything online (keyboarding, outscjool, documentaries). It will free up your other hours for the academic work.