About: Homeschooling as a Single Parent

Homeschooling as a single mom is crazy tough, but so worth the sacrifice. I myself was homeschooled from 7th grade until graduating and I appreciate the many sacrifices my Mom made for me and my numerous siblings ( I have 8). I know that my kids need to be my top priority right now and I’m making sure they are.

How am I doing it while working and being the only parent/sole provider for our household? Here are a few things I’ve learned. It’s not much- I know I have a long way to go.

1. Work as much as you have to and no more. We are living on my income alone andI took a cut last year- I lost a day. While it made a big crunch on my bank account, it made schooling SO much more manageable. Before I had been about to give up, now we’re going strong.  It’s meant humbling myself. I’ve had to collect food stamps on occassion, we’re currently living in a public housing apartment. But it’s ok, we’re muddling our way through. And I’m here for my kids and that’s what really matters.

2. Teach what needs to be taught and no more. The advantage of homeschooling is the one-on-one (or maybe two or three) time you get as a teacher. In a traditional school setting there is no way for a teacher- even the absolute best, most incredible teacher out there- to keep up with where each individual student in her class is at in each subject. As a homeschool parent we know our kids and what they can do. If your son is a whiz at math and already knows what is being taught in the first 100 pages of the curriculum you’re using, SKIP THE FIRST 100 PAGES!  If you aren’t sure, give them the review or tests that go along with the chapters FIRST- when you get to one where they dont understand something, go back and review the areas they need to learn. Once you get to a good starting point in the book for your child, start like normal. And you don’t have to be a stickler about every single problem. I often go through and mark a line through problems I don’t want my kids wasting their time with. If your son is 8 and in the third grade, he probably doesn’t need a refresher on 2+2. Problem is, some other kid his age does, so 2+2 is bound to show up- even when the curriculum is way more advanced than that.  Most textbooks have “filler questions”- the books are designed for traditional school settings (even “homeschool” textbooks) and have way more content than is necessary for you child to learn.  They also have to compensate for the time allotted in class (homeschooling takes way less time) and time lost due to distractions. And don’t forget you can get creative in your curriculum – you can teach your child reading and social studies at the same time… have them read some books on whichever country you’re focusing on. Have them write a report on the county and proofread it for errors and you have English and handwriting. Cook a dish that is eaten there and you have home ec (not to mention dinner). Sometimes not using a curriculum– or using the contents list as a guide rather than the curriculum itself- is what works best for your family/child (and it’s cheaper!). Remember it’s not a test to see who the most perfect homeschool family is. The goal is to teach your child in the best possible way for both him and your family. And for it to actually stick and have him learn something. Be flexible and it will be  a better, easier and more enjoyable, not to mention more effective learning experience for all involved.

3. Get Help! No, I don’t mean a psychiatrist, although people have suggested that I am nuts for being a single working homeschool parent- and maybe I am. The help I’m talking about is from those who love and support you (or at least your kids). In my case, it’s my sister who watches them for me while I’m at work, my Mom, sister-in-law and friends who remind me to get out and have me time, and my kids’ Dad, who although he may not support me so much, does want the best for the kids. I don’t know your situation, but this is what works for me: When I am working, I send bookbags with the kids schoolwork and assignment books. Whoever is watching the kids for me can then help them with school. They may or may not finish an entire day of school without me around, but sometimes they get several days done- or at least a subject or two. Whatever the amount, it is always something and it’s that much less that I have to play catch up on later. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. If your kids are older, they can do most of their work on their own. Oh– and FYI- I have the supervising adult initial next to where they check off what the kids do…. just in case I need to know later on, for whatever reason.

4. Year-Round School: This is what I’ve always done- maily because the whole concept of quitting for three months and having to play catch up and refresh their memories every september just doesn’t appeal to me. We save a lot of headache by just going all year round. This isn’t to say we don’t take breaks. We do. We just take them when we need then and in shorter increments generally. Last month (May 08) I was out of town with family emergencies and a wedding for over 2 weeks. We didn’t do school. That’s summer break #1. Later on we’ll take a few days here and there, a week in September for the fair, time for Thanksgiving and Christmas, etc.

To me, the whole point of homeschooling is being able to be flexible around our schedules. By schooling year round, we accomplish that and don’t lose out on major time wasted by relearning things. And we can skip that extra stuff at the beginning of next year’s textbooks, because they haven’t forgotten it.

5. Saturday School. No, my kids are NOT being punished! I know, I know- first it was summer school and now Saturdays? But let me explain. Saturday is a day that I don’t work. In my life, that is a precious commodity. It’s also a day I would rather not spend schooling. BUT if we’re not done for the week, we school. My kids know this, and they know that if Saturday comes around and they still have assignments left to do, they aren’t going outside to play until it’s done. I MAY let them watch a couple sat. am cartoons first- if I’m being nice- but even that I don’t recommend. They get distracted and it takes them longer to get school done. The thing I’ve found that works best is to remind them throughout the week that Saturday is only theirs whan school is done and to be firm about it when that day comes around. It also helps me, because the faster they get done and go out and play the more I can get done around the house. Yay, more time for laundry, dishes, and toilet scubbing!

 

Ok, that’s all I got for right now. I’m sure I’ll think of more later on. God bless!

1. 

   holyscrapgirl Said:

   on June 3, 2008 at 3:39 pm

   I’m a Christian (hence the “holy”) scrapbooking, homeschooling, single, mom of two. I LOVE photography- I’m hoping to turn pro someday. My goal is to combine my scrapbooking and photography and start my own business, get published in scrap-magazines and books, and someday open my own shop, sombining scrapbooking, photography, and another of my passions- decorating. I have a lot of interests and a lot to talk about!

   Reply

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