Hello all, I've been lurking this forum for over a year now and feel terrible that I haven't made the time to post an introduction and get involved. I promise I will and I am really looking forward to getting to know you all and hopefully helping you all as you have helped me so much over the past year. I have a weird situation that I haven't seen addressed here or anywhere really that I wanted to see what you seasoned minds think I have three boys - 6, 5, and 15 mo. I've been homeschooling the oldest two for 2 years now, but this is the first year that the oldest is comulsory. We're in Texas by the way! Anyway, since I need to have an income I've been babysitting 2 other children for the last few months. They are 2 and 4(almost 5) and they just 'do school' with us and so far it has been great. I am swamped with prepping lessons and activities for 3 diferent learning levels, but since I this arrangement allows me to earn a small income AND stay home to homeschool my kids that is a small price to pay. So the mother of the kids I sit for has commented a few times how happy she is with this arrangement, and we've had a lot of talks about homeschooling and the state of public schools in our area. She LOVES the idea of homeschooling but by her own admission could never handle the responsibility or being around her kids so much. (She works because she wants to, not out of a financial need - no judgement here, just facts). So she has asked me (kind of jokingly, but serious - kwim?) if I would be willing to homeschool her children. At first I thought it was just 'the kids love and this is going so well I never want it to end' kind of joking, but now I think she is serious. I tried to explain that I wouldn't want to be solely responsible for someone else's children's education - I am not a cerified teacher after all, but she doesn't seem to understand. I have no doubts about my ability with my own kids, but it just seems wierd that she would even want this. Does this seem wierd to any of you? Would you consider doing something like this? The pay would likely be private school tuition-ish on top of what she pays for me to babysit. Could be a substantial income for doing what I already do. Any ideas, comments or advice is greatly appreciated!
I've known a few ladies around here that homeschool other people's children. I know very little about their experiences, but I do not it's not totally unheard of.
Do the laws in your state allow it? I had a lady mention the same thing to me about her grandchild. I think in NC you can homeschool one child besides your own or maybe it was kids from one other family. I am not sure about that part. Beth
Yeah, I've had two people ask me to homeschool their kids. I was already homeschooling my three, and adding 2 -4 more kids wasn't feasible for me. Plus I think there are some laws in some states about homeschooling children that are not yours. I'd have to look that up. You could check HSLDA for your state. TX is pretty leniant with homeschooling, so you may be able to do that! It WOULD be nice to have that income, wouldn't it?! BTW, WELCOME! Glad you made yourself known here! Hope this all works out---please let us know what you find out!
From what I can tell, it is legal. But the hang-up for me is hard to explain. With my own kids, homeschooling is more of a lifestyle choice. I mean, if an opportunity to teach a particular subject or concept comes up while driving to the store (or just before bed, or during dinner, or whenever) then I take the opportunity to teach it. Usually those are the lessons that 'stick' the best anyway because they're the ones my sons showed interest in at that moment. The reinforcement of what we're learning goes on all day, night and weekend. With someone else's child I wouldn't be reinforcing the lessons all the time so I'm thinking the learning might not happen as well. For example we've been learning Spanish for the last two months. My kids know all the words we've learned - close to 100 of them. The kids I babysit know about 1/4 of the words. I go over the words in all kinds of situations all the time, but since the ones I babysit don't get the after-hours reinforcement they are not retaining a lot of what I'm teaching. So how do I do a good job teaching them when I'm not around them 24/7? Is this a problem for real public school teachers too? Maybe this is what they mean by lack of parent support. Sorry for rambling. Just trying to figure this out... Jennifer
You're allowed/encouraged/expected to ramble in here as long as you want. Welcome to Homeschool Spot!
Very interesting... Welcome to this forum! If your state allows it and you think that you could do a good job teaching her kids, do it! Teach them to read and write and math for their ages... Do you use a curriculum? I understand about the learning process taking place at any time of the day (or night)- that is a great part about teaching our kids. Get into sign language or learn about community helpers. Go on field trips and just teach them all!!! (especially if you like the other kids and can see it happening in your mind's eye...) OK...there is my $0.02.
If you don't want to do it, don't let her pressure you into doing it. She's probably feeling guilty about not having the inclination to be as involved as you are with her own kids' education. Instead, encourage her to persue learning-type activities with her kids for short times each day. If she does this for a while, she may become more confident and eventually join you in staying home to school the kids. An option, since it also sounds like you would really covet the income, is to offer babysitting/tutoring services for the kids while she works, but have HER be the one in charge of their schooling. She decides the curriculum (with your guidance and input since you'll be helping to implement it) and does most of the lesson guidance. Then while in your care, the kiddos do the "busy work" or "homework" and you're there for the occasional question. She works with them after work or after dinner or on weekends whatever, and you're like the after school tutor - only it's during the day. Make sense? Anyway, good luck with your situation and I hope you find what makes the most sense for you and your family.
PK I feel is different and that I'd be find with. But I wouldn't do it for complusory aged kids personally. (It's not legal here anyways.) That doesn't mean that you shouldn't or couldn't or that it hasn't been done. I am quite confident and happy being in charge of my own child's education. However, I would hesitate to be held responsible for someone else's child in a home setting. Should the relationship go sour, you have nothing to protect yourself with and then it's not a matter of just your and her's relationship but it could effect your family very negatively. What happens if there's an accident while you're homeschooling her children? What if the two of you have a disagreement over homeschooling? I'm sure it doesn't seem like that could happen--but you really can't predict events to know for sure--KWIM? If I did decide to do it for some reason--I would set up a very explicit contract saying what would be taught, what the expectations were, what you expect them to contribute towards the education etc. I'd also charge a lot more for school than for just plain old babysitting.
I agree with sneaky mama. Preschool- sure! Older than that, NO WAY. I just think it would take away from what I have to offer my children. You would give up many freedoms (What if you want to take a park day? What if her kids are sick? What if your kids are sick? What if you want to go on a field trip opn the spur of the moment? Cost of supplies and materials-- how would you divide it up?) Would religious beliefs factor in? Would you feel bitter about spending 1-on-1 time teaching these other children to read when your own dc needs you 1-on-1? I've been asked to homeschool other children, but I just can't do it. The *only* exception would be if I had a blood relative (like a niece or nephew) who was in a bad situation (death of a parent, etc.). I hope I don't sound too negative. This is just my .02!
I have actually done this. You could suggest doing a trial period for say 1 term to see how it goes. You could do it on a term by term arrangement. I actually got caught. I was meant to be a support person to help this other lady in her homeschooling but she left everything up to me. I gradually started passing stuff back to her because I felt my own kiddos were missing out so her kiddo didn't. She wasn't really commited to the idea & when she had to do it put her child back into school. So long as your philosophy, discipline, structure work for each other it can work. Quite simply I found the work load way too much & I disliked the added pressure when I felt the mum wasn't suppporting what we were doing. Homeschool is a lifestyle choice & about way more than what happens in the classroom, IMO. Proceed with caution.
Happy- it seems you are feeling like its okay to teach your own cause they are yourse, if you mess up you are the parent, but you dont want to take the chance with messing up another persons child? Am I right? I had people beg me to teach thier kids, when I quit to home teach my own. but I could not figure a loop hole to the system for me to do it legally. The two children have gone on to a really high priced private school now and it could have been financially benificial to me. I actually could have handeled it being as I was already in the feild to an extent, but was not sure of leagal issuse so check those out and give it a try! Let the mom know that it would be a probationary period for Kindergarden only or something liek that?
This gives way to another thought... Homeschooling doesn't happen from 8-10 or 8-12 or even 8-5 around here...it's a day long/night long thing. We are constantly learning! Life is learning and it doesn't fit into a neat little 8-12 package. I wouldn't want to have to run things like a school just for someone else's benefit. You lose the richness that is gained by learning as you live.
Thank you so much for your thoughts - your views are very thought-provoking and exactly what I needed to view the different sides of this. I think it could be done, and done well at that - but, well I don't know exactly but something is keeping me from thinking its a good idea and I guess maybe my gut knows something my mind can't put into words. Maybe its just the potential negative impact to me and my family that I don't want to risk. I don't know. But you are are so wonderful and supportive and I can't thank you enough for 'discussing' this with me Jennifer
Jennifer, are you a praying person? Cause I will pray for peace about the situation for you if you would like, peace for what is the right thing to do, to teach or not to teach ... ( giggle that is the question???:lol
I agree with a lot of what is said - especially the fact that for pre-school I would say ok.... but make it clear that after that you would not be able to do it. With my personal changing of curriculums and addition of new stuff - I could just see problems arising!! LOL BUT that's the fun of it also
Prayers are always welcome TeacherMom! Thanks for asking I've been praying about it too - I know He'll lead me in the right direction. And to your other post - I'm no afraid of 'messing her kids up' really, just don't like the idea of someone else critiqueing my teaching style/plan. If it works for me, great - I don't much care if it works for anyone else, kwim? I think my heart is definitely saying 'no' on this one so I'll try to think of some nice ways to tell her when she brings it up again. Funny that you mention that Chicamarun (cute name!) - I am the same way!! Lol. I change stuff up all the time and I could definitely see that being a problem down the road. Thanks again for all the responses! You guys are great! Jennifer
I often find that my gut is good to follow. I think we do get nagging feelings that just won't go away and although we can't always explain why--we intuitively know what to do. So I say, follow your gut!
Welcome!!! I'm in agreement with the others here. it's not something I'd be wanting to do personally, partly because of the, as you say, "lifestyle choice", once they were of compulsory age. Actually, my dss was living with a gal with a preschooler, and he mentioned to dh about my homeschooling him. Dh told him no way, trying to explain to him about the lifestyle choice involved. (He told me later that if they were married, he might consider it!) Have you considered, btw, teaching themes that would allow you to teach all the kids at once, so you wouldn't be preparing so many different lessons? My kids are 13. 11, and 7, and we do history and science together. (Sort of! With my oldest getting into more advanced stuff, she now does science on her own, and I anticipate that for History in about two more years!)
That's what happened when I had people ask me---I just wasn't comfortable with it! With things changing, not an absolute set schedule, us running to the store for groceries when others were at work or school, suddenly deciding to go somewhere to get donuts then to the library, etc. It worked for me and my kids, but I'm not sure another parent would see those kinds of things as beneficial! And yes, it would take away from the family, and be more stressful! The money would be nice, but let's face it. Many of us who homeschool our kids COULD be out making money, but have chosen not to---for our family's sake. This may be one of those times that you give up the chance of a decent income for the pleasure of being home with your kids! If you're babysitting/doing daycare anyway, then I would do like someone else said, charge more and tutor them, or do a class or two altogether as Jackie said, but you may not want to be their only teacher!
