If you have taken the plunge and decided to homeschool your children whilst upholding a job, you will need to find a way to balance work and homeschooling. Let us help you find your way!
The decision to teach your child through homeschooling is not an easy one to make, but when you have weighed up the pros and cons and decided to take the plunge, then you will need to get yourself focused and organised if you will also be working. One of the most significant issues for homeschooling families is the need to find a balance between maintaining a job and providing education. We have come up with some essential and helpful advice that is designed to help you manage both.
Embrace Flexibility At Work
One of the first things that you will need to do is to become infinitely more flexible with your workload and when you complete tasks. This could involve only doing isolated tasks during schooling hours and then focusing on more critical tasks after the school day is done. Every family is different but trying to press ahead with important tasks when you are trying to educate means that you will end up doing both jobs poorly. Working from home means that you do not need to follow a strict 9-5 routine so embrace that and mix your working hours up to suit the family needs.
Create a Timetable – and Stick To It!
Having a homeschool timetable not only provides a visual planner for your children to see and know what to expect each day, but it also helps to hold yourself to account. It is too easy to let things slide when you are busy at work, but when you are providing education to your children, you must keep pressing on. A timetable can be mapped out at the end of each week ready for the week ahead so that you can then work your job into the breaks or around a time that your child may be doing some independent learning.
Roll With the Punches
You need to accept that no matter how hard you plan, there will be days that end up being not all you planned or hoped to be. This does not mean that you are incapable of homeschooling or working but that maybe you need to wipe the slate clean and salvage whatever you can, moving anything else to the next day instead. Everyone has days like these, and you should never beat yourself up when they happen to you.
Find Nifty Ways To Communicate
One of the best ways to avoid disruptive days is embedding easy communication strategies so that you and your children are in touch without needing to disrupt each other's tasks. Using an 'ask me later' pad is a great way to get your children into the mindset of understanding what is urgent and what can wait. Also, adding in regular 'stop and check' breaks will allow you to build in time to support their needs without being pulled away from a critical task. Involve your children in finding ways to communicate in a supportive way, and they will be more likely to stick to what has been agreed.
Home-schooling and holding down a job at the same time is not an easy task, but with some perseverance and whole-family planning, you can do it. Don't let bad days get you down and always remember that you are providing your child with the best education solution for them! If you are new to homeschooling or need some support, then why not consider a Black Stone masterclass? Each module is designed to help you learn about and manage your homeschool commitments. Sign up today!
Blackstone Masterclasses is an online resource, providing advice and courses on self-improvement, education and teaching. We are delighted to announce the release of our home schooling masterclass, an excellent resource for all your home educating needs.
Author Mrs Shafina Akhtar Bsc Hons optometry Bsc medical biology
Founder Blackstone Masterclasses
Lifestyle & Education Mentor
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