Does this exist? Homeshool at somone elses home?

[tinyblackdot]

I work full time, but im off 3 days a week. And i really want my dd to be home schooled. Is there such a thing where there is a home school co-op thing, where you get a group of kids together and rotate between homes and moms throughout the week? Like say 5 different moms get their kids together and rotate between the 5 different homes one day a week. Is that crazy?

[corysmilk]

yeah its out there. my friend does this but for her its a paid thing. she takes in 2 children from the small community they live in, plus she homeschools her younger brothers and her 3 daughters.

[Aeress]

In NY our state says the majority of the homeschooling hours must be done by a parent or can be provided by a tutor. So, to me, this means I can rotate like you said, because I would be the main homeschooler.
We do this on a fairly relaxed basis, but hope to do a more formalized plan for next fall.

[zjande]

The last job I had was with a similar situation. There were 4 families that were part of a childcare co-op. All the kids were young toddlers, but it would have worked perfectly as a homeschool co-op once the kids were older. I was the hired childcare provider that worked the 4 days per week the co-op happened. Each day, the co-op kids were at a different co-op members home. So, each co-op family had childcare provided for their toddler 3 days each week, then one day each week the childcare was provided in their home. So, each of the 4 days I worked, there were the 4 toddlers & me, plus the mom/parents that lived at the house we were a that day.

It totally could work for homeschooling. Once the kids were older, the childcare helper (me) wouldn't have been absolutely necessary.

Also, there is a local woman who homeschools out of her home for a fee. I'm not sure what sort of hours she works.... but I know she does it.

[tinyblackdot]

I think that i am really going to look into this. Do you think that asking around on a homeschooling forum would be the place to start?

[linclane]

Check state laws for where you live. In NC you can homeschool two families together (at least that's my understanding). I've been asking around to see if I can find another family to do a co-op type thing with - trading days, sharing costs, etc.

More families might fall under different laws than "homeschool." But I'm really not sure ...

And I definitely think homeschooling forums/local homeschool groups are the best place to start asking questions.

[laohaire]

I have friends who live on the same street as another homeschooling family. Their boys are best friends, and they have a schedule where the boys are schooled at this house on that day, and the other house on another day.

[phathui5]

Another thing you could do is use a homeschooling mom as your childcare while you're working. She could include them in what her kids are doing and you could homeschool them on the days you have them.

[craft_media_hero]

Just wanted to add that homeschooling doesn't have to "look" like 4-5 week days a week, school hours. If you are off three days, you could do most of the instructional stuff those days, then let your dc have a more self-led learning day while home with your partner or another care provider. You can also do a lot of supplementing at night or in the car.

Last semester, both my partner and I were in school full time and working part time and homeschooling our six yo. He and I were able to alternate "shifts" so that one of us was home with her and the other could work/school just like you do with a younger child to avoid daycare. So we had a pretty non-traditional homeschool, but dd learned a lot even though we were kind of fitting a little in here and there whenever we could.

There are a lot of options! Hs-ing and working or otherwise being away from the kids during the week can be done!

[Suzannah]

I am a public school teacher trying to do this for next year (HS mine, plus several others for $$). In GA, parents can hire a "tutor" for as many hours as they want, but the tutors generally have more stringent requirements (nt much more, though, and I am a master teacher, so I am good.). I offer full and part-time, plus online classes and portfolio building for older students headed to college.

I have a HS friend who talks about taking a class here and there from another family, but I don't know of a regular thing. I'm sure they are out there, though, and will increase as public school heads south (huge class sizes, no more $$, laying off/exploiting teachers, etc).

[almama]

Honestly, until they are 7 (or 8 or 9 or 10 depending on the kid), I can't imagine doing structured work more than 3x a week. The rest of the time is for exploring and playing. You have many years to see if it works for you.

Other people are different though, and I totally support their beliefs, but for me, wrangling a little guy or gal into focused work more than 3 days is asking for me to go loopy.

I'd find a cool child care arrangement and deem it "social time," and spend your time with your child doing what you wish. It will fit for many years.

[numericmama]

My oldest is 6.5 years old. We are officially homeschooling 3 days a week. I do have a list of things I would like to get done. If the kids are too busy playing or interested in other things, then some of it spills over to the weekend. But, I figure that since we are homeschooling, we can do what we want to do!

I also make sure that they have plenty of outside time, which a Nanny/babysitter could do anyway.We also have a class, but it really doesn't have to be me taking him. Otherwise, it's the usual daily stuff - free play, cleaning, gardening/yard work, walks - all that he could do in a group or with his Nanny/babysitter. And we do have an enriched environment.

So, 3 days of homeschooling while you were off, and then additional activities on the other days makes perfect sense to me.