Homeschooling someone else's child?

[mom2threenurslings]

Has anyone ever homeschooled / is anyone homeschooling someone else's child? I'm currently "homeschooling" (life learning, child-led learning) my kids, the oldest of which is 5.5 (and reading at a 2nd-3rd grade level).

I have a "friend" that I've known since she was born (I babysat her from when she was 3 months old until she was 10 or so and she's been at 2 of my kids' births!) and every once in a while she'll mention that she wishes she was homeschooled. This was mostly last year as she was dealing with difficulties in high school, especially with several teachers whose teaching style clashed greatly with her learning style and she was spending tons of time after school teaching herself things that had been covered in class. At one point she couldn't wait to turn 16 so she could drop out....and she is a VERY intelligent young woman. Mostly, she's not being challenged and is incredibly bored. She's also sick of the limits put on her studies inside of school. She's involved in several groups in school, and I think she'll want to return next year, but if the situation should arise that she does ask again to be homeschooled, I'd like to be prepared.

I guess my questions are, does anyone have experience homeschooling someone else's kids ... and does anyone have experience homeschooling someone starting in high school?

[Brenoi]

You don't mention her parents in this. Where would they be on the spectrum?

[mom2threenurslings]

Her parents wouldn't be willing to homeschool her, which is where I come in. They were considering the possibility last year, and would be supportive, but wouldn't be able (or necessarily want) to put the effort in to homeschool her ... and they both work full time and wouldn't be around for most of the day to be all that active in her education.

[luv my 2 sweeties]

I'd consult a lawer in your state who takes homeschooling cases. I would think that the parents would still have to retain responsibility for the child's education -- so technically *they* would be homeschooling her even though she gets most of her "instruction" while in your care, KWIM? It's gotta depend on your state's laws, I would think. Sounds like a great plan from the families' points of view, however! Good luck!

[Fieryfly]

Have you heard of The Teenage Liberation Handbook: How To Quit School and Get a Real Life and Education by Grace Llewellyn?

It has great suggestions for teenagers looking for other options that the local high school. It encourages them to really take their education into their own hands.

Good luck!

[Brenoi]

I think it could work if the parents were supportive BUT I would both beware of the laws and your liability. A conversation with a good lawyer versed in this area would be a good idea. If the parents didn't think that their daughter learned enough could they hold you responsible - and then cite you for running a school without a license or some such thing. Forgive me for being pessimistic but I have seen too many good relationships go bad.

Good luck. I do like the idea of the girl taking responsibility for her own learning - I think that that would be a good avenue to follow up.

[mom2threenurslings]

Thanks so much for the info and suggestions!!!

I will definitely check out the Teenage Liberation Handbook! If the time comes when she does decide homeschooling is best for her, I'll definitely consult a lawyer. I was planning on at the very least writing up an agreement with the parents stating that *they* were responsible for her education and I was in the position of motivator/tutor. I believe she could do most of it on her own, just needing a little motivation and guidance along the way.

Thanks again!