by Hope
My homeschooling seems to rub lots of people the wrong way, especially those that have no personal experience with it. And earlier this year, I wrote about how the cost of our co op really had me re-thinking my plans. So I wanted to give everyone an update from both a schooling and financial update on this topic.
First, as I have kind of mentioned around, I am happy to announce that I will be teaching two classes at our local homeschool co op. And currently the classes are almost half full – yeah! They are both high school classes for high school credit and each student pays $140 per semester. I have high hopes that the classes will fill.
Second, my children have each selected and registered for their courses through the co op for next year (with a few nudges from me.) And after reviewing what they have chosen and what everyone “needs” to stay on course, I will only be teaching math and Spanish here at home. Everything else will be taken at the co op. This is a good compromise allowing me to take on the additional “work” hours of teaching a few hours a week.
In reviewing these two, the monies I make from teaching at co op will just cover the costs of their co op classes – woot, woot!!!
Third, schedule wise this is going to work out fantastic! I have already consulted with my largest client for whom I have dedicated work hours, and the two hours a week I will be teaching are outside of my work hours for them…so no conflicts. AND even better, since the kids are taking so much more at the co op, that will free me up approximately 10 hours a week to work on other stuff.
For those of you that are uncomfortable with the thought of homeschooling, think of this like college. They will go to class two days a week and then have the remaining days to complete homework. It is very much like that, and the test results (we test at a local private school so there is no manipulation on my part) continue to show that they are all on or above grade level in almost every subject.
Fourth, I haven’t set up a teaching schedule for my online classes for the fall yet, but they are willing to work around whatever my availability is…awesome! And I will be teaching some of the same classes at both places so only one set of lesson plans, etc. for me to design.
So essentially school costs will be minimal this coming year…I will still have to buy books and supplies. But essentially I am knocking $5,000 off my yearly budget by teaching for 2 hours a week for 6 months. I am okay with that, and even the better, the kids are super excited that they are getting to take more classes. And if I had my druthers…math and Spanish are the two classes I enjoy teaching to them so I anticipate lots of good times!
Hope is a creative, solutions-focused business manager helping clients grow their business and work more efficiently by leveraging expertise in project management, digital marketing, & tech solutions. She’s recently become an empty nester as her 5 foster/adoptive kids have spread their wings. She lives with her 5 dogs in a small town in NE Georgia and prefers the mountains to the beaches any day. She struggles with the travel bug and is doing her best to help each of her kids as their finish schooling and become independent (but it’s hard!) She has run her own consulting company for almost twenty years! Hope began sharing her journey with the BAD community in the Spring of 2015 and feels like she has finally in a place to really focus on making wise financial decisions.
everyone always has strong personal feelings about education and child-rearing. If I had to guess I would say people were probably not so much concerned about home schooling in general, but more about the logistics of all your kids home schooling in your cramped apartment and clubhouse. Just a guess. So from that perspective the co-op will be a great solution. It’s also great that you can track the kids progress through the testing service to make sure they are at their expected level.
That is so awesome!!! I am all for homeschooling. In a our area I think kids who are home schooled get a better education. I know several people who home school and their kids are way above the high school requirements–of course it depends on the kid too.
Our schools aren’t bad per say (probably better than some schools) but even in my day (I’m 40) the shop classes taught kids how to make weapons. I just like knowing and controlling what my children are exposed too, to an extent anyhow. Plus now there are so many resources for home schooled children. It’s no like it use to be.
This is awesome! I think there is a social stigma with home schooling and that is part of the problem. Prior to becoming an attorney, I was a teacher and Curriculum Director for over 10 years. I now teach PT at the college level in addition to my “regular” job. I have worked in public and private school settings and been exposed to a lot of homeschooling options (through the private school). Home schooling can be a great option as long as there is a set program/curriculum and students get the social interaction they need. Hope, you obviously make sure all those variables are covered. Bravo for that! I have seen people claim they homeschool and do it through a self-studied program and then their kids come into a more traditional school setting in MS or HS and are 3 levels below grade level. That is the only beef I have with homeschool, when it is done ineffectively.
Thank you for shedding some light on how the homeschooling co-op works. I think the independent work they do during their “off” days will help them in college. I know for me it was hard to transistion from high school where you had more structure to college where there was more free time.
It’s pretty awesome that the schooling costs for next year will essentially be supplies!
I think we’re all more comfortable with homeschooling as we learn more information about it. If nothing else, many of us are concerned for YOU, your sanity, and your ability to have enough focused time to get work done.
this sounds like a good plan, nice that there is a co-op to participate in in your area. I have seen quite a bit of homeschooling (guidance counsellor) and I think here in Australia its very misunderstood. I have seen a lot of very good results with homeschooling where it’s a well rounded curriculum and their is lots of social interactions. By far the majority of the kids I’ve seen were preparing for university and they had great results and were well adjusted, clear thinking young adults with good academic skills.. The times where it does concern me is when it’s not a thorough curriculum and it’s very religious based so those kids have presented as very disconnected and lacking in critical thinking skills and a broad view of the world and they have not done well in socialising or adjusting to the adult world of university. Overall I think homeschooling is growing in popularity here, and thats not a bad thing so long as its meeting basic educational standards. different strokes for different folks..