Different Ways to Homeschool

by The Varsity Tutors School@Home Team

When you imagine the concept of “homeschooling,” what comes to mind? A parent and child poring over hand-written lessons in a bare back room of the house, completely cut off from the rest of the world? Maybe you’re quick to imagine intensive _religious _instruction that involves a nearby leather Bible. Or maybe you even visualize a father striking a child when he or she doesn’t answer correctly.

If these unpleasant stereotypes govern your understanding of homeschooling, don’t feel silly--there’s good reason for it. From the 17th century up until just a few decades ago, homeschooling looked _quite _like the scene that was just described. Religion was a core subject, as well as reading and basic math, and that was about it. Corporal punishment was the norm, and most instruction was done by parents. Hiring private tutors was also an option, but one that was available only to the wealthy.

Fast forward a few hundred years and homeschooling has evolved tremendously, now having many different faces. Of course, there are still parents that prefer to be the ones teaching their kids, thereby taking on most or all of the responsibility. On the other hand, there are parents who outsource some or all of the work to others. No one approach is considered best or most effective; it really depends on the needs, preferences, and possibilities that exist for each family.

Homeschooling your kids entirely yourself is a full-time job, and parents do in fact quit their jobs to pursue this path. When COVID-19 struck in 2020 and schools were abruptly closed, lots of parents tried to continue working while assuming homeschooling duties. But many understandably failed to juggle both of these demanding roles, leading many parents--and especially mothers--to quit their jobs to homeschool.

With the gradual reopening of schools, some parents are returning to their previous jobs or searching for new ones. Others are choosing to keep homeschooling indefinitely or at least for the time being. Now, you’re probably thinking that not all parents can afford to give up their jobs for homeschooling.

Well, plenty of homeschooling moms argue that it’s very much possible to homeschool your kids and work, particularly if you work from home. Lisa Marie Fletcher of The Canadian Homeschooler writes that it’s “absolutely” feasible to manage both tasks but “requires evaluation of priorities and intentional time planning.” One way Lisa Marie stays on top of her teaching duties is by being “productive without being chained to [her] desk.” While her little ones watch cartoons on the couch, she sits next to them, planning lessons and answering emails from her phone.

But not everyone works from home. Laura of The Halfway Homesteaders writes, “While it is true that a lot of homeschool moms are stay-at-home-moms, that’s not true for all of us. We run the gamut! Most of us work from home as a virtual assistant, blogger, web designer [. . .] Others have jobs outside the home.” In her article “How to Homeschool When You Have a Full-Time Job,” Laura suggests that parents plan lessons around their work schedules, select a “done-for-you curriculum,” and hire a tutor, among other tips.

As Laura from _The Halfway Homesteaders _advises, hiring a tutor is a wise choice when you need some homeschooling assistance. According to the Organization of Virginia Homeschoolers, “Many parents hire out the teaching of specific subjects through classes, group activities, homeschool co-ops, team teaching, tutors, etc., while teaching the other subjects themselves.” (Note: In the context of homeschooling, the word “tutor” is often used synonymously with “teacher.”)

If you have a strong background in a subject, you could very well make a fantastic teacher of it. For example, healthcare workers may be suitable teachers of biology. With other disciplines, like foreign language or advanced math, it may be best to defer lessons to a licensed tutor.

In some states, like Virginia, homeschool tutors _must _be licensed by the state’s Board of Education. A wikiHow article co-authored by Alexander Ruiz, M.Ed. states, “In some places, you [(the tutor)] might be required to have a certified teaching certificate, or you might be limited to a certain number of hours tutoring a single family. In other areas, there are almost no regulations around homeschool tutoring, so you may be able to work full-time for one family.” The bottom line: find out the homeschooling laws of your state before you start looking for a tutor.

Once you know the official regulations, learn about all the choices that are available to you. Some tutors are willing to travel to your house to deliver lessons; others only offer their services virtually, from their homes, or from a designated learning center. Know your options, weigh carefully what you and your kids would prefer, and narrow down your search from there.

As mentioned by the Organization of Virginia Homeschoolers, another possibility for parents is to team-teach or participate in homeschool co-ops. “Team-teach,” as the name implies, means to instruct simultaneously with 1+ other homeschooling parents, presumably while all of your children are together.

Team-teaching can be extremely advantageous because it gives your kids a chance to socialize and engage in group activities. At the same time, it lessens the burden on parents, who can support one another and take turns being in the spotlight.

According to Nicole Johnson of Parents.com, a homeschool co-op is “made up of several families who meet regularly at libraries, churches, community centers, or homes, and work together toward similar goals, which can be based on socialization, education, activities, or any combination of these.” Team-teaching can take place at homeschool co-ops but doesn’t have to. In other words, the co-op could be led by an externally hired tutor.

No matter where your needs fall on the “homeschooling help spectrum,” know that there are (1) ample resources available to you and (2) countless families in the U.S. doing things just like you. You’re not alone and never have to be.

Varsity Tutors School @ Home offers something for every homeschooler, whether it's customizable complementary instruction in both academic and elective subjects or a digital app that makes daily homeschooling logistics easier for parents. Learn more here: https://www.varsitytutors.com/school-at-home.