Working while homeschooling can seem like a daunting task… but I’m here to tell you it’s possible. How do I know? Because I’ve had to do it for many seasons of our homeschooling journey. During different difficult seasons, God has always been faithful to provide. He is Jehovah Jireh – our provider.
But there have been times that when I’ve prayed, I knew that God was calling me to work. Every time He has called me to go to work, however… He had not released me from homeschooling. It is out of this experience that I bring to you my best tips for homeschooling while you’re working outside of the home.
1. Trust God
First and foremost, we need to examine our heart to be sure that we are not making the decision based on our fears. Our fear could lead either way.
We may be afraid that we will not be able to work and continue homeschooling. In contrast, we may be afraid that our financial needs will not be met if we do not work.
Fear could lead us either direction. So our first priority is to examine our own heart and to truly take it to the Lord.
We need to honor God by taking this decision to Him. We need to give Him a say and make our choice based on what we believe we are supposed to do after taking it to Him.
We should not make this decision based on fear, but on what we truly believe God is saying about the matter.
15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.
-Colossians 3:15-17, NKJV
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
In Colossians 3:15, the Word says to let the peace of God rule in our hearts. Even before I knew this scripture… and even before I truly served God with my whole heart… He showed me this to be true.
I remember praying about marrying my husband. Nothing made sense. We had been dating about a year and a half and we already didn’t get along.
After watching my single mama go through relationship after relationship growing up, I knew I didn’t want our relationship to end in divorce. But when I took it to prayer, every time I felt an overwhelming peace and I knew what I was supposed to do.
After recently celebrating our 11th anniversary, I can say that without my marital struggles I would not know God the way I know Him today. I have no regrets; I also have a budding beautiful relationship that is turning into something more beautiful than I could have imagined.
27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.
John 10:27, NKJV
John 10:27 says that Jesus’ sheep hear His voice. We can be sure that when we take our issues to Him in prayer, emptying ourselves of all of our own fears and opinions and placing them at His feet, that He will be faithful to guide us if we ask.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.
Do not be wise in your own eyes;
Fear the Lord and depart from evil.
-Provers 3:5-7, NKJV
When we lay down our own fears and opinions and come into alignment with what the Lord is saying and doing in each season, we can be confident that He will take care of every detail.
It may not be the easy route… God is concerned with growing our character first and foremost, so that we can be purified and more Holy like Him… but it will always be the more rewarding route in the long run.
8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. 9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.
– Galatians 6:8-9, NKJV
We can trust that God will lead us and guide us when we acknowledge Him in all of our ways (Proverbs 3:6). We can ask for anything in His name and He will provide it for us (John 14:13; James 4:2-3).
Lay down your opinion and follow the peace of God. When you do this, you can have confidence that it’s not your job to make it happen in your own strength anymore. You don’t have to be enough, because He is.
It is not our job to sustain ourselves, but His. Our job to to fellowship with Him, surrender ourselves to Him, and to lay down every care at His feet, trusting that He will fill every need.
Trust Him.
(If you know that you’re called to stay home and you’re just here because you were worried for a second, you may be encouraged by this post here).
2. Limit Difficult Subjects to the Days You Have Off
For me, saving the more difficult subjects for my days off was a key factor to homeschooling successfully while working. My focus throughout my working days was primarily on the basics – Reading, English, & Math.
On one of my days off we would focus on Bible, History & Science lessons so that my time with them would still be fun and enjoyable for us all. We would do these lessons together as a family.
Anything my children were struggling with throughout the week that I just couldn’t give my full attention to I would save for my day off to address it, also.
This was my back-up plan for those days that I knew I would be too spent to give anything else. When I say to limit difficult subjects to your days off, this is exactly what I mean.
Besides limited the difficult things for a designated day to take care of it, I also try to limit that day to *ONLY* those things as far as bookwork goes. Everything else I plan I try to plan as a hands-on, family oriented activity for that day.
The goal is to handle all the maintenance issues, then just love on those babies! Go and have fun and enjoy your children when you can!
3. Find a Routine That Works for You
Setting up routines for your homeschool can help your entire day run more smoothly. It is always chaos in the beginning when you’re just setting them up, but if you persevere, you will absolutely reap the benefit of a smooth-running homeschool routine.
Using Routines to Maximize School Time
Setting up a morning routine, bedtime routine, and school routine will help everyone keep from forgetting things. Things will also get done faster because less discussion needs to take place in order for everyone to understand what is expected of them each day.
If you include things like family devotionals and other important things into your routines, then it’s less to keep track of on a daily basis. Eventually it will become nearly automatic if you keep on it. That means less stress for you, mama!
Utilizing the Morning Basket
Using baskets can be a great way to help with routines also. Each of my children have a basket with their own school things to accomplish each day, which helps me stay organized.
I also have a basket for me. One of the ways I love to use my basket is as a tool to do some school things together. I even put note cards with reminders thrown in there so that I can remember what needs to happen.
Doing some things together, even if it’s just a Bible study or a book to read aloud for a few minutes, helps us to keep in mind that one of the main goals in homeschooling is to build strong family relationships.
My basket of one or two things helps me stay focused on what matters most. It also helps with mom brain because of the reminders I throw into it.
When I had to take my children to a sitter outside of our home each day, I used a backpack for each of them as if it were their basket. Even on the days I was home we would work out of the backpack so that they were always ready for the sitter.
Loop Schedules
Loop scheduling can be another alternative for setting up your school day. With loop scheduling, you can just set aside a certain amount of time for your overall school time each day and then you always do the subjects in a certain order.
Whichever subjects you don’t get to that day, you just pick up where you left off the next day. For example, I can have my children do Math, Reading, & English daily, then have everything else on a loop schedule. Art, Science, History, Bible, Composers, Nature – whatever you want to include – could be done on a continual rotation.
Loop schedules are helpful because it takes the stress out of having to get all of the things accomplished for that day. If you don’t get to something, you don’t have to worry about it – you can just pick up where you left off.
Using Timers in Your Routine
Another alternative to even loop schedules would be just setting a timer. It’s easier for me to keep track of things when they have a set day, personally.
Instead of saying we have to get a certain amount of things done each day, we set timers and stop when the time is up. We continue where we left off the next day that subject is scheduled.
4. Keep a Day of Rest
God designed for us to have a day of rest each week. I know that it seems counter-intuitive to take a day of rest when there are so many things pulling on your heart strings, but this is absolutely essential.
When we make God’s design a priority it will help us to build character and faith in allowing and trusting that God will help us. He is a good God – He wouldn’t give us the model of how to do something if He didn’t already know it would work.
You have to rest. So, instead of pushing and pushing until your body finally gives out on you (trust me, it will happen), why not choose ahead of time to just do it God’s way and plan for that rest time?
5. Utilize Programs that Help Carry the Load
When necessary, utilize programs and curricula that can help carry the homeschooling load. Even non-working homeschooling parents often need to use programs that will help carry the teaching load for them – so why not you, too?
When I worked full time, I utilized resources that enabled me to not worry so much about lesson plans and to just do it. We used workbook type curricula choices like ACE and LifePacs when we were able to during some seasons. During other seasons, we used free programs like Easy Peasy that would do the lesson planning for me.
Online resources for math (like CTC Math or Teaching Textbooks) can be extremely helpful, as are in-person tutors. If you can afford or find a babysitter that is willing to help with some of their schoolwork, of course that would be helpful also.
But please keep in mind that finding someone to care for your children well is a big enough blessing in and of itself. Don’t run people off by expecting too much. It’s hard to find people you can trust today!
6. Take Time to Teach Independence
The older your children get, the more independent they have the ability to become. Independence does take some training, but it’s worth it for the freedom it can allow you.
I do my best to have my children do their three main subjects independently – reading, math, and english. I prefer to do it this way because those are the only subjects they have their own level on.
I try to have them do whichever subject they need help with at different times so that I can help each one with the subject they struggle with most. For example, I may have my 9 year old do language arts at a different time than when my 11 year old does his math. This way I am available to help each child during the times it will most likely be needed.
The rest of the subjects we do together as a family. This saves me time both in our daily school work and also in lesson planning. Doing it this way also means that even if I’m not feeling it, the main subjects are covered – even if I don’t get to the rest. *wink*
7. Literature-Based Curricula
If workbooks and independent study options aren’t a great fit for your family, you may consider using a literature-based approach to homeschooling. A Charlotte Mason style of homeschooling has a high focus on using “living books” to teach.
A “living book” is basically a book that is written in a way to keep the reader connected and emotionally engaged with the material. An example might be reading a journal or biography of George Washington compared to reading about the American Revolution in a textbook.
Focusing on reading books more than completing worksheets and memorizing dates can help your child engage in nearly every topic of education in a meaningful way. Instead of memorizing facts, it encourages your child to actually *learn* the material!
A literature-based approach can also help with the stress of doing everything because you could easily set a timer and just read however much you’re able to that day. This takes away the stress of meeting daily milestones.
8. Relax
Remember that your children are only with you in your home for a time. Keep your priorities in order and stop worrying about trying to do all of the things.
If you have to choose between your relationship and academics, always choose the way of relationship. If you have to choose between discipline and love, choose the side of love.
Once upon a time all children were educated at home. The parents were the teachers and they did life together as a family.
Homeschooling with a Christ center is focused on pointing our children toward Christ more than anything. Lead by example, training them, following Christ and surrendering to Him every step of the way and they’ll be sure to follow.
Train up a child in the way he should go,
-Proverbs 22:6
And when he is old he will not depart from it.
Closing in Prayer
Lord, I lift up everyone whose eyes come upon this post, whether they open it or not. I plead the blood of Jesus Christ over their children and my own and declare over them that because we have trained them up in the way they should go, that when they are old they will not depart from it.
I pray that our children will know You and acknowledge You in all their ways, that You may direct their path. I pray over every parent that You would direct their path as they take these questions to You and continue to acknowledge You in the ways they know how.
We thank You for Your everlasting faithfulness. We thank You that we are of much more worth than every sparrow and that it is Your promise to provide for our every need.
We surrender every opinion, thought, and circumstance to You, Lord and give You permission to mold our beliefs into Your will for each of our lives as individuals. We give our lives, our marriages, our children, and our homeschools to You, Lord.
Thank You for showing us the way in all things, Lord. Help us to believe You are with us in all things. In Jesus mighty name. Amen.
Do you have any questions about homeschooling and working? Maybe you have some tips of your own? I’d love to hear about them! Please share in the comments below!
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