How to Obtain a College Degree While Homeschooling Your Kids
Homeschooling parents know that helping kids learn about the world is a massive undertaking. However, many parents are inspired by their children’s passion for learning and wish they could go back to school, too. It may surprise you to learn that this is more feasible for homeschooling parents than you might think!
Inspirational Homeschooling is dedicated to making sure that parents who homeschool know the best techniques for fitting homeschooling into the grander picture of their lives. If you’re being called upon to go back to school, we want to help you figure out how to make that happen. Here are some tips to help you manage it all:
Create Specific Goals
You probably already know the importance of goal-setting when it comes to your homeschooling plan. Coming up with a specific set of learning goals and objectives for your child helps you create an effective lesson plan for the year, helps you stay on track, and gives you a way to gauge what is and isn’t working for your family. The same principle should apply to your own educational journey.
Plan your own learning goals and objectives. Review your chosen subject of study and research the potential jobs you would qualify for after you earn your degree. Don't forget to look into their corresponding pay scales.
Then break down your larger goal into smaller steps. Plan out how many courses you can manage each semester, given the amount of responsibilities you already tend to at home. Also plan out how quickly you’d like to earn your degree. When planning your time line, consider which point in your family’s life would make the most sense for you to further your education and enter your career.
Consider All Options
You might think that your only option when it comes to studying is to take full-time, in-person classes at a big university. However, this path can feel nearly impossible for parents, especially when you homeschool. The good news is, there are more options than you may realize.
We’re more connected than ever these days, and that means there are a lot of options for people interested in pursuing a degree. You can take many or few classes at a time, whatever best suites your schedule. You can even find programs that are entirely online. These options can go a long way toward making the prospect of going back to school possible for parents at home.
Practice Time Management
Even if you’re only taking one or two classes at a time, your workload can easily become overwhelming if you don’t have strong time management skills. Take some time to look at your current schedule and figure out what, if anything, you can move around to make room for classes. If you have a spouse, friend, or family member who can help with child care, you can more easily attend in-person classes.
Online classes can be easier to fit into your schedule if they’re asynchronous — meaning, you don’t need to join a lecture at a specific time. For these types of classes, it’s just a matter of figuring out a good window of time during which you can concentrate on learning and there may be some relatively natural times within your schedule during which you can study. For example, if your kids have daily independent play or learning time, you can use that window of time to take your own classes.
If you don’t already use a time management system for your own goals, now is the time to start. Whether you use a physical planner or invest in an app for your laptop or mobile device, some way to track your own schedule and plan ahead will become invaluable once you’re managing your children’s schooling and your own. With the right organizational scheme, you can effectively manage your time and reach your goals.
Going back to school isn’t out of reach for homeschooling parents, but it takes careful planning. We hope this article helps you figure out the best techniques for making it happen. Remember to set specific goals, take your time, and create the schedule and workload that works for your family — this approach can help you make your dreams a reality.
Looking for more tips on living a full life while homeschooling? Inspirational Homeschooling is here to help - take a look at our resources for more!
-Julia Mitchell
Julia Mitchell is goal-driven to have a career that makes her excited to wake up every day. Now she is working in her dream job in a financial services firm.
Photo Credit: Pexels
* The views and content of the author does not necessarily reflect the views of Inspirational Homeschooling. The list of resources and links are provided as a courtesy and does not imply endorsement by Inspirational homeschooling.
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