Nursing School and K-12

[sweetnursing27]

I have all of my pre-requisites completed and am starting a RN program in Utah starting September 1st. :) The area I will be required to go to school is in an area with elementary schools that are not up to par and receive very low test scores all across the board. I have tried other areas that have better elementary schools for my two kids(regardless of whether or not I have to commute - It wouldn't make a difference to me), but the only apartment we can get into is in a safe area, but is in the boundary of a terrible school. My next idea was to homeschool my kids on an online public school through a program called k-12. As far as nursing school: I would have clinicals 2 days a week, and labs 1 day a week, with the lectures all being online (I wouldn't work, just FYI). I think I would be able to manage my time to give ample time for both schooling my children and nursing school (a straight through, 16 mo. program), but I don't want to get in over my head. Does anyone have any suggestions? And please know that I absolutely realize that nursing school is intense and homeschooling children is time consuming - I just want helpful input. Thanks! :)

[michiganstudent]

I homeschooled my kids for 7 years. They went to public school when I started nursing school. From my personal experience, I don't think it's possible to even do both at the same time POORLY, let alone well.

[JBudd, MSN]

I homeschooled my kids, after kindergarten and a few years in a public school for the oldest two, even after my husband died and I was working nights, and I started my masters program.

Depends on how independent or dependent your kids are. Much of the homeschooling curriculum, especially at lower ages is self directed, and on the computer is often "taught". My son was very self driven, and would get up at 6:30, and be done with his workbooks by 9 AM, before I was even awake on my days off. My youngest had to be directed, pushed and nagged.

You will spend a lot of time studying, if you can study at the table with your kids and still absorb your own material while being asked questions, you're good to go. If the kids will do the online stuff independently, go for it. If your kids are clingy, need their hands held for every step of everything, you'll have problems.

My youngest didn't do that well, and ended up in a private high school when she was the last kid in the house, and she passed the GED with honors. She has now gotten an assoc. degree and decided on her own to go back for a bachelors. When she found the degree program she actually wanted to study, she ended up top of her class. The other two graduated with bachelor's degrees cum laude. Oldest has also finished her master's, and a residency in her field. Son has decided to go for a masters.

Homeschooling teaches kids to be self reliant, to look things up for themselves, how to study, and doesn't waste enormous amounts of time in school lines, waiting for other kids to finish, not being able to get questions answered quickly, getting bullied/stolen from/ignored. You get to be involved in your kid's lives in a beautiful way, and they will get to see how much schooling means to you when you are sitting there studying with them. I was their soccer coach, Den Mother, GS leader, Asst. Scoutmaster, Little League snack mom, and chauffeur! I would sleep in the car during band practice, they'd wake me up and we'd go home where I'd finish sleeping for the next night shift. Life is short, childhood shorter. Enjoy every minute of it.