Any homeschooling nursing students?

missnurse01, MSN, RN · Apr 20, 2012

Hi!

I didn't homeschool while I was in nursing school but I have over the past few years while taking a ton of sciences classes to get into grad school. Your kids are a little older so you might have better luck getting them to be super independent for next year. Or you might already have them be super independent now! Having my kids do their work mostly on their own unless they had questions was huge for me, I could study while they did. Otherwise, it was a lot of lost sleep-studying when everyone was asleep. if you are able to organize their schooling into a few hours a day, or less if you include the weekend, holidays, and summer, then you will be in awesome shape. Have you considered getting a leg up this summer and starting the next school year without a break inbetween? You could have them well in their curriculum, and far into the school year by the time you start, and when you need to do less a day with them, they will be ahead anyway and it will be okay. Who will be watching them while you are in class? Are they able to do some of the schooling? something easier like reading or workbooks? Or arts and crafts, music, etc? Are they good at math and can do that while they watch? I have no idea what your schedule will be like, but it will be doable.

I am looking at homeschooling and going to grad school-although their dad will help with the housework and the schooling.

Good luck and nice to meet you!

Neldavi · Apr 20, 2012

Well, I'm about to finish third semester of a four semester ADN program, so my husband and I have homeschooled our 8 year old through half of first grade and all of second grade while I've been in nursing school. We also have a 5 year old and 2 year old who go to a day care/pre school two days a week. I'm not happy with the way it's working so we're sending him to school next year for third grade. We'll reevaluate after I graduate.

I would just say that you need to be super organized. Your kids are older and may be more self-motivated so it may work fine for you. Our biggest problem, in my opinion, is that there are three adults working with him (myself, my husband, and my father one day a week) on the same subjects and there was never good communication between the three of us (or, I'm just not happy with the way they do things ... :))so I feel like there was a lack of cohesion in my son's education. But my son is young enough that he has still needed a good bit of supervision so I haven't been able to do it all myself because I'm just not home enough, and when I am I need to be doing my own school work.

So, take it for what it's worth, just one family's experience. I can see it working better with older kids if you can set aside time each week to plan and go over stuff with them.

Good luck!

anonymousstudent · Apr 20, 2012

I have pre-schooled through nursing school. It really hasn't been that bad. I don't make nursing school my life, or even close to it. I make the time I need, I get B's. I'm totally fine with that sacrifice. I think you'll be OK as long as you aren't one of these people who needs to study like crazy to get it. I take one read through and move on.

clearblue3 · Apr 21, 2012

It sounds like you are pretty organized! We are homeschooling but mine are 4 and 7 and one on the way :-) So we haven't been at it that long...still trying to figure out what works best and they aren't independent at all. I can only imagine how it will go once the baby is here! lol I am in the 3rd semester of a 4 year program but I am part time so really I have 3 semesters left after this one. I am having a difficult time fitting everything in to be honest. I think I could study less, but I am a bit of a compulsive studier :-) Many of the full-timers I am in school with tell me that they don't read much and don't feel very prepared for exams etc. because they just don't have the time. They are managing to pass, but I just can't handle the stress that comes with barely passing so I do study a lot.

Personally FOR ME, I wish I would have waited until they are older to go back to school. When I started we hadn't planned on homeschooling. I feel like I am stressed out all of the time and not putting my all into their schooling which stresses me out even more. But that is just me! It sounds like you have more experience with homeschooling and so you really know what to expect in terms of scheduling etc. much better than I do. I would say I spend about 25-30 hrs a week stuying and this pretty much has to happen after my husband gets home. So every night I am studying which doesn't leave much time for homeschool planning. It is driving me crazy. BUT you probably need less time to plan since you have things down! :-) I also think it depends on the program you are in because I think they vary somewhat on what it takes to get certain grades? I am not sure where my school falls in that, but right now for my 2 theory classes no one has an A in either of them at this point and several people will not make it to the next semester. I have had a 4.0 through my previous bachelors and in the nursing program until now...but wow have I had to work for it in the nursing program and now I am working just as hard, and I have high B's. Which I am okay with for sure!! Is your program 2 years? At least you will know that it is a temporary situation. It will definitely go fast. Being part-time these 4 years seem to be never ending :-)

ps. I was excited to hear from another homeschooling/nursing school mom!! It sounds like you should be the one giving the tips to me! :-) Good luck with everything!!

Melseal · Apr 21, 2012

Thanks for all the replies. Good to hear from some others in my boat.I have always encouraged my kids to be independent. I am not a teacher, lol, learned that years ago. I answer their questions when they need help, but the majority of their work is done independently. It is really nice to get past the "learning to read" stage and into "reading to learn". It just seems like we are all so busy, I would love to drop co-op but they really love it. One thing that helps is we start school in July and take few breaks, we just finished this school year last week! I'm going to really enjoy my break :)

Melseal · Apr 21, 2012

Oh, and you guys with younger kids, it gets easier, I promise :) (especially if you are able to relinquish responsibility to your kids as they are able to handle it). A friend of mine has a website that is great. It promotes self-teaching. URtheMom.com.home if anyone is interested.

clearblue3 · Apr 21, 2012

Thanks for the encouragement and the website link!! And I wanted to pass on what I just read on another post...the advice was to find a place to study away from home! It is difficult (especially when having pretty little ones) to study while they are home hanging out with dad. too many distractions! If you have a local coffee shop etc. take full advantage! We live out in the country so it is difficult to drive into town much, but when I have, my studying is so much more efficient because i really go at it for those 2-3 hours instead of being distracted by my kids, things to do around the house, my fridge full of food (hey, I am pregnant so that is a big distraction for me lol) etc. And yes, as much as I love the preschool/kiindergarten years I think it will get much easier when they can "read to learn." :-) Best of luck and keep me posted on how everything goes :-)

Melseal · Apr 21, 2012

Hi!I didn't homeschool while I was in nursing school but I have over the past few years while taking a ton of sciences classes to get into grad school. Your kids are a little older so you might have better luck getting them to be super independent for next year. Or you might already have them be super independent now! Having my kids do their work mostly on their own unless they had questions was huge for me, I could study while they did. Otherwise, it was a lot of lost sleep-studying when everyone was asleep. if you are able to organize their schooling into a few hours a day, or less if you include the weekend, holidays, and summer, then you will be in awesome shape. Have you considered getting a leg up this summer and starting the next school year without a break inbetween? You could have them well in their curriculum, and far into the school year by the time you start, and when you need to do less a day with them, they will be ahead anyway and it will be okay. Who will be watching them while you are in class? Are they able to do some of the schooling? something easier like reading or workbooks? Or arts and crafts, music, etc? Are they good at math and can do that while they watch? I have no idea what your schedule will be like, but it will be doable.I am looking at homeschooling and going to grad school-although their dad will help with the housework and the schooling.Good luck and nice to meet you!

I reallllllly need a break, lol. My hubby is a farmer and is in and out of the house all day. He comes home for lunch and can answer specific questions they might have (though he is clueless about their schooling or what they should even be doing, he can answer math problems, though) They are more than able to stay home alone. They have school and chores and they are pretty good at getting everything done. Math is the most difficult, but they usually only have one or two questions per day. Next semester I should be home by 1 on my school days, anyway.

Melseal · Apr 21, 2012

Thanks for the encouragement and the website link!! And I wanted to pass on what I just read on another post...the advice was to find a place to study away from home! It is difficult (especially when having pretty little ones) to study while they are home hanging out with dad. too many distractions! If you have a local coffee shop etc. take full advantage! We live out in the country so it is difficult to drive into town much, but when I have, my studying is so much more efficient because i really go at it for those 2-3 hours instead of being distracted by my kids, things to do around the house, my fridge full of food (hey, I am pregnant so that is a big distraction for me lol) etc. And yes, as much as I love the preschool/kiindergarten years I think it will get much easier when they can "read to learn." :-) Best of luck and keep me posted on how everything goes :-)

My husband is great about getting them out of the house for me to study, I cannot study with distractions. He usually takes them places 2 nights a week, this semester it has worked out that both of those nights were the day before class days, which was fantastic.

Melseal · Apr 21, 2012

Reading back trying to be sure to answer everyone's questions.I am doing a two year program at cc. Very excited to have the opportunity since its really hard to get in, as most programs are, I'm sure.

Zoli757 · Apr 23, 2012

Holy moly!! No advice, just best wishes :) I was homeschooled and am so grateful for everything I got out of it. I am just finishing nursing school myself, and cannot imagine having kids, let alone trying to homeschool them while studying. My hat is off to you!