Do You Homeschool And Run A Home Daycare?

[shelby]

How many of you homeschool your older children and run a home daycare? What are some helpful hints for a parent that is considering this. I have two girls one will be in the 6th grade and other in the 10th. I have taken care a one or two little ones and homeschooled before, but if I do this again, I will be adding more kiddos so, I am just wondering your secrets of being successful in both.

[cheerfuldom]

I know there are a few moms here that do both. I think you would have more success considering your kids are older and more independent. Hope you get some good ideas!

[AmyLeigh]

I was going to reply then I saw your question of how to do both successfully.
But seriously, I have an 8 yo, 5 yo, and 3 yo. I work with the 5 yo on math before the dck's arrive, we read his literature/history during lunch, do science experiments and art projects with the dck's. I work one on one with the 8yo in subjects she needs help with during quiet time. I have her do her independent work in the morning when I am working with her brother.
Sue Patrick's workboxes help teach the students to be more independent in going through their daily lessons. If you do a search on them, you will find that there are all kinds of styles people have adapted to their families' needs. Of course, your personal hs'ing style will have a lot to do with how you integrate it into doing daycare. I would work daycare around homeschooling and use what your hs'ing style is to adapt to your daycare. More structured school: more structured daycare. Relaxed schooling/unschooling: relaxed daycare.

[Countrygal]

My dgs is only going into 1st grade, but when I homeschooled my own children and did daycare, the biggest help to me was to use Unit Studies. You can incorporate everyone from toddler up to high school into a Unit Study. AND the retention level is AMAZING for the amount of actual study time! Everyone loves a unit study.

So I guess my whole recommendation is to not to do both separately, but to incorporate them together in a unit study. The dck will pick up a lot and the older kids will have fun learning and helping the toddlers! The subjects that have to be taught separately, such as math, I would do after hours or during nap time. I would give the overview and assignment, go over the last lesson, answer any questions, and let them do the work on their own. At least you are always available for questions or to help work out a problem!