Though parents may choose to homeschool their children for a variety of reasons and tons of its benefits. But like other aspects of life, homeschooling also comes with a set of challenges.
The highlighted one is the lack of time available from parents and less academician approach.
In this situation, they often asked about is it legal to hire someone to homeschool their kid, and if a retired teacher for homeschooling is the best option without breaking the bank?
Hiring a Teacher
Parents reach out to teachers because for many reasons. Sometimes it’s about finding someone to help with a specific academic subject, such as math or science. In other cases, it might be about finding someone who can teach all subjects or even just act as a tutor. Or just maybe they have more home and work commitments than they can handle, and they need someone to take over the homeschooling duties for a while.
Regardless of what the reasons are, the bottom line is that parents want to find the best possible education for their children, even if that means hiring a teacher.
But you don’t need to worry anymore, after experiencing a lot of difficulties in hiring the right retired teacher for homeschooling kids, I can now finally help you with some tips!
Can someone else homeschool my child?
First and foremost, make it clear that homeschooling is about taking the responsibilities on your shoulder (as a parent) to homeschool your kids, educate them according to your chosen curriculum, and track their progress.
It is not about hiring a tutor or retired teacher for teaching your children at home for a couple of hours a week. This type of approach would be more like supplementing their education rather than homeschooling them.
With that said, there are no state or federal laws in the US that prevent you from hiring someone to homeschool your children. However, the laws on homeschooling do vary from state to state, so it’s important to check with your local authorities to see what is required of you.
But it doesn’t means, hiring a retired teacher for homeschooling, or delegating the task to other guardians, homeschool co-ops, or online programs, isn’t legal. You’re permitted to do whatever you feel is best for your children, but the responsibility should be your task.
Benefits of Hiring a Retired Teacher
It’s important to know the value before you hire a retired teacher for homeschooling your kids. Whether you hire a physical or online tutor or enroll in online programs for homeschooling. You should be aware of the values you’re getting by spending some dollars.
Teachers and professionals have to offer many things to your child:
One-on-one attention
The first and most benefit of hiring a teacher is that your child will get one-on-one attention. This is especially beneficial for children who struggle in school or have learning disabilities. With a teacher, they can receive the individualized attention they need to improve their grades and succeed academically.
More than just academics
A good teacher will do more than just teach academics. They will also help to instill values, manners, and social skills in your child. This is especially important for younger children who are still learning how to interact with others.
A different perspective
Sometimes all a child needs is a different perspective from someone other than their parent. A teacher can offer this to them. They can help to explain things in a different way or offer a new perspective on a topic that your child might be struggling with.
More time for you
Hiring a teacher can also free up some of your time. If you are working full-time or have other commitments, it can be difficult to find the time to homeschool your child. With a teacher, you can have more time to focus on your other responsibilities while still ensuring that your child is getting a good education.
Source of social interaction for your kid
A homeschooled kid may don’t have too many friends and they often suck in social skills when they get less social interaction.
A teacher can help to fill this void by providing them with social interaction and being their best friends. This is especially important for introverted children who might have a hard time making friends on their own.
Check Out a Guide: Are Homeschoolers Socially Awkward?
How to Hire a Retired Teacher for homeschooling
Hiring such teachers who are done with their professional teaching job in schools or colleges, is a great way to get academic help for your homeschooled kid. But the question is where to find these types of teachers? Well, I got some easy ways for you;
1) Hire Someone Online – This is what I personally recommend. Hiring a retired teacher for homeschooling online is the best and most cost-effective way to go. Not only will you have a larger pool of teachers to choose from, but you’ll also save on transportation costs and time.
There are a few reputable online tutoring platforms that connect students with qualified teachers from all over the world. Like Teach Away, this platform is best for both parents and teachers to get connect with each other. But I do also prefer hiring retired teachers from Upwork, the starting cost is $10/ hour to $200 per hour (based on teachers’ location, and expertise).
2) Personal recommendations – Ask around in your homeschooling community or online forums for recommendations of retired teachers who might be willing to take on homeschooling students.
3) Teacher placement agencies – There are agencies that specialize in placing teachers in homeschooling situations. These agencies usually have a database of retired teachers who are available to work with homeschooled students.
4) Online directories – There are also online directories of retired teachers who are willing to work with homeschooled students. These directories typically include the contact information for the teacher as well as a short description of their qualifications.
When you’ve finally found a Potential Candidate, here are the key qualities to look for,
1) A love for teaching – The most important quality you should look for in a retired teacher is a passion for teaching. This is the kind of person who will be able to engage your child in learning and make it an enjoyable experience.
2) Patience and flexibility – Homeschooling can be challenging at times, so it’s important to find a retired teacher who is patient and flexible. They should be able to adapt to your child’s learning style and pace of learning.
3) Good communication skills – Effective communication is one of the key determinations here. They should be able to explain concepts in a way that is easy to understand and be available to answer any questions you or your child may have.
4) Organized and prepared – A good retired teacher will be organized and prepared for each homeschooling session. They should have a lesson plan and materials ready to go so that each session is productive and efficient.
5) Creative and resourceful – Look for someone who is creative and resourceful in his teaching. They should be able to come up with interesting and engaging activities that will keep your child’s attention.
6) Knowledgeable and experienced – A good retired teacher will have a wealth of knowledge and experience to share with your child. They should be able to answer any questions you or your child may have and help them to understand the material.
You might be wondering, how to figure out these specialties?
Well, this is easy peasy. Just ask them for a week of testing or a demo class. This will help you get an insight into their teaching styles, creativity, knowledge, etc. And I highly prefer checking the reviews and check there what people have experienced from them! Do they have these characteristics! (reviews can say much)
Becoming a Retired Homeschool Tutor Isn’t Difficult
For the retired teachers who’re curious to start their passion/career in educating homeschoolers, I have news for you: It isn’t difficult to become a homeschool tutor.
Create your portfolio, and reach out to the parents in your area or online. You can use platforms like TutorCruncher and Wyzant to create a profile and start getting students.
Facebook and LinkedIn are the two best social platforms to get potential clients. Optimize your profile well, start posting related content, join some groups, help people for free, build relationships and reach out to their inboxes for demo classes. This is the best way to get students without spending any money on advertising.
There are many agencies that can help you get students, but they will charge a percentage of your earnings as their commission. You can try them if you want, but I recommend avoiding them because they eat up a big chunk of your earnings.
1) Upwork – This is a great platform for finding online teaching gigs. You can set your own rates and hours, and there are a variety of students to choose from.
2) Wyzant & 3) TutorCruncher – This platform allows you to set your own rates and hours, and you can search for students by location and subject matter.
P.S: You don’t need any teaching certification, but it will give you an edge if you’re certified.
Conclusion
That being said, can you hire a retired teacher for homeschooling?
Yes, you can hire a retired teacher for homeschooling your children! They are great tutors because they’re passionate about teaching, patient, flexible, and experienced. Just be sure to do your research, ask for referrals, or reach out online to find the best fit.
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Keira Addison is a mother pursuing homeschooling for her kids for decades. She loves sharing her experience and practical advice about homeschooling, which has made her a popular authority on the subject. As a professional author, Keira knows how to communicate clearly and effectively with her audience, making her an ideal source of information for anyone considering homeschooling their children.