Let’s start with the big question:
Can you really work full time and homeschool your kids?
The short answer is yes. The longer answer is yes—with flexibility, creativity, and a whole lot of grace. At Chalk & Ink Press, we believe in building a homeschool life that fits your family, not one that mimics a traditional classroom. If your heart is pulled toward homeschooling but your schedule looks full, you’re not alone—and you’re not out of options.
Plenty of families are homeschooling while working full time. Not perfectly, but purposefully. And that’s more than enough. Here’s how to make it work.
1. Rethink the School Day
One of the biggest shifts you’ll make as a working homeschool parent is letting go of the 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. schedule. You don’t need to recreate a traditional school day at home. You’re not a school—you’re a family. And families are flexible.
You can homeschool in the evenings after work. You can homeschool on weekends. You can homeschool early in the morning or during your lunch break. The key is this: learning doesn’t have to be tied to a clock.
In fact, many working homeschool families find that shorter, focused lessons—done consistently—are more effective than trying to “do school” for hours each day. And once you stop comparing your homeschool to public school hours, it’s easier to see the freedom you really have.
Some families do four-day school weeks, others stretch learning across seven days but in shorter spurts. Education is not a race, and it doesn’t have to follow anyone else’s rhythm but your own.
2. What Do You Do With the Kids While You Work?
This is the big hurdle—and one of the most commonly asked questions. The truth is, there’s no one answer. Most working homeschool parents use a patchwork of supports and systems that fit their unique lives.
Here are a few real-world strategies that make it possible:
Split-Shift Parenting
If you have a partner, can you stagger your hours? One parent handles mornings, the other handles evenings. This option allows both of you to stay fully employed while ensuring one adult is with the kids at all times.
Trusted Family or Friends
Sometimes grandparents or other relatives are willing to help during the day. Even a few hours can make a difference. A neighbor or family friend who’s home during the day may be open to a part-time caregiving role, especially if your kids are independent learners.
Drop-Off Co-ops or Programs
Look for homeschool enrichment programs or microschools in your area. Many offer one or two days a week of drop-off learning, which gives you uninterrupted work time and provides your children with social connection and hands-on projects.
Working From Home
If you work remotely, it’s possible to create a schedule with focused work blocks and educational activities your kids can do independently nearby. Early mornings might be for math and reading together. Mid-mornings can be independent activities or educational screen time. Afternoons can include quiet play, books, or self-directed projects. Evenings are ideal for wrapping up lessons and checking in.
In-Home Help
Hiring a babysitter, nanny, or even a responsible homeschool teen to supervise for a few hours each day can offer peace of mind while you focus on work. The helper doesn’t need to teach—just provide safe supervision and structure.
3. Choose a Curriculum That Works for Working Parents
Not all homeschool materials are created equal. When you’re balancing work, you need curriculum that is efficient, intuitive, and ideally, requires little prep. Look for options that are:
Open-and-go
Short and to the point
Easy to follow
Designed for independent learning (especially for older kids)
Flexible in pacing
You don’t need to teach every subject every day. One of the smartest strategies is block scheduling.
For example:
Monday/Wednesday/Friday: Math, reading, and writing
Tuesday/Thursday: Science, history, art, or a project-based subject
Saturday: Field trips, experiments, family games, documentaries, or nature walks
This approach gives you breathing room and allows for deeper focus.
Also, don’t be afraid to rotate subjects seasonally. Focus on science for six weeks, then switch to history. Your child won’t fall behind—in fact, they’ll probably remember more with fewer subjects at a time.
4. Learning Can Happen Anywhere, Anytime
When you remove the idea that learning must look a certain way, the whole world opens up.
You might do spelling over breakfast. Listen to audiobooks on the way to the grocery store. Watch a nature documentary while folding laundry. Bake a batch of muffins while talking about fractions. Not everything has to be done at a desk or in a workbook to count as school.
This is one of the biggest strengths of homeschooling while working—you start to see learning in the rhythm of real life. That’s not a compromise; it’s a gift.
And it shows your kids that education isn’t confined to a classroom. It’s part of everyday living.
5. Give Yourself—and Your Kids—Plenty of Grace
There will be days that go completely off-script. There will be weeks when work is overwhelming and school takes a backseat. That’s okay. Homeschooling while working full time isn’t about doing it all perfectly—it’s about choosing what matters most and letting the rest shift as needed.
Some days, dinner might be leftovers and your only lesson is a read-aloud before bed. Other days might be full of focus and flow. Both are part of the journey.
Give yourself the same patience and kindness you want to offer your children. You’re modeling resilience, flexibility, and dedication. That’s a powerful education in itself.
You’re Not Alone
At Chalk & Ink Press, we’re here to support families doing school their own way. Whether you’re working full time, part time, from home, or outside the home, there’s a way to make homeschooling work for you.
You don’t need a perfect plan—you just need a purpose, a flexible mindset, and the right tools. That’s what we’re building here.
Our resources are designed to make homeschooling easier, more meaningful, and more manageable—even when life is full. From independent activities to reflective journals and practical guides, everything we create is designed with real families in mind.
You’re doing something incredible—and we’re cheering for you.
