Matryoshka Posted October 25, 2012 Share Posted October 25, 2012 All 3 of my kids are in school for the first time ever, 2 in high school and 1 in middle school. This has got me thinking about "what next" for my life - I will need to work while they're in college, and when oldest is in high school (and probably till I drop dead, since I'm not seeing a cushy retirement option). I do not have the money or the time to go back to school for a master's or anything, but there are lots of certifications I could pursue. So, I've been pondering various things to do... right now, I'd prefer something that I didn't have to do after the kids are home (2pm), or on weekends or summers, so I was thinking maybe something in the school system. There is the additional wrench that the 6th grader is now making noises about wanting to come home (I told her we could think about it after Christmas break) - if she does, she may then stay home then through middle school, or if she gets in, she might try the math/science charter starting in 7th (next year). So... here are my various thoughts. - Substitute teaching. I can teach just about anything at this point, including at least two foreign languages. Requires nothing but a pulse, follows school hours. Doesn't pay much. - I've thought about getting a certification to teach reading. I used Reading Reflex/Phonographix, and they do offer an online certification program to teach their method, which is the one I'm most familiar with. Not sure if that's as marketable, though, as a better-known program like O-G or Spalding? And not sure what the job prospects would be? Maybe still hard to get an in-school job without master's? Tutoring would be after-school, not ideal? - Medical Interpreter. This is a new one. There's a place nearby that trains, a week-long intensive course, and then you have to pass the certification exam. I am fluent in Spanish, and less-importantly, German. I think the way it works is that if you get on the company's list they call to see if you're available when needed, and if not, go to the next person on the list - a bit like the substitute teaching, but not only within school hours. Do you think I could pull any of these off if youngest (almost 12yo) were home again? If I substitute taught, do you think they'd let me bring her to the school library (I think less likely to get into mischief there than at home?), or do you think she'd be fine at home if it were not that often? Do you think any of these are doable at all if she's at home again, or should I table it till she goes off for good? Anyone have experience with those jobs that require certification? I've also thought about Kitchen and Bath design (yes, I know that's completely different). I think that would have to wait till after the kids were all in college, though, as the retail hours would not be conducive to kids at home... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dangermom Posted October 25, 2012 Share Posted October 25, 2012 Do you have a teaching credential? I can't tell. If you do (or maybe even if you don't), you might look into working for a tutoring service. My SIL does this --earns about $20/hr and makes appointments with student clients at mutual convenience. For some she goes to their houses and for others she has skype-like software for working from home. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m0mmaBuck Posted October 25, 2012 Share Posted October 25, 2012 I can tell you that what I have learned from the medical interpreters that I have worked with is that their schedules can be very hectic. They want to be available in order to keep their jobs with the company so that may mean going to a doctor's appointment in one city, driving 40 miles for a therapy appointment in another city, and so on. Depending on the company they work for, they may or may not get paid for mileage and drive time. One interpreter told me that her company covers all of the workers' comp cases for XXX county which means that even when her clients go to a specialist 3 counties away, she has to make the drive. It seems to be a very fulfilling career choice but it might be hard to work yourself toward the top of the call list (people who take more assignments get the first calls in her company) unless you are readily available. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MIch elle Posted October 25, 2012 Share Posted October 25, 2012 I do not think the school would allow your dd to be in the school library while you sub. I substitute teach but both my boys are in school. I took the tests for a science license, gr. 5-8, but teaching jobs are VERY hard to come by these days. I didn't even try to get a full time teaching job. Substitute teaching is working for me right now. Look on School Spring for teaching jobs in your area. See if there is demand for reading specialists. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bettyandbob Posted October 25, 2012 Share Posted October 25, 2012 I also doubt you could bring your 12 yo to school when you sub. Could you work in a preschool? Usually these are morning hours and usually the schedule of preschools follows that of the local school district (so that the schedule matches that of older siblings). Another option is early shift daycare (6 am to noon) Your hours are very specific and while some people may be to adjust a job to those hours, usually that is done after you've worked some where. If you have a teaching license or can easily renew one you might consider working for an online education provider like K12. Kitchen/bath designer would require evenings weekends usually. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
regentrude Posted October 25, 2012 Share Posted October 25, 2012 I work part time, 25-30 hours per week, 18-20 of those outside the home. I teach at a university. I started homeschooling when my kids were in 6th/5th grade. It works very well. My kids are used to working independently; my son has been able to stay home on his own for a while now and will work on his school - the worst that ever happens is that he occasionally gets sucked into gaming during his lunch break, LOL. On the one long day when I have to be gone from 7:30 to 4, the kids used to come to work with me when they were younger and do their school here. Now DD only has a class that morning, so I take her home, and she will cook lunch for herself and her brother, so they don't have to come anymore. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
milovany Posted October 25, 2012 Share Posted October 25, 2012 If you want me to see if there are any schools near you that might use the service I was trained to provide (see my signature tag, I use this program), PM me the links of some of those schools. I can check it out. Even if they don't, if you're entrepreneurial at all, there's still a possibility you could work with them to get something going. I worked two years on campus locally, but for a year and a half now I've been working remote from home (most remote companies require some in-person work first before going remote). I Skype in to classrooms all over the country to do my work. Hours are typical school hours; mostly mornings with some afternoon opportunities. It pays pretty well. My husband does the homeschooling for the most part because he works swing shift and I work mornings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momto2Cs Posted October 25, 2012 Share Posted October 25, 2012 I too would recommend looking into tutoring. There are plenty of kids with reading issues, so I would think you'd have enough work as a reading specialist tutor. I work outside the home, 21-25 hours a week, as a secretary. I am very lucky in that my mom can watch the kids while I am at work! And right now my dh is unemployed, so he's actually the one currently watching the kids. I also do supplemental work at home as a reader for an English professor, working toward my goal of becoming a college English teacher myself. Dh also watches the kids while I go to classes twice a week for my MA. Homeschooling and working are doable. Part of it depends on how independent your children are, and how much support you have from others. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matryoshka Posted October 25, 2012 Author Share Posted October 25, 2012 I can tell you that what I have learned from the medical interpreters that I have worked with is that their schedules can be very hectic. They want to be available in order to keep their jobs with the company so that may mean going to a doctor's appointment in one city, driving 40 miles for a therapy appointment in another city, and so on. Depending on the company they work for, they may or may not get paid for mileage and drive time. One interpreter told me that her company covers all of the workers' comp cases for XXX county which means that even when her clients go to a specialist 3 counties away, she has to make the drive. It seems to be a very fulfilling career choice but it might be hard to work yourself toward the top of the call list (people who take more assignments get the first calls in her company) unless you are readily available. Thanks, that's helpful. I need to talk more with the person I met whose company does this and find out how far the driving typically is. I live in a very densely populated area with a large number of hospitals, so maybe it wouldn't be that bad? I'll definitely ask about compensation for gas/car - with gas prices these days, that's huge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matryoshka Posted October 25, 2012 Author Share Posted October 25, 2012 Answering some of the other questions in a bunch... I do not have a teaching credential, which keeps me from full-time classroom teaching in a ps, but I don't think that's what I'd want to do anyway. I think substitute teaching, as long as I can figure out how to keep some semblance of order in the classroom, might be more up my alley anyway. I like variety, and I don't want a job that comes home with me (like lesson planning, correcting papers). The liking variety also means I think it would actually be nice to have a couple of different part time jobs rather than one full-time (in the long-run, after kids are gone). I'd just like to lay some groundwork now, and see what I should/could do first now, while my time is more limited. I don't think I'd like daycare. I think the next little kids I want to take care of are my far-off future grandkids. :tongue_smilie: I'm an extrovert, and I'd like something where I'm out with people. Working from home is not for me. I do think I might like tutoring, but that's probably also evenings. If I can somehow make a name for myself, though, that's something I've considered, especially long-term. Look on School Spring for teaching jobs in your area. See if there is demand for reading specialists. What is School Spring? Is that a website? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m0mmaBuck Posted October 25, 2012 Share Posted October 25, 2012 Thanks, that's helpful. I need to talk more with the person I met whose company does this and find out how far the driving typically is. I live in a very densely populated area with a large number of hospitals, so maybe it wouldn't be that bad? I'll definitely ask about compensation for gas/car - with gas prices these days, that's huge. You may find that your driving would be less. I would definitely talk with some in your area. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dangermom Posted October 25, 2012 Share Posted October 25, 2012 I do think I might like tutoring, but that's probably also evenings. If I can somehow make a name for myself, though, that's something I've considered, especially long-term. If you tutor homeschoolers (usually charter school homeschoolers), it's during the day! Even regular high school students are usually in the afternoon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matryoshka Posted October 25, 2012 Author Share Posted October 25, 2012 If you tutor homeschoolers (usually charter school homeschoolers), it's during the day! Even regular high school students are usually in the afternoon. We don't have charter school homeschoolers in this state... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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