Do Home-ed groups need/want occasional specialist teachers?

[RainbowsFriend]

Just looking at career options as I would prefer to spend more time with my DD, and supply is now non-existent due to cheaper cover teachers.

I am only looking for a couple of days work a month, and can travel. I am a science teacher.

Am I likely to find work, and how would I contact home edders? I move in fairly "crunchy" circles anyway, as I AP and babywear, but all the home ed families I know have only primary age children, and are not really part of any networks...

[lisad123]

I know some home ed groups use tutors, especially if the tutor is willing to be shared. Maybe also look at tutoring.

[RainbowsFriend]

Thanks. Yes it was group teaching I was thinking of. Tutoring tends to be evening work, and DD gets upset if I leave her in the evenings at the minute. Of course everything is subject to change with children though!

[chasteroidbelt]

We HE and are looking for a science tutor. Where are you based?

[RainbowsFriend]

Gloucestershire/Bristol :)

[julienoshoes]

No not in my experience.

I am sorry to be so blunt, you sound lovely, but I run two home ed email support lists, admin on many local FB HE pages and own the website of one local group.

I have so very many people writing to us on these pages, offering their services, I usually don't even bother replying-yes that many!

I identify with your desire to spend more time with your children-but in my experience even the HE families who do want to use a tutor, use ones who come personally recommended.

IME The Gloucs group are very well organised without using tutors at all.

Sorry

[chasteroidbelt]

Oh too far from us. Sorry.
I think the sort of home educating parent who might like your services as a science tutor are the ones who don't feel the need to use real life group or online group support.
My child really enjoys having his very own private, one to one tutors.
Personal recommendation has to start somewhere.

[RainbowsFriend]

Thanks for the replies - food for thought

[tiggy114]

I think that instead of turoring, you could hire a room and offer practical science workshops. Things like working with test tubes, chemicals etc. Is difficult at home so i would def go to an organised workshop to do these. Don't discount primary age either. My son is 9 and is very into elements and gravity at the moment. Maybe hire a science room in a private school on a saturday for a workshop. Sounds exciting.

[exoticfruits]

All tutors have to start somewhere-they can only get personal recommendation after they have been going a while.
Could you not start in your own home in the evening? When I had a tutor for French for my DS it was a teacher with young DCs and I drove him to her house for an hour at about 7.30pm.
I wouldn't discount primary and the suggestion of hiring a hall is a good one and running a practical workshop-the disadvantage might be equipment. If you started on a Saturday you might get some HEers in addition and be able to take it from there. I would say that money was a problem with HEers-they obviously self support and keep the costs down.
Much the easiest way is to tutor just a few in the evenings in your house, without a lot of equipment, and you can charge a lot. You would soon get word of mouth.

[homemumboys]

I would say some home eders and some home ed groups do require tutors, either for more formal regular tuition or workshops perhaps less frequently as Tiggy says.

I dont think anyone on here can speak for the hundreds or thousands of home eders in any area, but you will find it difficult to make contact with large number of home educators in any kind of mail shot or advertising type of way. Word of mouth will work best and business would slowly build up.

I would add that the needs of home educated children in a classroom are usually very different to those of schooled children and you may need to understand more about this before you could offer something suitable. Also the parents' objectives for the session will often be very different to the purpose or objective of a school lesson.

We have actually had a home ed science workshop a few years ago provided by a mature student secondary science teacher, and it was very popular with the children. We are not that far away from you and would always be interested to hear of opportunities that might benefit the children, so there is really no harm in you trying.

[morethanpotatoprints]

I know there will come a time when we are looking for a science tutor as its neither mine nor dhs area, we are Arts & humanities.
I am not in your area neither, but agree with others that say personal recommendation has to begin somewhere.
I think that because you have dcs you will maybe fair better as many believe parents to be more patient.
If I were you I would start a general self employed business as a tutor, gain experience, contacts and recommendations and if you gain work during the day this is good irrespective of whether they are dc or adult.
You could try aiming at those who need say a GCSE or A level to gain admission to college/uni courses. For e.g I know for ITT Primary/Secondary you need Science. They are also more likely to have time during the day.
Good luck, I hope it works out for you.

[BitofSparklingPerry]

DD1 (5yo) would love a science workshop. We have no shortage of equipment here, and two very good science museums in Newcastle, but it is the "thing" of going to science club that would appeal to her, as she thinks that scientists are very cool.

She goes to an art club run by REAL ARTISTS (!) and loves it, despite us having more than enough art materials and skills in the house and her going to various clubs that include craft.