New BA in English Literature - Career Advice as a Single Parent of 4 with Complex Nee
- Thread starter oldcarnutfred
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@papadios it's not negativity, it's an honest opinion. If you can stay up and work once the kids are in bed, great, if you plonk them in front of a screen all day, great, but if not, then childcare is an option. The holidays aren't the fabulous holidays you speak of. It's a juggling act of working from home with your children 24-7.
and the birth of your baby enjoy your break with your kids you've time to think about you want to do later xxPotentially editing from home for the immediate future - v flexible, while keeping your hand in books and maybe opening up avenues to do book reviews for various audiences? You could get involved with local independent book store - volunteering but helping arrange events and getting children back in love with books - author visits, writing workshops etc. School teaching seems to be a huge lifestyle choice - great that you recognised this, but the right school may be supportive. Other options are: adult education, English as a second language support, prisons, etc?
Hello and well done! I taught English for a long time I loved it but actually gave it up to look after my son (asd) . Ironically teaching isn't great with families as you can't take time off during the school day and days can be long with meetings etc. Some schools are supportive of single parents but not all. If it's what you really want maybe start part time. Factor in child care. Tutoring or on line schools maybe better for you. Also consider adult education or evening classes if you have child care. Maybe a librarian? The one in my son's school is amazing running reading groups and supporting less able readers. Among many other activities. Good luck with it all. Xxxx
lovenotrules
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Before considering a career in teaching join the Facebook group Life after teaching- exit the classroom and thrive. If you choose to do it, do it with your eyes open.
fxsubscriber
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1000% agree with this!
faithpeace
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Congratulations! My degree is in English Lit, I studied it because I enjoyed it. I have never used it properly really - graduated at 21 and fell into working in property. Started studying residential property law via the CLC (the course is much like the OU). Qualified 2022 and now I'm a residential property conveyancer 
maybe take some vacation scheme/internship work in some different industries and see what appeals. Good luck
maybe take some vacation scheme/internship work in some different industries and see what appeals. Good luckWell done that’s amazing. To become a teacher you’ll need to do a PGCE which is a year of practical placements and then your two ECT years (Early Career Teacher).
I’m a single mum, did my training from my son being 18 months and he’s nearly 10 now. This is my fifth year teaching in primary. It’s absolutely doable but, especially in primary, the hours are not 9-3 as everyone presumes and I work evenings, weekends and holidays, although it’s getting less now 5 years in.
I love teaching and love the perks of having the holiday with my son, however he’s said to me on a number of occasions over the year that I spend more time with the children in my class that I do with him and that’s entirely true.
My boyfriend also can’t believe how much work we bring home and thinks I’m married to the job and it often feels like that. My mum and sister are secondary tho and bring little to no work home.
However teaching is a truly rewarding job and I love going in every day, never get up not wanting to go to work and have made some amazing relationships with children and parents throughout the years.
Good luck xx
I’m a single mum, did my training from my son being 18 months and he’s nearly 10 now. This is my fifth year teaching in primary. It’s absolutely doable but, especially in primary, the hours are not 9-3 as everyone presumes and I work evenings, weekends and holidays, although it’s getting less now 5 years in.
I love teaching and love the perks of having the holiday with my son, however he’s said to me on a number of occasions over the year that I spend more time with the children in my class that I do with him and that’s entirely true.
My boyfriend also can’t believe how much work we bring home and thinks I’m married to the job and it often feels like that. My mum and sister are secondary tho and bring little to no work home.
However teaching is a truly rewarding job and I love going in every day, never get up not wanting to go to work and have made some amazing relationships with children and parents throughout the years.
Good luck xx
@2459grace a very balanced view. I can’t imagine being a single mum to four children, some with needs and doing this job though!
Congratulations! I wouldn’t recommend English Teaching if you are a single parent. It leaves you feeling constantly exhausted, although I realise some schools are better than others. Also, although you get the holidays, it’s pretty inflexible for families. Plus very long days with loads of marking, which quickly becomes tedious. I enjoyed teaching more when I was single with no kids!
My degree is Humanities, centred on English.
I only have one child but no support system outside of the family. I'm teaching. My PGCE FE was done outside of work at the time and I teach part time.
Tutoring is also a fantastic option around kids, you can either work from home or from a tutoring centre.
My college is magnificent when it comes to childcare and, of course, the holidays all match up with my daughters so that's a huge bonus!
With Literature, any writing job is a good option. Publishing, Journalism, Law, Editing, Copywriting are all options. Mostly a degree in Lit qualifies you to read and write and analyse but my students also go into Speech and Language Therapy (extra training but a really rewarding job!).
And by the way, kudos to you. It sounds like you're already knocking it out of the park
I only have one child but no support system outside of the family. I'm teaching. My PGCE FE was done outside of work at the time and I teach part time.
Tutoring is also a fantastic option around kids, you can either work from home or from a tutoring centre.
My college is magnificent when it comes to childcare and, of course, the holidays all match up with my daughters so that's a huge bonus!
With Literature, any writing job is a good option. Publishing, Journalism, Law, Editing, Copywriting are all options. Mostly a degree in Lit qualifies you to read and write and analyse but my students also go into Speech and Language Therapy (extra training but a really rewarding job!).
And by the way, kudos to you. It sounds like you're already knocking it out of the park
I did my degree and was going to convert and go into teaching (as experience mainly for the post graduate in educational psychology I want to do). So I did some unqualified teaching and I really struggled. Like you, I have four kids and two have complex needs and one is on part time timetable of school and under camhs and two much younger children. I found I was spreading myself too thin in terms of pastoral, workload and emotional capacity. That's not a positive comment I know but I wanted to be honest.
I loved the kids but it was too much too soon in the sense of doing that all day and coming home to my kids and all their needs.
Congratulations to you xxx
I loved the kids but it was too much too soon in the sense of doing that all day and coming home to my kids and all their needs.
Congratulations to you xxx
Teaching is difficult. I’m a teacher but I teach music/drama so non core subjects. I have a young child (4) and I have ADHD myself. If you get the right school it’s manageable, I am alone with my daughter around 7 months of the year as my husband works overseas. As she’s going to school this time I have additional wraparound care to pay for which is at her school when my husband isn’t home. I rely on in laws for days during the holidays where I need to do extra work.
We don’t get the whole holidays off …. But if you’re careful with your planning and keep organised you can keep work in holiday times to a minimum. My school has a limited marking policy which makes life a lot easier. Training year is harder than qualified teaching, if you survive training then teaching js fine
We don’t get the whole holidays off …. But if you’re careful with your planning and keep organised you can keep work in holiday times to a minimum. My school has a limited marking policy which makes life a lot easier. Training year is harder than qualified teaching, if you survive training then teaching js fine