Experienced home school mamas of many...can you advise?

[wbg]

I have a very active, into everything 1 yr old as well as a 1st, 3rd and 4th grader.

I would love to home school them., but I can not seem to work out how I would manage logistically. How do you do it? I struggle just to help each one with home work! They have very different levels of understanding and processing.

How do you give each one their lessons?

I do not have any form of home help and DH wks pretty long hours.

Advice/ suggestions/ words of wisdom greatly appreciated! TIA!

[Momma Aimee]

subbing

no advice, but always looking for more tips myself.

?? Does the 1 yo nap alone (or do you have to nap too) and what about bedtime?

[jessicaSAR]

I am right there with you. I am trying to do 3rd grade and Kindy with an 18 month DS right in the middle of everything. I am always open to new ideas. We just started this week, and the first day was great, but DH was not working so he took my little one. The second day was a disaster. DS was into everything. Today was a little better, but I am not sure why.

Here's what is currently helping. I have all the independent assignments (this is mostly for the third grader, my 5yo has mostly fun learning games) organized into workboxes. I also have a subscription to the Simply Charlotte Mason Organizer, and with that I print off a check list of all the day's assignments. So, the two older children have plenty that they can do independently, and they know what needs to be done.

The trick has been finding the time and space to do the lessons that I actually need to teach. For us, that is spelling, Latin, sometimes Math, many of the subject readings (history, geography, literature), science experiments and phonics for the 5yo.

If you have both a 3rd and 4th grader, then one of them could play with the little one while you work one on one with the other children. My 3rd grader is great at this. We also do some of those subjects during naptime. If we start right after breakfast, I can usually get an extra 20 minutes for DS in the high chair, which allows me to tackle at least one subject. We also do some readings at lunch when DS is in the high chair and has his mouth full, lol.

But, when DS is awake and running around it can be crazy. He wants to be doing what we are doing, and is into everything. I have heard lots of suggestions for occupying preschoolers that might work for a 2 1/2 to 4 yo, but honestly, I think we are just stuck with this craziness for the next year. I am trying very hard to breathe deeply and use this as a opportunity to teach my older children the importance of flexibility.

[Callimom]

I have 4 kids - 11, 8, 8 and 6. My oldest is academically gifted and fairly advanced. I also have one kid who is dyslexic, one who can read but lacks confidence to do it independently and one learning to read. We've been homeschooling about 5 years now.

We do table time in the mornings which consists of skill learning - so math, grammar, reading, spelling, printing/copywork and latin for my oldest.
We start with math and I go from kid to kid helping and explaining. AS they finish their math, they move on to things they can do independently (phonics, copywork, printing etc) while I do reading one on one with the younger 3. My oldest is good about answering the younger one's questions while I am doing reading. Once they have finished their work they can go and play if I am not finished. When I am done do reading I check in with my oldest, go over any challenges he has had, check the stuff the other kids have done and do the same.

We are child led for learning about content areas (ie history, science, geography etc). We tend to do a lot of field trips and hands on learning. Our read aloud time after lunch is mostly non-fiction on whatever topics are of current interest, or whatever we are going to be doing that week. (So for example we went to see an exhibit on genetics/DNA today so that was the topic of yesterday's read alouds). We watch dvds on our current topic after dinner together, and/or will do hands on activities (ie a genetics activity or extracting DNA) after dinner with my husband.

My younger 3 have science and history journals and part of the morning table time is working on those when things come up. So tomorrow they might find a print out on DNA or a flyer from the exhibit we saw to glue into their journals.

That's how it works here.
hth
Karen

[wendybird]

Hi, I can share a little of what works for me, although I am definitely still figuring things out too. My children are around 6th,5th,4th,2nd,and kindy, with a 2 year old and 4 month old. For starters we use a multi level program for everything but math. They learn what their individual minds can take in from the info given, sometimes we give more than they can fully grasp but I look at it as laying a foundation for when they can truly grasp it. Doing things as a group also allows them to have questions asked by a sibling that they may not have thought of. I always have a snack available while we do sit down learning, and I give my 2 year old a snack of her own at the small table in the adjacent room. She then feels special, but isn't grabbing everyone’s stuff .I also pull out the littlest pet shop toys only when we are sitting down...she loves them enough to play independently for a good stretch. Granted she is climbing on me sometimes, or coloring with us at the table but we really aren't trying to distance her, just maximize what we can get done while she is preoccupied. The baby is always in my arms. For math we all start at the same time , but I have everyone sit in different areas as my oldest wants to help everyone else and not do her work. That is the only time I have to feel like a one room schoolteacher, moving from student to student. The rest of the time is alot more fun. Also, we have binders for each child in each subject. They enjoy getting to decorate them, I can keep their papers in order, and we like to look them over each year to see how far we have come. I do not allow anyone to demean anything we are doing, so no ,"This is baby stuff." My 11 yo still colors with us, if we watch any movies we do it together. Honestly...we really like what we do and the togetherness is what makes it work. I hope something in that helps.We are really flexible and that is probably the second biggest thing that allows us to do this.

[scheelimama]

I have a 22 month old that is wreaking havoc constantly and I'm about to loose my mind. Um...I'm not exactly sure how you are suppose to do it. I've been trying, but this week has been a dismal failure. I'm ready to give the toddler away.

And for those that say to have special school time activities for them that they only get at that time, well...it doesn't work. It only works for a few minutes. School takes longer than 5 minutes. There's only so many ways to distract a toddler.

I think we'll mostly be doing school during naptime, but that means we won't be doing too much in the way of "extras" this year, since that's when we did them before. We'll be lucky to get in the 3 R's every day.

[wbg]

Okay, first off thanks so much for taking the time to post. Nap times are a little inconsistent to say the least! So I think I would struggle to schedule around naps! Can I ask what you meant by a multi-level system? Oh yikes....gotta go sort out the chaos will have to continue this later...

[wendybird]

By multi level I mean that we are all learning off the same material(I am definately including myself in the learning too ) . We use God's Design for Science and all read the same material. Then the youngest just write the words to know in a journal, the older ones write the words to know plus define them, and the oldest writes the words to know, defines them, and summarizes the lesson. We all color any worksheets, do any experiments, or go online to look up any cool relevant links. For history we do Story of the World and read together, do mapwork, look at the globe, do any activities together, again with the older ones doing more work as they are able. I tried to use KONOS for awhile but it really wasn't my style(too much prepwork for one) but it did get me liking the "everyone gets on the same bus, gets off at a different stop" approach. We have been multi level for 3 years now and I really don't know that I could do it another way and stay happy.

[Momma Aimee]

Originally Posted by wendybird

By multi level I mean that we are all learning off the same material(I am definately including myself in the learning too ) . We use God's Design for Science and all read the same material. Then the youngest just write the words to know in a journal, the older ones write the words to know plus define them, and the oldest writes the words to know, defines them, and summarizes the lesson. We all color any worksheets, do any experiments, or go online to look up any cool relevant links. For history we do Story of the World and read together, do mapwork, look at the globe, do any activities together, again with the older ones doing more work as they are able. I tried to use KONOS for awhile but it really wasn't my style(too much prepwork for one) but it did get me liking the "everyone gets on the same bus, gets off at a different stop" approach. We have been multi level for 3 years now and I really don't know that I could do it another way and stay happy.

i'd love to read more about that.

That is what i want to do with my two since they are so close (and the older has some SN too) ... does the curr specfically set it up that way .. or are you ad-libing? Are there suggestions for the differnt "levels" or are you establishing your own "differnt work" for the diffent kids?

any thing you can sugget reading?

Aimee

[scheelimama]

Originally Posted by Momma Aimee

i'd love to read more about that.

That is what i want to do with my two since they are so close (and the older has some SN too) ... does the curr specfically set it up that way .. or are you ad-libing? Are there suggestions for the differnt "levels" or are you establishing your own "differnt work" for the diffent kids?

any thing you can sugget reading?

Aimee

There are many curriculums set up to work that way. IMO, for young children, FIAR would work well across different preschool/elementary age children. Sonlight lends itself to being used for multiple ages, but really not spanning more than 2-3 years different, so wouldn't work as well as Wendybird's set up does. Konos looks pretty neat, and is very multi-age, from K-12, I believe. However, it does look pretty parent-labor intense, and you also need a good library, which I do not have here. I'm sure there are more. Those are some of the ones I know of.

[Brisen]

My toddler is (mostly) pretty laid back and easy to distract, so that helps. We set aside the morning for school time, and we don't do much that involves stuff he could get into. I read to all of the kids together at the beginning of school time -- things like Aesop fables and children's poetry and books from the Ambleside Online reading list (http://www.amblesideonline.org/, it's a Charlotte Mason resource). Then, the kids go on to their separate things (or do things like games together). If one kid needs my attention, the toddler is usually happy to go bug someone else for a while, and the kids know that they all get their turn, so usually they manage to wait.

The older kids sometimes go to a small playroom off of our living room. I find having the kids visible helps, so something like a baby gate might help (if your toddler isn't a crazy climber). There is also a big table in there but no chairs for it, so for a board game they can generally all crowd on top or stand around it and the toddler can't get up on the table.

We like A Thomas Jefferson Education (www.tjed.org is a good resource). It isn't a curriculum, more of a homeschooling philosophy, and it has helpful ideas for teaching a range of ages together.

[annettemarie]

Your situation sounds a bit like mine! I have a fifth and third grader, a kindergartener, and a toddler wandering about.

What works for me:
Workboxes for kindergartener
Workfiles for the third (like workboxes, but in file folders)
Assignment book for the fifth

They work independently and I have a half-hour main lesson with each of them. Sometimes it's longer, sometimes shorter.

My toddler also has three "surprise boxes," kind of like workboxes but much less formal.

We start at 8:30 and do devotions/Bible study together. Then the older two get started on the work while I do circle and a main lesson with my kindergartener.

He gets started on his workboxes and I do a main lesson with third grader.

We take a little break, have a snack, look at some art or listen to some music or go for a walk. By now it's about 10ish.

Then I have my oldest's main lesson. The toddler often piggybacks on what the kindergartener is doing (bristle blocks, floor puzzles, etc-- my idea of kindy is fairly non-academic). My third grader is working through her files.

When I'm done with my oldest, the older two finish up. If my kindy has anymore workboxes, he finishes them. I try to do a little something with the toddler-- read a story, sing song, etc. It's usually about 11.

Then the kids have an hour to play or do chores. We eat lunch at noon and they all have after-lunch jobs. I do any dinner prep and clean up the kitchen. They help or clean up from the morning.

Around 12:30 we have read aloud.

In the afternoon, we all do Story of the World and science together. We might do a little fun something (art or cooking or video or trip) as well. We're usually done by 2:30.

They go to the public school for orchestra. I'm not sure what time that will be, but we'll rearrange our afternoons to accommodate it.

[Momma Aimee]

Originally Posted by annettemarie

Your situation sounds a bit like mine! I have a fifth and third grader, a kindergartener, and a toddler wandering about.

What works for me:
Workboxes for kindergartener
Workfiles for the third (like workboxes, but in file folders)
Assignment book for the fifth

They work independently and I have a half-hour main lesson with each of them. Sometimes it's longer, sometimes shorter.

My toddler also has three "surprise boxes," kind of like workboxes but much less formal.

We start at 8:30 and do devotions/Bible study together. Then the older two get started on the work while I do circle and a main lesson with my kindergartener.

He gets started on his workboxes and I do a main lesson with third grader.

We take a little break, have a snack, look at some art or listen to some music or go for a walk. By now it's about 10ish.

Then I have my oldest's main lesson. The toddler often piggybacks on what the kindergartener is doing (bristle blocks, floor puzzles, etc-- my idea of kindy is fairly non-academic). My third grader is working through her files.

When I'm done with my oldest, the older two finish up. If my kindy has anymore workboxes, he finishes them. I try to do a little something with the toddler-- read a story, sing song, etc. It's usually about 11.

Then the kids have an hour to play or do chores. We eat lunch at noon and they all have after-lunch jobs. I do any dinner prep and clean up the kitchen. They help or clean up from the morning.

Around 12:30 we have read aloud.

In the afternoon, we all do Story of the World and science together. We might do a little fun something (art or cooking or video or trip) as well. We're usually done by 2:30.

They go to the public school for orchestra. I'm not sure what time that will be, but we'll rearrange our afternoons to accommodate it.

you are my hero

[kittywitty]

Like Annettemarie, I also have started using workboxes if anything to give them something to keep them busy so I can work one on one with another kid! Plus using materials they can all enjoy like Ambleside's reading lists and combine science/history with modifications for older/younger works well.

[annettemarie]

Originally Posted by Momma Aimee

you are my hero

Well, we've only gotten through it for a week. Check with me in December.

On paper, it looks crazy chaotic. But really, there is downtime (at least for the kids, and they need it more than me!) and this week was a lot of fun. I'm thinking of switching my oldest to workfiles as well, although he seems to think it would be too babyish. I like the structure built in, although I don't do it exactly as it is in the book.

Last year, my oldest two did assignment sheets, but I really find that the workboxes just have this extra organization that the kids thrive on.

My two biggest struggles have been trying to think of doing housework while we're doing school--with 4 kids, all fairly young, I just need to focus on schooling them. Maybe when they're older I can get stuff done at the same time-- and keeping up with the planning, paperwork, etc. I'll confess that in past years I've been lazy. Papers go unchecked, I save all my paperwork for the state until June and then pretty much make things up. I've really had to give up the idea that I'm done at 2:30 along with the kids. It takes me an additional hour each night to check work, fill boxes and files, get ready for the next day. And then I spend a couple hours on the weekend planning.

Kittywitty, I enjoy the Ambleside list as well. My older two are always working through a book I assign as well as pursuing their own reading interests, and I've collected a bunch of the Ambleside-recommended books.

[hotmamacita]

Originally Posted by wbg

I have a very active, into everything 1 yr old as well as a 1st, 3rd and 4th grader.

I would love to home school them., but I can not seem to work out how I would manage logistically. How do you do it? I struggle just to help each one with home work! They have very different levels of understanding and processing.

How do you give each one their lessons?

I do not have any form of home help and DH wks pretty long hours.

Advice/ suggestions/ words of wisdom greatly appreciated! TIA!

I have 1st, 3rd and 5th. I do not have home help either or family nearby either and I am on my own a lot as well.

It really depends on which approach you use. Have you looked into the different methods? Are you drawn to a certain approach? Why do you desire to home educate you children?

[darcytrue]

Since your children are so close in age then unit studies/lapbooking might be a good fit so you can teach them all at once from the same material.

http://www.unitstudy.com/
http://www.handsofachild.com/shop/

Do you plan to join a HS group or co-op? That's a good way to get each child involved in doing a class that they are most interested in.

[wbg]

Thank you so much wise mamas. I am so sorry that I have not been on to check my thread. Have had the most intense few months! Still in the thick of it, but starting to see some calmness and hope i will begin our homeschool journey in September. So much info. i have not had time to digest, but once I get thru the next couple of months, I am determined to get into it. I know I will have so many more questions. But I just had to drop in and say thank you for the great advice and support. I am going to try and sit down and respond to individual posts in the near future. You guys are awesome. Thanks you....

[Awaken]

Originally Posted by scheelimama

I have a 22 month old that is wreaking havoc constantly and I'm about to loose my mind. Um...I'm not exactly sure how you are suppose to do it. I've been trying, but this week has been a dismal failure. I'm ready to give the toddler away.

And for those that say to have special school time activities for them that they only get at that time, well...it doesn't work. It only works for a few minutes. School takes longer than 5 minutes. There's only so many ways to distract a toddler.

I think we'll mostly be doing school during naptime, but that means we won't be doing too much in the way of "extras" this year, since that's when we did them before. We'll be lucky to get in the 3 R's every day.

: