Beginning homeschooling with kids a year apart

[Grace and Granola]

My boys are 17 months apart, right now they are 3.5 and almost 5. According to our school district, my 5yo misses the cutoff, so would start K in 2011 and his brother would be one year behind him. However, I am positive my ds1 is ready for K work in most areas, and I want to get into gear with homeschooling...loosely speaking. So, I'm just wondering how you handle schooling when they are so close in age, but when they're this young, it really is a world of difference. I can see in the future being able to teach them virtually the same things, unless they have different aptitudes, which is fine. But part of me wonders, do I wait to get into reading and math until next year when ds2 is 4.5? or do I start ds1 now and let ds2 tag along as well as he is interested?

As of now, ds1 is a beginning reader. He can actually read a little bit, though not fluently. Of course, 3yo can't yet read, but he knows the letters and sounds. So do I start from the beginning of phonics and see if ds2 rolls with it? I know, he's only 3.5. I guess I don't want to just leave him behind just because of his age ....Or start from where ds1 is already and then start all over with ds2 when he's older? Or I could just do fun/play activities during this K year and start more lesson type work next year when they are 4.5 and 6. I guess the same questions would apply for math too. I can see being able to be more flexible with science/history learning to fit each of their needs.

Any BTDT advice?

[Savoir Faire]

Mine are 18 months apart. 4.5 and turning 6 in a few weeks.

I'd say that I typically teach the oldest one right now and if the younger one wants to follow in, great. If not, well, he gets what he gets out of it.

He has picked up just so much from having his older sister there... he is already learning to read a bit and his handwriting is really good for someone who should have another year of preschool left.

Just, right now, my advice is to KEEP IT FUN. It is so hard to do that...it can be so easy to do too much...but just have fun.

[caefi]

I have two that are 11mo apart. I've always tried to keep them on their own schedules. When the older DD was learning to read, I didn't work with the younger DD on reading. I thought it was important to keep them seperate, academically.

Well, the older DD would turn around and teach the younger DD what she had learned that day. So, I had a 4 and 5yo reading at the same time. urgh. lol

Lesson learned - teach each child as THEY are ready, but keep them in different grade levels for record purposes.

NOW, as 7th and 8th graders is it more important to the older DD that she has some things the younger DD does not do, yet. It's her badge of being older now. The younger doesn't care.

Do what works, until it stops working then re-evaluate and find what will work. IMO, your kids are far enough apart to keep them at different levels, yet do unit studies and some studies together. Keep the older ahead in math and reading levels. (like, in our house you don't read certain books until 7th grade, even if your capable.)

[pigpokey]

It just depends on the kids. Mine are 15.5 months apart and currently almost 5.5 and almost 6.75.

I started doing 100 EZ Lessons with both when they were older 3 and almost 5.

Sometimes they do the same work and sometimes they are working on different levels. Usually the older one is a faster learner at the work but occasionally it's the younger.

I do not usually teach them together in the sense of a classroom teacher.

[Grace and Granola]

Thank you all! I can see the benefit of keeping them separate in their reading and math. I think it will mean something to them down the road to have their separate identities and progressing based on their own aptitudes. But you don't separate everything do you? Like, I imagine things like science and history being based alot on field trips and nature walks, and it only seems natural to speak to them both at the same level, about the same things, while on a nature walk right? I don't feel like I would be creating a classroom atmosphere just because I'm teaching both of them at the same time. or maybe I'm missing something?

[ocelotmom]

Originally Posted by Grace and Granola

But you don't separate everything do you? Like, I imagine things like science and history being based alot on field trips and nature walks, and it only seems natural to speak to them both at the same level, about the same things, while on a nature walk right?

A lot of families combine subjects like this, especially for things like science and history, even with greater age separations. It's generally easier to come up with various levels of depth for the same lesson, rather than multiple entirely different lessons.

[chelsmm]

My kids are 21 months apart. My plan is to do Right Start Math, level A with both kids. If my younger one picks up something, great. If not, no worries. I'm mainly doing it for the older one. (oh, they are 3 and 4.5 and we're officially starting in the fall) We've done a few RS math lessons, and they both loved it. I just adapted things as needed for each. Reading- older one does Ordinary Parent's Guide to Reading and younger plays with letters, listens in, etc. We read the same stories, but if the younger doesn't want to hear the longer chapter books, he does something else. Science/soc studies/etc we are keeping hands on and fun, so both are happy so far with the same stuff. I occasionally give dd a few extra things to do because she really likes activities. (we are keeping everything light and fun- dd isn't due to start kindy in our town until 2011 either, so no pressure on me- she's ready for something though, so we're starting)

Anyways, that's my plan.

[pigpokey]

Science and history are things you typically start more in 2nd - 3rd grade. Yes, you can teach those together.

[phathui5]

I do science and history together with my 9yo, 6yo and 4yo. We do them lightly in kindergarten, a little more in 1st and more in depth study as they get older.