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LLMom
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| Posted: Feb 15 2007 at 10:07am | IP Logged
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I am not sure if this topic should go here or in the large families. I am wondering if anyone with large families (say 4 or more) do group teaching and if so how? Right now, we only do science, history, and Latin together. I would like to do more--religion, maybe writing. But I don't know how to go about it. Right now, I work one on one with children and rotate the olders to watch the youngers while I am busy. If I am group teaching, there is no babysitter and then there is chaos. One reason to group teach is to save time. Also, I want more family togetherness, and I won't have so many things to "check over." I can see their progress better. Any ideas?
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Lisa
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Elizabeth
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| Posted: Feb 15 2007 at 10:11am | IP Logged
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Lisa,
I think this is the right forum for this question and it's a great question. I'm bookmarking to get back to it later--but I sure hope some other folks chime in!
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Elizabeth Foss is no longer a member of this forum. Discussions now reflect the current management & are not necessarily expressions of her book, *Real Learning*, her current work, or her philosophy. (posted by E. Foss, Jan 2011)
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ALmom
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| Posted: Feb 17 2007 at 6:39pm | IP Logged
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Lisa, I'm watching this for answers cause this is where I drifted from some of my ideals of homeschooling. I simply didn't know how to work with the huge differences in ages and abilities (plus a child who really rebelled about anyone watching him work in any way - ie even in the same room with him). I'm really trying to pray and think about next year and am looking forward to seeing responses here.
Janet
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stefoodie
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| Posted: Feb 17 2007 at 7:27pm | IP Logged
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We also do history and Latin together, and some science.
But we've discovered that we now LOVE to do Religion together. When the little ones were younger this was really difficult, but now that they are ages 5, 8, 10 and 15 it works out really well!!! I basically follow the 15-yo's topic (from the Faith and Life series), look up the corresponding topics/chapters from the youngers' F&L. Sometimes it's an exact match, just a different treatment of the topic. Sometimes I have to search and/or supplement for the youngers.
Example: On the days we do Bible reading, we either let them read the Bible story/passage one paragraph at a time. If the story is a bit more complicated I do a read-aloud with the 2 youngest from the Children's Picture Bible and the 2 oldest read to themselves from their own Bibles. And then we discuss, and they go on to their own related activites/homework/projects (coloring page, paper, craft, etc.).
For writing, I alternate days -- oral narration one day, blogging/notepad the next, scrapbook/lapbook/journal/other hands-on project the next. While I'm doing oral narration with one child for instance, the other is doing blogging. It is at this time that I try to have an extra activity for the 5-yo because it's when my 100% attention is needed by the child narrating. This sounds a bit too perfect though because this is not the reality that happens everyday. We just do the best we can. Sometimes that means a narration is 2 sentences long, even though I'd love to have 10. But then the kids are always narrating, at the dinner table, at lunch, while they're playing, in the car, so I try not to worry too much. Re the writing though, because they have such different interests now and different reading materials, the 15-yo usually goes off on her own for writing.
Oh wait, did you mean writing writing or handwriting/copywork too? That we do as a group, yes, using a Bible passage, or Latin conjugations/declensions, or something of their own choosing from whatever book they're reading.
I haven't had experience with your problem Janet, so I won't be able to address that, hopefully someone else will.
HTH...
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LLMom
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| Posted: Feb 17 2007 at 7:35pm | IP Logged
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Thanks Stef! These ideas are helpful.
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Lisa
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Willa
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| Posted: Feb 17 2007 at 8:15pm | IP Logged
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I always have difficulties with this too because of different ages and abilities.
I'm thinking of starting very small with a morning religious time with Bible reading and perhaps something about the liturgical year.
I also notice that my 11 year old is quite a good natural teacher and I am thinking of getting him involved in helping with the 2 younger ones.... and probably learning a bit that way, himself.
So one option would be to think in terms of "groups" of 2, 3, or 4 rather than the whole set together?
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Willa
hsing boys ages 11, 14, almost 18 (+ 4 homeschool grads ages 20 to 27)
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momwats8
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| Posted: Feb 17 2007 at 8:28pm | IP Logged
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Lisa -I have no answer because we do it the way you do. The kids work on their independant work throughout the day - phonics, handwriting, spellng etc. Then I work one on one with the kids starting with the youngest and working my way up. During the time that I am working with the kids individully the others take turns watching the little ones.
I just have not found a way to do group study yet. I find it hard with my little ones to even say The Rosary together. Maggie is especially disruptive and they always want to play with her. For me I think it would be harder at this point in our lives to try and study as a group. It is hard enough to work with them one on one with the little ones. I am interested to see how others have managed to do this especially with two or three little ones running around at the same time.
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LLMom
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| Posted: Feb 19 2007 at 8:55pm | IP Logged
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bumping. hoping Elizabeth will chime in too.
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Lisa
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4Real Forums : Living Learning
Topic: large families/group teaching
