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Dawnie
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| Posted: Oct 10 2007 at 11:59pm | IP Logged
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Since the forums have changed, I'm not sure if I'm posting this in the right place...
This is the first year I'm homeschooling more than one child. Mary Beth is in 3rd grade and Anna is in Kindergartener. I've also got 3yo Lucia and 10month old Clara. I KNOW there MUST be a way to do school without it dragging out all day long! For those of you who are schooling more than one child, what does your schedule look like? I started out doing 1-2 subjects with one of my girls while the other took a break or did something crafty or played with Lucia, but it seems like I'm spending a lot of time on transitions. I'm thinking of just doing Anna's schoolwork with her in one big chunk (with a few breaks, of course!) and then moving on to Mary Beth. Mary Beth is not very independent yet, so I can't just send her off to do her work at the same time I work with Anna.
Just wondering how the rest of you do it? I know I'm not the only one!
Dawn
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Mom to Mary Beth (99), Anna (02), Lucia (04), Clara (06), and Adelaide Victoria (2/28/09)
Visit my blog!Water Into Wine:Vino Per Tutto!
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Angie Mc
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| Posted: Oct 11 2007 at 12:39am | IP Logged
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Good to see you again, Dawnie! I'm going to move this to Real Learning. You are definitely not the only one  .
Love,
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Angie Mc
Maimeo to Henry! Dave's wife, mom to Mrs. Devin+Michael Pope, Aiden 20,Ian 17,John Paul 11,Catherine (heaven 6/07)
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Erin
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| Posted: Oct 11 2007 at 12:46am | IP Logged
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Dawn
Your idea of working one on one with each child is a good one. I have tried it at times like that and it works.
One thing I have found over the years is that our routines/approaches are constantly changing. Just when you think you have something down pat for some reason it has to be changed again.
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Erin
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EmilyC
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| Posted: Oct 11 2007 at 5:44am | IP Logged
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This is something I've been struggling with as well. I too have a 3rd grader and two Kindergarteners. It's been a struggle, but I think we're finally sort of getting the hang of things.
We all start together with circle time (we pray, sing, I read poetry) and then we move to the kitchen for math, which everyone does at the same time (dd is fairly independent here so I can help the twins), then dd does spelling while I go over the sound of the week with the boys. While dd finishes up her independant work, I read a picture book or two with the twins, and then they read to me. Then, the twins are done. I can now focus on dd for the rest of the morning. The boys are free to listen in, but usually they go off and play upstairs, or draw at the table.
It doesn't always go smoothly, and I've tried lots of different things, but this is what seems to work the best for us.
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Sarah (13) Robbie & Riley (10) Regina (nearly 3)
My secular lit-based curriculum:
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guitarnan
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| Posted: Oct 11 2007 at 6:38am | IP Logged
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We are still struggling with this and it is our sixth year of homeschooling!
Dd is 9. Ds is 15. Dd is clingy. Ds has become much more independent out of necessity, but he just can't teach himself German! So, we still have these issues going on.
We start out together with read-aloud time...we've covered so many, many wonderful books this way that no one wants to give it up. This time has grown shorter as ds's workload has increased (high school work takes more time, by definition).
Ds goes to work on the things he can do independently, while I spend a chunk of time with dd. Then, we break for lunch. After that I am usually shuttling between children, and we just kind of muddle through.
The hardest part comes when dd finishes and ds is still working...she is not interested in going to another room to play or read. She wants to be with us, and that becomes distracting. Some days, I can get her to work on art or Girl Scout projects, and that helps. Other days are frustrating.
One thing I hope both children are learning (besides how to work independently) is that they can't always be the center of my attention, 24/7. That's a good thing to learn.
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Nancy in MD. Mom of ds (24) & dd (18); 31-year Navy wife, move coordinator and keeper of home fires. Writer and dance mom.
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Macmom
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| Posted: Oct 11 2007 at 9:07am | IP Logged
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Dawn- I am homeschooling 6, with 2 toddlers underfoot, and a baby due in December. This is my 11th year of this wonderfully counter-culture lifestyle. We use a classical curriculum, heavy on the history and Latin. So I feel like I've got a little expertise in this matter.
Here is the bad news- there is no magic bullet. I've talked to probably 100 homeschooling moms (and so often they come to ME for advice, since I have a housefull AND a rigorous academic plan!), and there is no bag of tricks that makes it easy. Having been a classroom teacher, I know the only way order LOOKS possible in a classroom setting is by having all the children at the same maturity level, studying the same material, in assigned seats, for 55 minutes till the bell rings. (But truthfully, many of those children are only complying outwardly, in their little heads they aren't concentrating on the work at hand!) So get the idea out of your head.
Now the good news, once you let go a little and expect interruptions and having to make people wait till you have finished with another child, there ARE some ideas to make things somewhat easier.
1) have a routine. Not a schedule. A routine is more flexible, but doesn't determine the times when things occur, just the order. The only things we look at the clock for are when we get up (about 6:45) when we have snack (10:30) and when nap time is (after lunch, definatly by 1:30 and the wee ones nap till 4 pm)
2) Start the day with prayer together. Tell the kids what the day will be like (any leaving the house, any expected visitors, any special projects).
3) Take care of the little ones needs first thing, while the older child works independently.
4) schedule time for older kids to "have a break" while they play with the little ones. This gives them a little time off from academics, fosters sibling relationships, lets the little one be monitored, and frees mom up to work one on one with another child.
5) Have some special toys for the little ones that are only available during school time.
6) team teach when you can. We all learn history together by studying the same time period. Little ones have me read the stories, bigger ones study primary source documents and historical fiction and write more essays. We all do map work together. I have my 3rd grader and 1st grader doing religion together this year. Obviously, this doesn't work for say... math or spelling with such a wide age range!
7) Have a bigger kid "teach" a little. My 10th grader is helping her 8th grade brother with Latin. My 6th grader reviews phonograms with the 1st grader. The 5th grader and the 3rd grader practice their poems to be memorized together. Its good practice for the big kidlet, as well.
8) Things happen. Catch up to where you want to be latter. But be disciplined enough in your own life to catch up.
9) If you do it right, it's a very busy lifestyle. Takes a lot of energy and virtue. Homeschooling is not for wimps. :-)
Off to practice what I preach!
Peace,
Macmom
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folklaur
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| Posted: Oct 11 2007 at 11:51am | IP Logged
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I am so glad you brought this up!
I also have a 3rd grader and one in Kinder this year. (and a high school Sr., but she (in theory) works independently.
And so far, as far as school and teaching goes, it has been a disaster. 
I can't wait to read through all the replies and hopefully make this work. I was feeling like a complete failure last week. I have been homeschooling for 8+ years and this year has been one of my hardest by far!
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wahoo92
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| Posted: Oct 11 2007 at 12:07pm | IP Logged
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We have gotten into a nice rhythm this year. For the sake of brevity, I am not going to go into what I don't think worked from previous years and just remark on what is working now.
I have a 4th grader, a first grader, and a very lively three, all girls. We use Ambleside with a few modifications.
Up between 7/730, chores, breakfast b/t 8 and 9.
During breakfast I read from the Bible, we do a poem from each girl's poet, review memory work, a quick Latin review for the oldest. When the girls are finished breakfast, they sit at the table until this is finished. Music of the term is playing in the background. This all takes about 45 min. The 3yo is playing once she is finished her meal.
After breakfast is done, Ellie (the 9 yo) is to begin working on her list that I have made the night before,this includes all readings, workbooks, piano lesson, etc. whatever needs to be done that day. This is sitting on a stack of the needed items, including any paper, maps etc. I keep a close eye to make sure she stays on task.
I spend a few minutes getting Madeline (6) started on some simple copywork, handwriting practice, or a math lesson (which requires more presence from me some days than others). If she finishes this, I give her a phonics lesson to begin reading in prep. for later. During this time I am doing dishes, a quick kitchen clean-up or some days take a few minutes to start a puzzle or play-doh with the 3yo, Lucy. This time period is about 30-45 minutes, (say 1000).
Then, I sit down with Madeline for about 45-60 minutes on a good day and do phonics and readings, mapwork, etc. Lucy is usually playing in the area. Ellie is working on list. I may need to break from time to time to answer questions or hear a narration from her.
By now, Lucy needs more attention and/or I help Ellie with whatever she is doing/ do readings that we do together/ check work etc. Also, as they are finishing each task, I am already making a list and fixing the piles for the next day which I leave in a corner in the kitchen.
Lunch is around noon. During lunch I usually do Madeline's science (this term we are studying different animals which Ellie likes to be in on, too) and her free read of the day (again, Ellie likes to hear).
100-Lucy off for nap, Madeline plays, Ellie and I do work that she needs me to do with her, usually about an hour's worth). On a good day she is done by 2/230 but we call it quits by 3 or so, even if she is not.
We keep this schedule three days a week. Another day is a coop, and Fridays are for field trips, catching up on things that didn't get done during the week and for doing art and music study or projects that the girls have been wanting to do, or sometimes, just for doing nothing!
Note that I really worked last year on Ellie becoming much more independent knowing that I would need more time the next few years for working with Madeline. We were still doing nearly all readings together at last year's end. Although it is challenging for her, it has been good for her to be more independent and responsible for her work. I know she is not getting as much out of some of her books as she would if we were doing them together, but I think this is a necessary part of the growing process and something I have heard discussed many times on the Ambleside site.
Also, this schedule would absolutely not work if we were doing a more worksheet heavy type of curriculum, with which both girls would need much more hand-holding.
I have gotten so many terrific ideas from the moms here, I hope something here can be of use to you. I post our daily routine on my blog (although not in the detail above!) if you want to check it out.
Sarah
herdingturtles101.blogspot.com (could not get link to work, sorry)
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Dawnie
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| Posted: Oct 11 2007 at 4:37pm | IP Logged
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Thanks so much for the replies so far!
Dawn
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Mom to Mary Beth (99), Anna (02), Lucia (04), Clara (06), and Adelaide Victoria (2/28/09)
Visit my blog!Water Into Wine:Vino Per Tutto!
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Nina Murphy
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| Posted: Oct 11 2007 at 6:41pm | IP Logged
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D---
I just have to work with/attend to them one by one. Sorry. Yes, it takes all day when you have more than four. Last year, I had to really scale back when I had, yes: 6 students. But right now I only have three. Ha! (My older four are away from home now.)
It is the only way that works for us without causing stress. It is efficient. Doesn't take too long per child if you attend to just that child. But then, you need to have your ideas for the littles to keep busy without you..... I used older children, naps, learning videos, other relatives, and often just find certain toddlers play well in another space when toys/activities are "rotated".
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God bless,
~~Nina
mother of 9 on earth,
and 2 yet-to-be-met
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PDyer
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| Posted: Oct 11 2007 at 7:19pm | IP Logged
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guitarnan wrote:
| One thing I hope both children are learning (besides how to work independently) is that they can't always be the center of my attention, 24/7. That's a good thing to learn. |
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I have had the same difficulty in my home...when I am working with one child, the second child is getting no one's attention. It's very hard for my 6yo to cope with that fact, but I'm starting to see a glimmers of willingness-to-try to self-entertain for a few minutes. Whew.
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Patty
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4Real Forums : Living Learning
Topic: Logistics of homeschooling more than one
