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Amanda
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| Posted: May 18 2009 at 9:50pm | IP Logged
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My ds will be 12 shortly. He has Asperger Syndrome but is also quite advanced academically. Next year, my dd (almost 6) will be joining our homeschool (she has been in preschool for the last two years). I am so excited to have *two* students in my homeschool, after years of just having my ds, but I am struggling to envision how to make them part of the same homeschool "class".
I have always thought that having the family together was one of the best parts of homeschooling, but with one child who can barely read and another who has been reading adult scientific magazines for years, how much learning can we really do together?
There is so much material out there for teaching several children who are relatively close in age and ability, but I feel as if the 6-year gap between my two may be too great to bridge.
I recently realized that when I read to my dd, *I* still learn things from her books, so ds will learn from read-alouds that are appropriate for her, as well. And we can do crafts, picture study, and saint celebrations together. But I also worry that after years of encouraging my ds to become a more independent learner, he will be reluctant to join us in our group activities. He needs practice being part of a group, though--another reason I'm glad my dd will be home with us.
Anyway, I'm really looking more for encouragement than any specific advice. I know we will work it out somehow, but I would love to plan out next year, and I'm feeling stymied by all the unknowns! Hope this isn't too much of a whine. 
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stellamaris
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| Posted: May 18 2009 at 9:56pm | IP Logged
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One of the most successful activities my older children have used to relate to the younger ones is playing games.
Learning games for younger students are still fun for all ages to play, and perhaps the structured give-and-take interaction might be helpful for your ds. Favorite games here include cards, Enchanted Forest, Herd Your Horses, and an addition/subtraction game entitled Pegs in the Park. Any game that they both enjoy would work great!
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In Christ,
Caroline
Wife to  dh 30+ yrs,ds's 83,85,89,dd's 91,95,ds's 01,01,02,grammy to 4
Flowing Streams
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lapazfarm
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| Posted: May 18 2009 at 10:34pm | IP Logged
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You have the same age span as my two! We do some stuff together (nature study, art, some read-alouds) and some things are done individually. It really will be fine. 
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Theresa
us-schooling in beautiful Fairbanks, Alaska.
LaPaz Home Learning
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Evette
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| Posted: May 18 2009 at 10:49pm | IP Logged
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Games are great!
I am in a similar situation. My two oldest are 7 years apart. This was my first year teaching two children (I started teaching my oldest at home after third grade). My oldest is in 7th grade and my middle child is in kindergarten. They played games together, read-alouds, and crafts. No actual subjects (such as science or history) together. Like you, I am still trying to figure out how to do that.
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lapazfarm
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| Posted: May 19 2009 at 12:29am | IP Logged
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Another thing my 2 do together is watch documentary DVD's I get from Netflix.We've enjoyed all of the Blue Planet and Planet Earth movies, lots of great history stuff, travel(we love the Michael Palin travel series), and plenty of science as well. It's a great way to introduce a topic and the kids each take it in at their own level. Then from there they can dig in deeper if they want to. The same goes for books on tape which we often listen to at lunch.It gives us something we can all talk about.
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Theresa
us-schooling in beautiful Fairbanks, Alaska.
LaPaz Home Learning
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Mackfam
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| Posted: May 19 2009 at 8:03am | IP Logged
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Amanda - I want to encourage you!!! You are not alone in this at all! I still face it...every.single.year. I think all homeschoolers face it to some degree as seasons change within a family, and there is growth. I think all the planning in the world and anticipating doesn't make up for just getting in there and getting started.
So, make some lovely plans and reading lists. Brainstorm ways you can work together with your children. Juggle things around on paper. Think of things that are timeless in their approach and ageless in their communication - picture books, liturgical celebrations, little history projects, nature study especially. Then, just get started. Often the rhythm of the day works itself out, providing solutions where there are challenges and reassurance where we had angst.
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Jen Mackintosh
Wife to Rob, mom to dd 19, ds 16, ds 11, dd 8, and dd 3
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Amanda
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| Posted: May 20 2009 at 7:12pm | IP Logged
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Thank you so much for the ideas and encouragement! I love the games idea--we have several that I think will work well. Thanks again!
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mom to ds '97, dd '03, ds '07, and dd 1/11
St. Margaret Clitherow Homeschool
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4Real Forums : Living Learning
Topic: I need a vision for my homeschool
