Homeschooling with Multiple Kids, Ages, and Grades

Yes. I promise. This is possible!

The secret?! There are a few things that can help…

Family Style Lessons

Incorporate family style lessons that include everyone. Morning time helps with this so much! I knock out a ton of information and instruction with the attention of all three kids simply while reading books. If we’re studying the parts of a plant in a botany lesson, I read the required material during morning time, and then when we are in the meaty part of the actual lesson, the kids already have that background knowledge. I can adapt the product I want from each of them based on their levels. Obviously my 4th grader can do a little bit more as far as writing or presenting an oral report than my younger two.

Truly the only individual or one on one time my children need are for Jackson (in 4th grade this year), during a portion of his math, most of his language arts, and a few simple directions here and there. My other two kids (2nd and 1st grade) get one on one time with me for their Language Arts lessons, including reading, writing, phonics, and spelling. They do math together at this point, so my attention is typically split between them.

Occupy the Other Children

So, let’s take math for example. I start my younger two out with a page out of a basic facts addition and subtraction workbook, a stack of flash cards, and if needed there is always a book or two they can pick up and look at while they wait for me. The key is, they have several tasks to work on, and they know my expectation that while I work with their brother, they should not interrupt unless it is an absolute emergency.

Now that the younger two are occupied, I sit with my 4th grader during his math lecture. We discuss anything he doesn’t understand. I am there for support while he works on the five practice problems following the lecture. Once he’s through the lecture and the practice problems, he’s on his own. He has 20-22 independent math problems to complete. In addition to this, he has a multiplication or division worksheet to finish (and does this independently) while his younger brother and sister are now receiving my attention for their math lessons.

How do I keep kids from interrupting?

Gee. Does anyone have an answer to this question? I’m all ears!!

In all seriousness, if you have an open discussion with your kids before you begin your school year and prepare them with your expectations, it will help so much. You can’t expect kids to just know how you’d like your school days to go. Provide them with several things they can choose from to educationally occupy their time while waiting to ask mom a question or get their chance to work one on one.

Here’s a general list of suggestions of things kids can do while they’re waiting or while a sibling is working with mom (or dad):

• flash cards (sight words, math facts, states, presidents, periodic table elements, money, time, etc…)
• play dough or putty
• drawing notebooks
• writing a story in a blank book (Target Dollar spot has these every fall)
• complete a puzzle
• play a quiet game with another sibling (Uno, chess, checkers, etc..)
• read a book
• create a new board game (use a larger piece of construction paper, index cards for game cards, etc…)
• write in a journal
• do a quiet “center” activity (I have a lot from TPT and “Let’s Play School“)
• play an educational app (with headphones) for 20 minutes (We LOVE ABC Mouse)
• (if it’s safe) head outside to observe nature or use a simple item like sidewalk chalk or bubbles
• (if it isn’t too loud) use Legos, linking cubes, pattern blocks, or Magnatiles to build a new structure

If you have babies or toddlers that still nap, use their nap time as the bulk of your one on one school time. Cover math and language arts while the little ones are asleep and not getting into everything in sight. When my oldest and I first started doing school together, we accomplished nearly all of it while little brother was napping. It was just easier that way!

Take a Break

Talking about napping babies made me remember something that I used to absolute HATE being told…

“nap when the baby naps.”

Nope. I need to shower or brush my teeth or workout or eat a meal while the baby naps. I do not have time for such nonsense as napping while the baby naps. BUT now that you’ve gotten through your school day, I’m guessing mama could use a little tiny break. Don’t just send your kids off to get sucked into iPads or video games just yet. Give them each a comfy spot in the house, a couple of books, and set a timer for individual reading time. I start with about 20 minutes and work my way to 40 minutes by about December. It gives everyone a chance to reset.

Even if you have little ones that can’t quite read yet. Set them up with familiar picture books or a stack of early readers. Encourage them to look through the books, going through the motions of reading. It will help them develop a love of books and an understanding of how books “work.” Use this time for yourself too. Brew a hot cup of coffee, sit down with a book, scroll through Instagram…YOU DO YOU!

Most of all, realize, especially if you have more than one child, you have to make your expectations clear! I am going into my seventh year of homeschooling, and I will have to go over my expectations again when we start school in a couple of weeks. Kids need reminders.

There you have it. That’s all I’ve got! Seasoned homeschool moms, what has worked for you? How do you manage multiple kids at once? Leave a comment if you have any other tricks!