Question for those who homeschool multiple kids....

[DuckyBoys]

Quote:
This is now our 8th year and when I think back to my "style" when we first started I can't even recognize that woman!

I even made up a report card!

LOL...silly homeschool mom, report cards are for parents who don't know everything their kids are doing.

 

[Ferngully]

Years ago when we first started out we used Abeka or something similar, I was forever maddening myself with lesson plans and folders and notebooks for 4 kids. Each subject came in a box with several textbooks and booklets for the kids to work out of. It looked nice, and was meant for a very structured environment. Oldest DD at the time had come from the public school and had trouble transitioning into a more relaxed environment(normal for the first year). She was used to regimental learning and set times to do certain things and so forth. Wasn't very fun for any of us and not what I had envisioned. And yep, I even did report cards, ugh.

I then went to something called the golden book or similar. It was a huge book that covered every subject for that grade and met our states standards, it was like a giant workbook. It was better than carting around alot of books and required less planning for me. I could grade as we went along and if there was a problem we reinforced the information. DS completed an entire grade in 3 months (actually less, but I had to have something for him to do). I wasn't expecting that one. That, and I needed time to plan his graduation, (cap, gown, pictures and diploma)

Then I discovered time4learning.com. k-8th online curriculum. They have the curriculum online you can review and print out if you like. We aren't required to keep a hard copy or have a set curriculum in our state. All tests and grading are done immediately online and are recorded. You can print out reports of their daily work, print out extra worksheets for them to work on based on what they are learning, set the values as to what you will accept as having learned the subject and move onto the next area. They have additional learning extensions if you wanted to do theme studies. They have really put this together very well, and it is used in many schools across the country as their teaching curriculum and site. I like it because it is very interactive, upbeat and positive for the kids. Though my special needs child has trouble some days with being willing to work (she did in public school as well) if I can get her to the computer, sit next to her and cheer her on for a bit, she is then flying through the lessons having fun, giggling and enjoying it.

We do have additional work we do outside of the online program, extra things I want to reinforce for each child, like the learning to love of reading for enjoyment, entertainment, research and learning something new. We also do things that are not the basic subjects. I do it in such a way that the kids have no idea that they are being taught something or that I have an end goal in mind. This is our "unschooling" aspect of our days. This is the one where the kids tell people "oh, we don't do school work"

yes you do you just don't know it

I get to be creative in this aspect and we have lots of fun. This is what I envisioned for our family.

I agree that you have to find a curriculum or learning style that is right for your family. You may even go through several different ones (that is normal). What may be great for one child does not work for another (one may need all those textbooks and be heavily structured to feel comfortable, especially if having been in another schooling type situation. Another child may need the free learning hands on ease.) And what worked last year might not be right for them this year. Thats the beauty of homeschooling you can tailor to each childs learning style as it changes.

You need to be able to have fun and enjoy homeschooling or you may in the end regret having made that decision to do so. Many parents do get frustrated, tired and start questioning whether this was the right thing. Again, normal. But if they step back and look at "how" they are arranging their homeschooling or the curriculum, they often can see where the problem is, and can do away with it. Thus, making it more enjoyable for all involved.

to you and hoping you will find a way to make it more enjoyable and less time consuming for yourself.

 

[saddina]

I'm going to agree on the time4learning.com website, the phonics program is top notch there.

For your three year old check out Starfall.com, she can play some letter games while you work with the older kids, we had to do that when Erik gave up naps a year ahead of schedule (my schedule that is).

On grading, I'll check over math a few problems (if a page has 40 problems, I'll tell them to do the odds, so 20), then I'll spot check, any errors and they need to go back. Here you get a 90% or better or you redo them.

For 4th & 8th grade I'd combine history, science and art lessons. Just assign a little more work for the 8th grader (example they both need to know the 15 main bones in the skeleton, but your 8th grader also need to find out how bones use calicium). Don't be afraid to let the older children check the younger one's work too, your teens are capable of looking over some division.

We'll get you thru.

 

[PotterWatch]

Quote:
This is now our 8th year and when I think back to my "style" when we first started I can't even recognize that woman!

I even made up a report card!

LOL...silly homeschool mom, report cards are for parents who don't know everything their kids are doing.

That's exactly what I was going to say as far as what I looked like when we first started homeschooling. I did things just like if they were in school. When I look back at it now, I see how ridiculous it was! I think most of us start out looking like school at home, but we soon find ways that work better for our families. There are certainly people who always do it that way and if it works for them, great! More often than not though, we find that doing things like schools do just doesn't fit as well in a home setting.

Talk to your kids about the things they like about your current system and what they want to change. Ask them why they like those particular things. Sometimes kids cling to things like grades just because they think that is the way it is supposed to be.

 

[Jamsoundsgood]

My kids are a bit younger than yours, my oldest being in third grade, but this is our first year too. We're doing Ambleside Online, which is mostly literature based, so there isn't a whole lot of actual grading involved. They're doing Math-u-see for their math program which I go over with them since there is a great deal of teaching involved still. For my oldest to there are unit tests which I do grade. As far as planning goes I have a master chart that I fill in once a week so I have a basic idea of what I'm doing every day and in what order for each child. There are things that overlap with all children, and things that they do independently. The charts also double as my school records, showing what they've done for the day, and what I still need to work on. If I still need to get to something with one child (my third grader is an incredibly slow reader and writer, things don't always get done) then we work on it at other times. This is why we homeschool. Life was just to stressful when it was dictated by the bus schedule, the teacher's schedule, someone else's schedule. Don't let the schedule rule you. Sometimes I will look at my schedule at it will say I need to do phonics with my kindergartner but she really wants to do math, and her brothers are also asking to do math, even though they are supposed to be reading and/or typing. Heck, if they WANT to do math, and they want to help each other do math, why should I stop them from doing math? The point is that they get it done, that they learn how to do it, and that they learn how to love it! Oh, and if you're overwhelmed, take a week off to go camping. Just because public school is in session doesn't mean you have to be!

 

[Hoosiermomma]

Thanks for all the input! I really appreciate it! I know we need to find our niche and what's going to work out for us as a family as well. I began our homeschool journey out of necessity (too many gun and bomb threats at my oldest daughters public h.s. ) After that year we both decided that she wouldn't be going back there nor would my son begin there. So here we are today. I also wanted to be them to be around the many learning opportunities that go on here daily with all of our animals etc. They have all learned so much in the last year, most of it not being academic.
I'm not so concerned about academics for my oldest son as he will more than likely go to trade school for any number of the things that interest him....electrical, plumbing, welding, woodworking, heating and air etc. I am more concerned with my other kids who aren't so inclined to follow that route.
With that being said, I know once you embark on the homeschooling journey in time you will find out what works with each learning style and fits best within the family unit. I as well as the kids need something with structure but it has to be flexible as well as interesting. I will definately keep my oldest doing what she is doing. My 16 yr old well we are going to definately mix things up next year and I might even look into some of the vocational programs to see if he can not only learn a trade but also be able to finish up his high school years there as well. The younger two well we'll see what happens this year. My middle son is very athletic so he we may decide to put him in the local high school so he can try out for their teams. My youngest well she is a challenge to end all challenges for me. LOL She definately has ADHD and has a hard time concentrating on anything so the time4learning might be something to look into. For those of you who use it I would love to know more about it.
Again, thanks for all your replies. I really appreciate it!

 

[saddina]

http://www.time4learning.com/

I've used it with k-3rd graders. The lessons are 5-15 minute bites rather than an hour long, so what we would do is set a timer for an hour and they needed to do 3 math and 3 phonics lessons. Because the levels are entertaining the kids focus on short bursts rather than an hour long droning on. It's $15 a month per kid, which isn't bad at all.

Erik was in the preschool beta group, and it went well, but he went thru it fast (Erik's very academically competitive, so for him it's all about reading faster than his brother, who's 4 years older). Once your little one has gotten all the alphabet lessons from Starfall.com (free) she'd be able to do very well on time4learning.

We get our sports in the local parks and rec's team sports, do you have a YMCA or county park that does sports? Here the kids are doing fencing with the parks and rec and dance (yes the boys are taking dance, they're doing well and enjoying it).

For the highschoolers, how far away is the jr. college? Many will let homeschoolers take classes same as high school students after age 16. Soon as they have a few credits, they're treated as a transferr student by universities rather than homeschoolers. Have the older ones take a art class or other general ed course, and they can transfer into the university just fine.

 

[baltimoreharps]

Thank you, thank you for that time4learning site, Ferngully and Saddina!

I have one in 3rd, one in 5th, and one graduating this year and that site looks VERY promising! we have a ton of books and worksheets, etc, but this looks like something that will engage both of the younger ones and help them retain what they are learning, especially my 5th grade ADHD little boy.

Momto5, definately check out the YMCA programs for the kiddos. The middle child is in soccer, baseball, and swimming. My dd is in cheerleading, and is looking to take on soccer in the spring. The coaches we have are great, and the kids really enjoy it.

Good luck to you!

 

[deb1]

IF you have children who are close in age then you can double up on history. My daughters are two years apart and both are very smart. I am using a ninth grade world history book to teach both my eight grader and sixth grader. I have been using the same history books for both girls since I started teaching them.

 

[Ferngully]

Baltimoreharps, glad you liked the site. I think a child with adhd could really work well with this learning system. The information is presented in a fun, short way and it gives immediate feedback to the child and will reinforce the info on its own to them. There are a many parents on their forum who have children with different learning abilities that say that is has made learning alot easier and more enjoyable for their child.

I also like the ability to be able to increase or decrease the "grade level" of a subject to be able to tailor it more to each child. A child in third grade may only be at first grade level reading and maybe fourth in math, so you set the reading for 1st and math for 4th. You can also set how long you want them to do lessons for before they can go to the "playground" which is their online games, majority of which are learning games. You can also set how long they may "play" before they have to go back to lessons. Each of these have a countdown timer that the child can see. Which is great for the clock watcher child.

Youngest DD has special needs and is sooo not a morning person, example: last night she was up past her bedtime......what was she doing? Time4learning. All on her own.

And "Peedy", love him. After a certain grade level the talking parrot will read science and social studies lessons to the child if you want that option as well. Some of the words may be harder for that grade, and would make the lesson discouraging to some, but with "Peedy" they are able to get through those words. He sounds like Stephen Hawking's wheelchair computer voice. My oldest son gets a kick out of it. He says he has Stephen Hawking for a science teacher.

To me the price is very reasonable for all the subjects that are included and the record keeping they do for you. It just can't be beat, or I have not found a program yet that could compare.

I have also found that alot of their grade level lessons my children were behind in, coming from public school when we started. They have grade level placement questions for each child so that your are sure to start your child in their program at the right level. I just stressed to my son that his former school had not covered this information yet but we would work together to get him up to speed for his "new" school. He was ok with that answer for his dissappoinment in not being in the grade level he thought he was in.