Weekend Edition~How do I teach more then one child?

Many people become overwhelmed just thinking about homeschooling more then one child. But, depending on the teaching methods you choose it does not have to be as difficult as you might think.

What I have found effective for our family is going back to the one room school house style of education.

Broken down, that means, what ever subjects the children can do together, we do together. For us that is almost every subject! I do have Lela, my oldest, do her own Math. And I do math one on one with Belle and RJ. Mainly Belle, but sometimes there is games like throwing dice and adding, counting, subtracting, division, and multiplication. That they can all play together. RJ can count the numbers on the dice, Belle can add and subtract them, and Lela can multiply and divide. I also assign Lela some higher level reading mostly, then occasionally science, or social studies, but not often. I work with Belle one on one to teach her to read, in the 100 Easy Lessons to Teach Your Child to Read. (if you are interested in using this book to teach your own child to read, I highly suggest asking your local congregations book room, for the societies Learn to Read and Write booklet, it is very much the same teaching methods. It will be a "free" book to see if this is a style of learning that works for your child or not.). I also read the kindergarten story to Belle and RJ separate from Lela, however Lela is in the room at the same time, she is just doing her math during that time. Of course I also expect Lela to do more copy work because she is older as well.

Every thing else we do together. We do our Daily Text, Singing, Music, Art, studying of our literature-Watchtowers, Awakes, Bible Story Book, Daily Bible Reading, Science, History, etc together.

That being said, I expect more participation, attention, and such from Lela then Belle or RJ. I expect more participation and attention given from Belle and RJ when we are doing the children's songs, and the My Book of Bible Stories and other such materials that are more geared towards their ages, then I do of the Daily Text, Daily Bible Reading, Watchtower Studies, etc. However, we do use the simplified edition of the Study Watchtower, so that they can begin to understand it at younger ages as well.

As a Jehovah's Witness you may have a unique experience, of how we do Book Study or Watchtower study at the meetings. There will be people of all ages, and spiritual progress in our meetings. But, all are allowed to participate, and only expected to participate to their own capabilities. No one is shamed, or ridiculed for more simple comments, if that is where they are maturity wise, while the more mature ones in the congregation round out the comments with more experience. You can use that template in your own homeschool. Only expect each child to be able to participate at their developmental appropriate stage in life, and the more advance ones to round it out with their experience. Every one will progress the most when they are only expected to do their personal best. But, just like at our meetings every one can be encouraged and learn in one large group no matter their age, or spiritual maturity it really can work the same way at home with educating your children.

The main advice I can give on this topic is, keep your expectations realistic of each age and developmental stage. If the four year old, plays cars while you are going over the Watchtower study, that is ok. He listened during the Bible Story, and also sang the children's song... and that is a LOT for a 4 year old!

I can also say at this time, we are done with every one's structured school day with in 2 hours or less. That may increase as they grow older. But, I seriously work at keeping it shorter days, so they have time to research and delve into their own interests. Which is a education on it's own.