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Hi all,

Last school year I was using just one guide (Beyond) for both of my children (dd age 7 and ds then age 9) because I was struggling using two.We (unintentionally) took the summer off and because of that are now only on unit 18, However, I know that my son (now 10) is ready for the next guide up and just wondering: when you are working with one child, what is the other child doing? I know this may sound like a simplistic or silly question but my children are not as disciplined as they should be (admittedly my fault because "I" have not been very disciplined and consistent as I should be )... If I am not on top of them they will EASILY start playing around and get very distracted with toys, etc... I am praying that this year will be THE YEAR where things can turn around and it can be more productive, more consistent. It takes me several hours to get through one guide because i don't usually try to rush through, but we take our time enjoying each other and engaging in great discussions, etc...But while this may be happening with one, I don't like the idea of the other just "wasting" hours of the day doing nothing of meaning or purpose. I know I can have them do an online game or draw, etc...but that won't last soo long...And I definitely do not want them sitting in front of a TV...Should I just try to keep them in one guide and bring my daughter with us to bigger? I am not sure she is ready though, and think she will enjoy much more finishing out Beyond....Help! I don't know how some of you do it with 3, 4, 5 kids using 3 or more guides...But I applaud you!!! Thanks in advance!!!

First of all, while I run three guides, I'm certainly NO superwoman! It just works for our family. I think the biggest key is to give yourself A LOT of grace in the beginning and realize that for a few weeks things probably won't run like clockwork. You'll have to establish a new routine for school essentially.

We all stay in the same room until we break or until one or another finishes. Since how to keep an almost-3-year-old occupied isn't in the equation I'll just talk about my older two

I first made a list for each child of everything they accomplished during the day, but just in general terms. Dictation, reading, math, etc. I then though about which items on the list could be done independently or semi-independently. For instance, handwriting is pretty much an independent thing while math is independent only after I teach the concept. I then rewrote the lists into blocked sections for independent, semi-independent, and completely dependent upon me to be teaching. That way I could chunk my time easier. I don't have a set schedule of the order we do our work, but I do have a set block setup so first thing my middle girl is working directly with me, which is most of her stuff because she is in Little Hearts. While I'm working with her my older daughter in Bigger is working on handwriting, Bible memory work, independent reading (We're not using DITHR yet), and math. We're not using Singapore and it is a bit more independent. She also writes in a journal every day (by her request) and I usually have that available if there is time. Once my youngest is finished I work with my older daughter on the history and science stuff. While she is working my other daughter is usually playing, which I think it fine.

I do have a lot of fun learning games we don't pull out very much. I saw a great idea to write them down on slips of paper, put them all in a jar, and pull them out whenever there was free time. It is a great way to use all that stuff that sometimes just sits on our shelf.

I'm happy to answer any other questions you may have This is my first year running 3 guides so there are certainly days where I'm muddling through! This week I haven't made it to Little Hands yet...hopefully tomorrow!

Wow thank you so much, Melissa, for such a detailed explanation of how you make your day work!!!!! I think my concern stemmed also from giving my kids (unintentionally) too long a summer break. With all the playing they've had with so very little structure, it can feel at times they won't be focused or disciplined enough to take on this transition...BUT I know with God all things r possible!!!!! Thanks so much again. I think I will definitely apply some of your ideas to our new routines, experiment and see what can work for us!!! Blessings!

I found my kids actually did better with the structure...but they are younger. We had a rough summer with A LOT of sickness. Nothing major, just constant colds and viruses. We did school off and on, but with very little structure. Once we finally started full schedule things were so much better You'll be fine!

Have you looked at the placement chart to know for sure that Bigger is the guide your 10yo is ready for? It's going to be more challenging to run Bigger and Beyond together than, say, Beyond and Preparing, just because of the amt. of independent work in the higher guide. Bigger is really teacher intensive (as is Beyond), and I know that for that reason, HOD usually doesn't recommend running those two back to back guides at once. That's not to say it can't be done, just to give you that for additional thought. If you're doing those two back to back, consider doing one of those half speed. Doing Bigger half pace would maybe allow your younger child to grow and catch up; whereas doing Beyond half pace instead would space those two guides out a little further, so that you wouldn't have too many weeks where you're trying to run both kids at different places in Bigger.

Another option would be to keep your kids both in Beyond, but beef it up for your older one. Next year when they're both in Bigger those extensions are there to help you beef it up for an older student. If you're not already, maybe you could do things from the right side of Bigger for your older one-the grammar, dictation, DITHR (that one alone could beef things up quite a bit).

If I am reading your post correctly, your ideal situation is to have your younger finish Beyond and your older in Bigger. Neither of those guides have a lot of independent work, but you can still work out a schedule. Figure out all of your one on one boxes for each child and then plan to match the other child either with something they can do independently for school, chores, or playtime. I would also divide the play boxes into structured play (where you have 2 or 3 choices of activities they can do) and free play. Now you have several choices for the other child while you are working one on one. I can't do times (just me, some can but I can't), but I can do sequence and order, so I would have their schedule in boxes side by side, i.e. younger is reading with you, older is doing chores, then move to next boxes. The other thing you might consider is just doing the boxes as they are and moving on. It can be hard not to linger, but believe me, as you progress through the guides you will need to develop that habit. I can already see where this is the best for us and the boys are happy with what we do even though one could potentially talk on and on forever. I still have free reading time and mommy playtime with the boys, so that gives us a chance to be together in different ways but it makes our school time happy, fun, and manageable. Give yourself 2 or 3 weeks after you get your schedule made to really get it running smoothly. Your children might have to adjust to the structure, but once things are going they will probably come to like it.

Thank you so much Becky and Country mom!!! Your posts were very helpful! You have both given me a lot to consider and I am so much more confident that things will work out well for us!!!