Teaching More than One Child?

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stawnasalas
Posts: 82
Joined: Mon Apr 18, 2011 1:47 pm

Teaching More than One Child?

Post by stawnasalas » Mon May 09, 2011 6:18 am

Hello! You ladies have been very helpful about answering my questions about placing my children. I am pretty sure we are going to go with HOD for our curriculum when I begin hs in the fall. But, I am starting to get reallly nervous about teaching my 6 and 9 yr olds at the same time. Please tell me its do-able! I am still deciding which level each child will be in, but how do you guys go about teaching more than 1? Is there alot for the teacher to do or is it more stuff the kids do on their own? Or could I have one work on something, while I am helping the other? How do you ladies go about doing that? I also have 2 younger ones that I have to worry about keeping busy. Thanks for your help!
Stawna
Stawna
Ds 12
Dd 9
Ds 7
Ds 5
Ds 2
Ds born Jan. 17, 2014

HappyMama
Posts: 224
Joined: Sun Dec 06, 2009 12:40 pm
Location: Washington

Re: Teaching More than One Child?

Post by HappyMama » Mon May 09, 2011 6:50 am

I am also very interested in this as I'll be teaching a 6 and 8 year old this fall. I'm planning on having them in their own guides completely and not combining in anything. :) I think it'll be fine. Last year I did Little Hearts and Little Hands and it was a great year. :) I'm looking forward to the answers on this! :)

countrymom
Posts: 770
Joined: Tue Nov 10, 2009 3:16 pm

Re: Teaching More than One Child?

Post by countrymom » Mon May 09, 2011 9:26 am

This scheduling thread might give you some ideas, viewtopic.php?f=6&t=2093
I would look at subjects your oldest can do with limited help (copywork, cursive, etc.) and have that child doing one of those subjects while you are assisting the younger with a subject. Even your younger can probably work on handwriting or maybe even math with you just checking in. You can also include chore time and play time in your schedule so child A is doing chores and child B is working with you. It might take a little tweaking to get it right, but it can be done.
Countrymom
Wife to J
Big J - LHFHG, Beyond, Bigger, Preparing, CTC, R2R, Rev to Rev, Modern Missions, beginning parts of World Geography
Little J - LHTH, LHFHG, Beyond, Bigger, Preparing, working in CTC

stawnasalas
Posts: 82
Joined: Mon Apr 18, 2011 1:47 pm

Re: Teaching More than One Child?

Post by stawnasalas » Mon May 09, 2011 5:31 pm

Thank you ladies, I know it can be done, I guess just a case of the jitters is starting in. I will get it figured out eventually with trial and error.
Stawna
Ds 12
Dd 9
Ds 7
Ds 5
Ds 2
Ds born Jan. 17, 2014

my3sons
Posts: 10702
Joined: Sun Aug 26, 2007 7:08 pm
Location: South Dakota

Re: Teaching More than One Child?

Post by my3sons » Wed May 11, 2011 1:43 pm

Hi Stawna! :D I have 3 dc that are each 3 years apart in age, and they have very different needs in the skills they are needing to learn, the amount of school they are able to do within a day, and the level of independence that is appropriate. HOD has helped me teach multiple guides to account for their different needs beautifully. :D

I really like to teach each of the dc within teaching blocks. :D This helps me balance my time among my dc appropriately, so each child feels special, and each has me teaching what they truly need to know. It also helps them develop good work habits independently, as they realize there is a time for that planned as well. This keeps a healthy balance of teaching focused time with me, and semi-independent/independent time on their own. My oldest ds especially appreciates this. It allows him to have me for the time he needs me, but have his own time he can take charge of and manage as well. I think this balance has made homeschooling a ds entering those "emotional", pre-teen years much easier. He is happy to enjoy me leading my teaching time, because he knows he will get to lead the rest of his independent time. Likewise, his need and ability to work independently for a portion of his day frees up time for me to work with my younger dc, who are needing me more. :D Here is the schedule we used this year, which we loved...
Image Image

This year I started having my teaching block time with my oldest ds first. That worked well! He has the most school to do, so why not get him going first? I did not do that until this year. You can read about this "aha moment" I had here...
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=8140&p=59181

I have a younger ds, and I see you have several younger dc as well. One of the most wonderful things has been to have each of my older sons take a turn playing with my youngest ds. They began to do this at ages 6 and 9, which I see are the ages of your older dc. This has been an incredible blessing on so many levels! :D First, it gives each of my older sons a break within their school day with a purpose that has an end time to it. Second, it has built a strong and close relationship between each of my sons and my youngest ds, which was a goal of mine, as my oldest dc naturally prefer and adore one another, but the little guy could potentially be left out if planned time for each of them with him was not part of our every day. Third, it has given me a quiet, focused time to teach each of my dc in the areas we need to really hone in on. :D I did have to train each of my sons to play "nicely" with the little guy, and we have had many talks about how that time is for him and not for them. Having a teaching time to do LHTH with my little guy in the middle really worked well too. His little cup is all filled up with love after having enjoyed time with each of his big brothers and with me. :D

Training each of the older dc to read directions carefully within their HOD guide's plans has been important. I love this life skill, as it helps them in so very many areas of life. At the Bigger Hearts level, I train each of the dc to begin to read the directions in each box, get out the needed supplies and books, carefully follow the directions step by step (which I oversee), check off the box when they are done, hand in their work open on the counter, and put away their materials after they finish each thing. I also write on the markerboard the things they can finish out independently after I have given directions, i.e...
1. Finish art project
2. Do cursive
3. Do poetry copywork
4. Finish math workbook
5. Find Bible verse and be ready for Storytime

This has helped them take more ownership of their work, and better manage their time, which ultimately helps our school day move along well, and helps them be ready for me when I do their teaching block time. :D

I hope these ideas can help, but I just want to encourage you that HOD is written for moms to use multiple guides with ease. By mapping out a routine or a schedule, whichever you prefer, you will be all set to enjoy your homeschooling days. There is nothing that gives me more satisfaction than seeing each of my dc's faces light up as we do their school - they are all able to learn and contribute so much because each of them has been valued in what we have chosen to homeschool them with - they are each individually able to do what is asked of them and thrive. This has been an incredible blessing in our home, and has made homeschooling with multiple guides the best decision for our family! Enjoy! :D

In Christ,
Julie
Enjoyed LHTH to USII
Currently using USI
Wife to Rich for 28 years
Mother to 3 sons, ages 23, 20, and 16
Sister to Carrie

stawnasalas
Posts: 82
Joined: Mon Apr 18, 2011 1:47 pm

Re: Teaching More than One Child?

Post by stawnasalas » Thu May 19, 2011 6:21 am

Thank you so much Julie, that really helped. Since I have never used HOD before (or any other curriculum for that matter :D ) I am not sure how it all ties together to make it easier to hs more than one. I pray it all works out and I am not driving myself insane trying to help both dc, with the others running around.
Stawna
Ds 12
Dd 9
Ds 7
Ds 5
Ds 2
Ds born Jan. 17, 2014

stawnasalas
Posts: 82
Joined: Mon Apr 18, 2011 1:47 pm

Re: Teaching More than One Child?

Post by stawnasalas » Thu May 19, 2011 7:04 am

Oh and someone on a homeschooling board that I frequent mentioned that I could combine some subjects to make it easier. Is that possible with HOD? Even when the kids are 3 grades apart? Thank you!
Stawna
Stawna
Ds 12
Dd 9
Ds 7
Ds 5
Ds 2
Ds born Jan. 17, 2014

my3sons
Posts: 10702
Joined: Sun Aug 26, 2007 7:08 pm
Location: South Dakota

Re: Teaching More than One Child?

Post by my3sons » Thu May 19, 2011 11:20 am

Oh, I was thinking that you were wanting tips about how to teach multiple guides, but if your question is more about where each of your dc place, I'd be glad to help with placement too. :D Yes, you can combine with HOD, but the placement chart will help show whether that is a good fit for each of your dc or not. I am not remembering what you may have shared about each of your dc in regard to placement? Did your 6 yo just turn 6, and did your 9 yo just turn 9? Could you also share about each of them in regard to the placement chart, the first page of it especially? Then, I'd be glad to help. :D

In Christ,
Julie
Enjoyed LHTH to USII
Currently using USI
Wife to Rich for 28 years
Mother to 3 sons, ages 23, 20, and 16
Sister to Carrie

stawnasalas
Posts: 82
Joined: Mon Apr 18, 2011 1:47 pm

Re: Teaching More than One Child?

Post by stawnasalas » Thu May 19, 2011 5:40 pm

Julie, I was asking about teaching more than one guide, but then I had people telling me I would be going crazy and why not try to combine. So I am a bit torn and still confused on how to go about placing my kids. You actually were helping me with placement and I didnt see the last post you made on my thread, (viewtopic.php?f=6&t=8995) so I am going to read that now, it will probably help with placing. My dd was 6 in Nov, and in K now. Her teacher says she is in an early-mid first grade level now (she is an emerging reader, forms upper/lowercase letters, can copy sentences, level 2 readers, has had some adding/subtracting and does well), so do you think she will do well in BLHFHG, with using 1st grade Math and Readers or LHFHG using 1st grade? My ds is a young 3rd grader, just turned 9 and honestly I dont want him to just jump into 4th grade work when he could use some refreshers from 3rd. So would I use BHFHG using some 4th grade extensions (what does this mean??) or jump right into PHFHG since he is in the middle age range. He reads independently, is not really getting the hang of cursive, needs lots of instruction in fractions right now, I dont know, its a gamble with him I guess. BHFHG is more for 2nd and 3rd? But you can use some 4th grade extensions? I dont want things to go over his head with PHFHG, but that is a 3rd and 4th curriculum. Thank you for all your help, I know I am all over and probably not making sense, but I want to get it all down before I call to order.
Stawna
Stawna
Ds 12
Dd 9
Ds 7
Ds 5
Ds 2
Ds born Jan. 17, 2014

my3sons
Posts: 10702
Joined: Sun Aug 26, 2007 7:08 pm
Location: South Dakota

Re: Teaching More than One Child?

Post by my3sons » Fri May 20, 2011 3:37 pm

Oh, alright, that helps! Thanks for getting back to me, Stawna! :D HOD guides can be used to combine, or they can be used to teach dc separately. We always take care to try to help each family with placement, individually looking at each child to see whether combining is a good fit for the entire family. :D Meeting each of our dc's needs and having age appropriate expectations really makes the day so much easier than grouping them all together if they’re nowhere near each other in what they need and what they can do. :D HOD was written with multiple ages in mind, so combining can be very successful within those age ranges, as long as dc can do the work that is asked of them. The placement chart helps us as parents consider each of our dc and place them accurately for the year. It helps make clear if combining is a positive for all the dc involved or not. :D I have personally relied on the placement chart to place each of my dc, and the result has been dc thriving in school, loving it, and able to do everything asked of them in their day. No tweaking is necessary because they are placed in programs befitting their needs. :D This is such a relief to me!

You probably have noticed when you come to the HOD Board, we take care to ask about each of your dc's specific needs when considering proper placement. That is because we care deeply about each of your dc, just as we care deeply about each of our dc. :D You mentioned that on another board, someone said you could just put your dc 3 grades apart together for school. This is possible with HOD, as long as it’s a good fit for each child being combined. For example, a 7 yo and an 11 yo may be doing Bigger Hearts for His Glory together, with the 11 yo using extensions. This works great, as long as each child is appropriately placed! :D

When you received advice on another board that your 2 dc 3 grades apart could easily be combined, I'm wondering whether they asked about each of your dc, and what they individually need before offering placement advice? Did they ask if your children can read or write? And if so, did they ask at what levels each are able to read and write? Or about their grammar or math levels? Or if they can read their history or science? Or if they have narration, dictation, and copywork skills intact? Or what skills they have to work somewhat independently and follow directions? Or if they have personality conflicts with one another? Or health issues? Or learning disabilities? Or anything? Or was a common statement just made that you can easily combine your dc 3 grades apart with no personal consideration of each of their needs?

I ask you these questions not expecting you to answer them all :wink: , but to try to show that all of these things are very important skills to consider in placement for each child, which is why we ask about these things here before offering placement advice. If these questions don't need to be asked in order to use a curriculum, then how can dc be placed accurately for their individual needs? According to CM children aged 9 yo or older, should be reading their own history, science, etc. This is a staple of CM style learning. At HOD we embrace that thinking, so based on that thinking if there is no need to ask what each of your dc are able to read, then how can a person know where to place the children?

One may say, "Well, I'll just read everything aloud to my 9+ yo, and then the youngers can just listen in". Reading aloud all subject areas to dc so large ages can be combined results in older dc not taking on responsibility for their own reading of subject matters. Often times, more mature content is chosen to compensate for this, so that a parent reading aloud more difficult books with very mature content will then help the oldest be challenged enough. In this case it's important to recognize that "listening" to read alouds is a lower level skill than "reading" the material oneself, so choosing more difficult books to read aloud only results in older dc still just being the listeners, and younger dc hearing inappropriate content. It also takes much more time to read books aloud than it takes to read books independently silently, so school for the littles often goes far too long, drawing their day out. This is just one example of how grouping large age ranges together often leaves littles trailing behind, and olders inappropriately challenged, as they are still not reading their own books. :(

We strive to guard against the youngest child "trailing along" behind the oldest dc. "Trailing along" year after year often turns into dc being "left behind", and at that point, the youngest child is truly struggling, often unable to do what the oldest child was able to do at their same age, as they did not receive the same teaching instruction appropriate for their young age level as their older sibling did back when. Skills often don't teach themselves, and if dc are moved along year to year without learning age appropriate skills, they must go back, back, back... and learn many of them at some point. It is often hard to make up time this way. This is why when HOD combines dc, it is in smaller age increments, with the core of the program fitting the younger and the extensions fitting the olders. :D

We want every child to be successful in their homeschooling, and we want every child to be able to move along in their academic and spiritual learning each year step by step in a way that is purposeful for each of them. When dc are many grades apart, combining is usually not as feasible as someone's needs do not get met. Usually it is the younger child that gets lost in the shuffle, while the older child continues to move on. :( All ages simply do not have the same academic needs. HOD considers all dc's academic needs, and in doing so values each family member, which helps family learning be a positive for everyone! So when you are told that your dc 3 grades apart can easily be combined with little to no information about each of your dc being considered, be careful about accepting that placement as best for your entire family. This is a whole year of your life - it's important to think of each child so each child can soar!

So, on that note, for your dd, I think she sounds ready for Beyond Little Hearts! :D For your ds, I think you need to take the age factor out of placement, and look carefully at the first page of the placement chart with just him (not dd) in mind. Here's an idea... Could you print a copy of the first page of the placement chart, and circle where he falls in the columns? Then, can you share where he places individually, and give some details about what you circled? Next, could you print the first week of plans for the guide he placed in, and read through the plans and see how you think he'd do? If the reading or writing is going to be too much for a student, and you are thinking tweaking will be necessary, then you may want to consider an earlier guide. I would love to hear the results you come up with by doing these few little things! It has been very helpful for me to clear my mind and think of just one child of mine at a time when I look at the placement chart. I have so much more clarity in placement then, as opposed to just looking at the chart for everyone all at once. I know this seems to be a small thing, but really, I do think it makes a huge difference! If you get a chance to share what you find out, that would help me feel more confident about giving advice. :D As he just turned 9 yo, it could be possible the 2 of them could be combined in Beyond Little Hearts, with ds using the right side of Bigger Hearts for his LA and math. Or, it may be best if he does Bigger Hearts or PHFHG. If you get a chance to share what you find out after filling out the placement chart with just him in mind, then I'd be glad to talk through options that are customized to your family's needs as we consider each of your dc! :D

In Christ,
Julie
Enjoyed LHTH to USII
Currently using USI
Wife to Rich for 28 years
Mother to 3 sons, ages 23, 20, and 16
Sister to Carrie

stawnasalas
Posts: 82
Joined: Mon Apr 18, 2011 1:47 pm

Re: Teaching More than One Child?

Post by stawnasalas » Tue May 31, 2011 2:40 pm

Thank you Julie for your suggestions. I am working on getting everything in order and have asked some ?'s on the specific boards. Thank you again, you have been very helpful!
Stawna
Stawna
Ds 12
Dd 9
Ds 7
Ds 5
Ds 2
Ds born Jan. 17, 2014

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