| One Room (home)Schoolhouse |
By: Debra Dragon, Homeschooling Columnist
On 1/29/06
How do you balance homeschooling children of different ages with different learning abilities? How do you maintain a structured, organized homeschooling environment when your pre-schooler is tugging on your pant leg as you're attempting to teach your middle school aged child algebra, and your middle child is screaming at the top of her lungs and throwing cheerios to the dog? You don't.
| "Every family is different, and will have different challenges to face when homeschooling children of different ages- but it is far from impossible." |
You may just have to throw structure out the window, and learn how to work effectively in the chaos that is the typical multi-aged homeschooling family. Don't expect the children to sit around the table waiting patiently for their assignments. Instead, search for creative ways to engage each of the children in appropriate learning activities.
In the typical one room schoolhouses of long ago, you would often find the older children assisting the younger ones, so why not implement this into your homeschool program? Your older children can assist the younger ones with reading, writing exercises, or math. This is beneficial for all involved. The older children are learning teaching skills that will help them in a future career path, and at the same time they're reviewing academics they have already learned. The younger children are getting their academic instruction, and both the “teachers” and the “students” are learning how to work together.
Another technique for successfully homeschooling children of different ages is to schedule blocks of learning time that are relative to your child's biological rhythms. Gail Barker, author of The Balancing Act, had 4 children between the ages of 3 months and 9 years old when she wrote the article. She used to allow her children to use their energy productively by scheduling school hours that corresponded with each child's best time of day. For example, young children typically open their eyes in the morning and are ready to go, needing very little time to wake up. This is a prime time for you to sit down with them and do your one on one instruction. Older children often prefer to sleep later in the morning, and have more energy in the afternoon or evening. You may be able to schedule an older child's instructional time during your younger child's nap time.
It's important to remember the reason you have chosen to homeschool your children; providing an alternative method of education for your own personal reasons. Every family is different, and will have different challenges to face when homeschooling children of different ages- but it is far from impossible. You are building a strong family foundation while providing academic studies in your home environment. While some days, your home may seem more like a zoo, the reality is your curriculum will naturally include lessons in the importance of family relationships, a subject your children will take with them when they leave “school”.
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For support from other parents who are homeschooling multiple age children, join the “Homeschooling Multiple Grades” yahoo group:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Homeschooling_Multiple_Grades/
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