Homeschooling Multiple Grades:Part IV--A Typical (?) Day
Remember, each family is unique. Do what works for your family. Below is a typical (!) day of homeschooling in a large family...ours! Set the stage: Our homeschool is the family room. (Later my husband and future son-in-law built a wonderful classroom in our basement.) It is set-up so that the little ones are safe and "corralled" with the rest of us. We have our schedules posted and supplies at hand. Introducing the youngsters: a girl in 8th grade a girl in 3rd a boy in 1st a boy who's 3 years old a boy who's 7 months Homeschooling Multiple Grades: The Day 8 a.m. All children rise, eat a bowl (or two) of cereal and dress. 8:25 a.m. Assigned child rings the old-fashioned school-bell. Most children scurry down the steps. The oldest boy is missing. I yell up the stairs. He straggles down. We pray, say the Pledge to the Flag and assigned child marks the off the calendar date while announcing it. Assigned child reads a poem. __________ 8:35 a.m. Religion in homeschooling multiple grades: All children are told to begin their assignments. The 8th and 3rd graders begin reading. The 1st grader sits in his desk on one side of me and finds his page number while I seat the 3 year-old in his desk on the other side. He colors in a religious coloring book. The baby nurses while I read the material to the 1st grader. __________ 9:15 a.m. Math in homeschooling multiple grades: The two older children finish religion. The 1st grader colors in his religion coloring book. The baby gets a diaper change, then plays on the floor. The 3 year-old gets a set of matching cards and sits by his little brother. The 3rd grader uses multiplication cards. I briefly ask several questions about the religion reading, then go over the math assignment with the 8th grader. She begins her assignment. The 3rd grader and I go over her written religion questions. Then I explain the math lesson and watch her do several problems on the chalk board. She starts her regular problems. In the meantime, the 1st grader has escaped over the gate. I find him in the bathroom and tell him to hurry up. I write at board full of addition problems for him. I return upstairs and order the MIA to get back to that classroom. He does and begins the board problems. I put the baby on my lap with the 3 year-old and read a short book. They get down to play. The first grader sits in the desk beside me and begins his math workbook. I keep a close eye on the progress. The oldest child finishes math so we check the problems. Those missed are redone. "Good job, Sweetie!" She calculates the grade and puts the notebook on my "Record Grade" pile. The 3rd grader brings her math to check. She has missed several and begins to cry. I explain that that's the reason everyone has to study math. If she knew all the answers, she wouldn't be in class. She reworks the problems and still has trouble. Together, we do the last ones on a separate sheet of paper. I put her math notebook in the "Check Later" stack on my desk. I nurse the baby, change his diaper and put him in bed for a nap. __________ 10:15 a.m. English in homeschooling multiple grades: The 1st grader has only half of the assignment complete. I check his board problems. Thank goodness, he got most of them right. He fixes his errors. "Terrific work, Darling!" Time for a break. The middle children rush outside. I go over the English with the 8th grader. She is not happy that she has to write The 3 year-old has fallen off the jungle gym and is scraped up. I carry him in and give an oral sentence to the 3rd grader to diagram on the board. I answer the 'phone because it's Dad calling to say, "Hi." The 1st grader practices his spelling on the computer. With the 3 year-old bandaged up, we sit on the floor to do blocks. He builds a very high tower. "Wow! That's awesome, Honey!" I get the crying baby and check the diagram. Great! It's mostly correct. "Wonderful work, Angel." We go over all the parts and return to my desk. The third grader and I go over her English sentences orally. She begins her workbook assignment. The 8th grader returns, and we briefly discuss her topics. One is ridiculous. Find another one. The 1st grader is still on the computer. The spelling is finished but he's doing a math game. OK. That'll work for the moment. The third grader and I do phonics flash cards. I call for the 1st grader to return. We go over the phonics as he sits in his desk beside me. Then he works independently. I get a snack for the baby and 3 year-old. We sing a song. __________ 11:15 a.m. Finish English and Language Arts in homeschooling multiple grades: The 8th grader does her vocabulary and spelling assignments. These go very quickly, so she continues her outlining. The 3rd grader also rapidly finishes vocabulary and spelling. She works on handwriting. Children are reminded to put all finished work on the "To Check" pile on my desk. (and it had better all be finished) The 1st grader begins writing. I demonstrate on the chalk board, then he does several sheet at his desk. I take the 3 year-old and the baby in his walker to watch a half hour religious DVD upstairs. They get juice boxes, a special treat saved only for this time. The 1st grader and I do phonics flash cards. Then he runs off to watch the end of the film. The 3rd grader and I go over phonics. She does her assignment.
__________ 12-1 p.m. Lunch in homeschooling multiple grades: Sandwiches are served on paper plates. The we divvy up the chores....feed the dog...take the laundry down....make the beds...take the trash out...run the dishwasher...put dinner in the crock pot. The children run to the backyard to play for 20 minutes or so. The baby and I go upstairs. We snuggle, read a book, nurse and he goes to sleep. __________ 1 p.m. Reading, History and Science in homeschooling multiple grades: (Homeschooling multiple grades becomes much easier in the afternoons. The major subjects are mostly completed and the youngsters work more independently.) The children come in, reluctantly. The 8th grader and I review her outlines, then briefly go over her reading, history and science assignments. She begins the afternoon work. The rest of us (3 children and I) scrunch in our big bed with a book. We read until I fall asleep. They are sworn to wake me at 1:30. The 1st grader works to finish math. The 3 year-old is free to play as he wishes (within my sight). puzzles...swords...dinosaurs... I listen to the 3rd grader read and explain her reading assignment. I rescue the 1st grader from math and read short science and history stories to him. The 3rd grader reads aloud science and history. Then she begins written work. The baby is up. I change his diaper. He joins us. The 8th grader plays with him. Both have a great time. In the interim, the 3rd grader "accidentally" pokes the 1st grader with her pencil. I separate them. The 1st grader and I retreat to a very quiet part of the house for his reading to me. This continues for about 20 minutes. __________ 2:45 p.m. Finish Up in homeschooling multiple grades: The younger ones close all school books, put them away, straighten up around their desks and hustle outside. Be sure you have the notebooks and workbooks that still need to be corrected. The 8th grader may finish any left over work or wait until evening. Homeschooling multiple grades is finished, but the day is not over! We have snacks. __________ 4:00 p.m. We pile in the car to take the 8th, 3rd and 1st graders to swim team practice. __________ 7 p.m. Dad picks up the swimmers. I bathe, read to and put the baby to bed. Dinner Rosary and read a book aloud __________ 8 p.m. Quiet time in homeschooling multiple grades: 3 year-old goes to bed. He asks yet again why he has to go before his older siblings. Reading or homework __________ 8:30 p.m. All in rooms and ready for bed Mom and Dad time Whew! Home teaching several grades, of course, can be wearing. But what a lot of fun! How lucky are we to be at home with our children, watching, guiding and encouraging them! What a privilege!
Homeschooling Multiple Grades: Part I--There Are Advantages! Part II--Set up the Study Area Part III--Make up Your Schedule Return Home
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