If you’ve been in the homeschooling community for long, you’ll notice that many homeschooling families are larger than average; often much larger. Parenting that many children may seem an overwhelming task to many, but homeschooling them seems inconceivable. Homeschool multiple children is all in the planning and curriculum choice.
Curriculum Choice
I have a friend who is mother to eleven children – all of whom she homeschooled. Their curriculum of choice was Bob Jones satellite service (which will discontinued as of May 31, 2009 in favor of their DVD and Hard Drive learning options). This service allowed them to have access to record all grade levels of material for one monthly fee*.
I have other friends with many children who chose homeschool software to help take some of the one-on-one teaching burden off the parent. Switched-On Schoolhouse is one very popular homeschool software option that many families use.
Then there are pre-recorded DVD lessons available from Bob Jones and Abeka where teachers have been recorded doing the actual teaching and your child will sit and watch the teacher, then you will oversee any tests and that the assignments are completed. There are options with these programs for your child to actually be enrolled as a distance learning student through these institutions, and you would then send your child’s tests and assignments in to be graded and records are kept for you. Or, the option is also available where your child simply views the material and you keep your own records and grades.
Another, often less expensive method, is unit studies. This is where you teach all your children the same topic at once, but vary the activities and lessons to suit the age/grade level of each child. Older children would go more indepth in their required work and studying than a younger child; but the same topic is being learned by all.
Choosing the right method for your family may seem a daunting task. Knowing your children’s learning styles will go a long way in choosing the best curriculum for everyone.
Planning
Homeschooling several children requires planning, not only of their lessons, but also of your time. Even with the more hands-off and convenient DVD method of schooling, children will still need your guidance, input and oversight to see that they are comprehending what they’re learning and that work is being done properly and to issue any testing. With several children to oversee, this requires time management and planning to ensure everything gets done in a homeschooling day.
There are homeschool planners and software to help make this task easier. Regardless of how you plan or what curriculum you choose, patience is required to homeschool multiple children.
* Text books not included in the monthly fee.