When we first started homeschooling, we had a lot of questions. One of the biggest ones was how to teach different subjects to multiple children at different grade levels and still have time to do really anything else. We quickly realized that combining all the kids for some subjects made things a lot easier (and more fun for everyone!). This blog post will share why we teach certain subjects this way and how it works for us.
You might want to consider grouping your kids for certain subjects to save time and resources. There are only so many hours in a day, and more than likely, there is only one of you to be the teacher. Teaching one subject to all your kids will help you manage your schedule. Not only that, but your kids will be able to learn the same thing together, work on projects together, and be able to bounce ideas off each other.
Subjects That Work Well Together
- History
- Science
- Geography
- Bible
- Art
- Music
- Physical Education
- Read Alouds
Ideas for Ways for Combining Subjects for Multiple Ages
- Have the oldest in mind.
- When picking out the material for the subject your children will learn together, gear it towards your oldest. Your oldest will be able to use the material as written, and you can modify it for your younger children.
- Have the middle in mind.
- When picking out the material for the subject your children will learn together, gear it towards your middle child. Your older and younger children will likely still be engaged and be able to learn with minimal modification. You can easily add a bit for your oldest and take away for your younger child.
- Have the youngest in mind.
- When picking out the material for the subject your children will learn together, gear it towards your youngest. This will ensure that the youngest will be able to grasp the concepts that are being taught. You may want to supplement your older children with extra reading assignments, writing activities, or other extension projects.
Let Go Of Grade Levels
As I discussed in this blog post, the idea of grade levels isn't an end-all-be-all in homeschooling. You can cater not only to your child's needs but also to your family's needs. Combing subjects has been a lifesaver for our homeschool. If you do not have the time or resources to teach individual subjects to all your children, you might consider teaching some subjects together. To try it out, check out these free unit studies geared toward multiple grades.
What subjects are you interested in teaching together? I'd love to hear from you in the comments.
