How To Homeschool Multiple Grades & Ages | Homeschooling Tips & Hacks

[@PenniesAndSalt]

Yes! I totally agree, cultivating the attitudes and roles are so important and creates a great life skill for the older ones as well.

[@FieldsFullHouse]

Family unity is the most important and I think the greatest benefit of homeschooling! Love that Katie and Sophie do a part of their homeschool day together!

[@simplejoyfilledliving]

Me too! I struggled at first with the idea that it wasn’t possible because of the age difference but I am glad I found a way to make it work.

[@LivingWithEve]

Middle school is my JAM!! When I was a public school teacher, that’s what I taught. We always looked at it as “They’re going to have to relearn it anyway once they overcome puberty.” So we just tried to make their lives easier and have fun while learning survival skills.

[@simplejoyfilledliving]

I love middle school too!

[@EverydayBlessings]

Yes! Filling the little tanks first!!

[@LifeintheMundane]

I love that you highlight the importance of learning to sit still that is a huge benefit and great life skill

[@simplejoyfilledliving]

I think it is a very undervalued skill these days.

[@FieldsFullHouse]

I think the opportunity for older kids to be a leader is such a huge benefit! Great job!

[@simplejoyfilledliving]

Thanks!

[@mindsoulmommy5984]

Thank you for your tips. !! Gonna have to save this one 🙏🏻

[@MommaonMission]

I agree with all these. Right now I’m in the midst of two boys who both need a lot of one on one so I’m looking forward to more independent studies!!

[@AMomforEverySeason]

This is one thing I have been curious about homeschooling. I love the tip on cultivating leadership in older children!

[@simplejoyfilledliving]

Thank you!

[@LargeFamilyHomesteaders]

Thanks for sharing! I have high school middle and elementary kids.

[@heyitsgeorgia]

love this! x

[@PenniesAndSalt]

I find unit studies so helpful too! I love that she can feel like she’s a part of Katie’s lesson then connect it to her own ❤️ Your girls are precious.

[@simplejoyfilledliving]

Thank you! ❤️

[@EricaLucasLoves]

At least one family subject is a good tip.

[@HomeSweetHomeschoolLife]

I loved using sensory bins in my classroom. Kids love those!

[@HomechoolbythePond]

Thanks for these tips! I love that you do history all together that is by far my favorite subject!

[@simplejoyfilledliving]

We all love history. And The Good and the Beautiful is our favorite ever curriculum for history.

[@JodisCreativeCorner]

Great tips. I love all of your organization behind you!

[@simplejoyfilledliving]

Thank you!

[@OneBlessedMess]

Taking notes for the future with my oldest! Love the tip about letting them take the lead and have some ownership over their day. Great tips!

[@simplejoyfilledliving]

Thanks!

[@RichardYLoh]

Great jobs !

[@simplejoyfilledliving]

Luo Jiang thank you!

[@EmsBookNookMI]

Wonderful tips! We like to do our Bible lessons as a whole family as often as possible. A couple of our kids do almost all of their subjects together, but we do have a wide range of grades/ages, so it definitely is challenging to find ways to come together, but it is worth it!

[@simplejoyfilledliving]

Definitely worth it!

[@Trixatoria]

Fab tips! Mine are really close together so I’m hoping it should be pretty straight forward 🙈😂

[@DreamFreeArt]

1st grade and 10th grade is QUITE the difference! lol The unit studies idea is very helpful so that way both kids can learn similar topics in grade level ways!

[@EricaLucasLoves]

Is that honors program a state thing? That's sooooo great!

[@simplejoyfilledliving]

No, you can do an honors class in any state. Look up guidelines in your state but if there are none, the general rule is extra reading, writing, project, and presentation. This can be several smaller projects by quarter, or 2 larger ones by semester, or a larger one for the year. I tend to do a large statistics based project with research, writing, and presentation for math, for example.

[@simplejoyfilledliving]

Also on most states the gpa is weighted differently for honors classes. Check your state board of education for that.

[@EricaLucasLoves]

Our Blessed Life thanks

[@SusanEvans]

I have to agree that once you reach high school (especially the last two years of high school), it's hard to include younger kids. At that point I had my younger kids doing math or other independent work while I read through the high school chemistry textbook with the older two boys in a different room. All other subjects we tried to do together.

[@amberc.2840]

This was a great video. I have a 13 yo daughter, 11 yo boy, and a 7 yo boy. We combine for our Bible, "morning time," and read aloud each day. // With your oldest, how do YOU stay on top of what she is learning? Do you read the same books she reads so that y'all can have discussions about them? How is TG&B going with History? Are you and your daughter enjoying it for High School? My daughter will be starting high school next year, and I am trying to get my mind around everything. We have been using Heart of Dakota for years, but I feel that she is so "isolated" in her learning. Yes, she is independent (which is a good thing!), but I feel like I never know what she's learning b/c she is doing her own thing while I'm working with her brothers. That's the toughest aspect of homeschooling multiple kids for me. I still desire more family-centered learning, but it's hard to do.

[@simplejoyfilledliving]

Thank you! These are all great questions. I am planning to film a homeschooling in high school series that will start this month. But I will try to answer you here too. I do not read all of the books. I choose some of them, particularly those that I think we need to discuss, or ones that I have never read, or ones that I think she will struggle with. With TG&TB language arts, there's a lot of discussion about the novels in the unit studies so I don't read those novels. However, I added 7 novels to the 5 that are included and will read some of them, or do them as a read aloud. She read The Crucible to me and we discussed it recently and we will do the same with Of Plymouth Plantation. We LOVE TG&TB language arts for high school and also love the history. However I have modified the history a lot to make it exactly what I wanted. I may do a video on that if there is interest. Katie is completely independent with her online French program. She does biology online but I teach her the labs so I am still involved in that class. She also does math online but she has needed help here and there so I still feel somewhat involved there too. Definitely I have been most involved in language arts and history this year. I hope this helps.

[@amberc.2840]

@@simplejoyfilledliving This was very helpful, thank you! I will be waiting with eager anticipation for the high school series. I don't want to "fear" high school, but it just seems like such a BiG step. I'm excited about it, but also a little anxious. ;) Side note -- our school rooms are so similar! We have double doors, white shelves, and our walls are aqua blue. Kindred spirits!!

[@simplejoyfilledliving]

Yay! I'm starting the filming today! The first thing to know about high school is that it is the MOST fun time of homeschool! But it also goes by so fast (like those baby years)! That's neat that we have similar school rooms! The aqua blue is such a peaceful color. 😀

[@RussellsLovingLife]

Great tips! I do as much together as I can. Bailey does independent work when I'm having to do one on one work with Bekah.