Teaching Different Ages

Most home school families (62%!) have three or more children at home. Teaching three or more children of different ages can get complicated! The good news is that it is and can be done. While not every strategy works for every home school family, there is a strategy that will work for you. The trick is finding it.


Dealing with Babies and Toddlers

Children too young to participate can complicate matters. Trust me—I know firsthand!

While some families prefer to coordinate school time for the older children with nap time for the younger children, I encourage parents to try to keep their little ones close by during school time if possible. I have been amazed to see how fast my young child learns as she watches her brothers. She usually supervises from her perch in the high chair, where she happily snacks or colors pictures. Some parents have found success dedicating a box of toys specifically for use school time, so that the unfamiliar toys hold the child’s attention longer.
If the younger child is detracting from the learning of older siblings, the children should be separated. Put the child in naptime or separate them into different rooms.

Work Together

Homeschooling takes a lot of hard work and dedication from the parents. However, there is nothing wrong with letting a skilled child practice with or even teach a younger child (with supervision). Do you have a child who is talented at math or reading? Encourage them to teach what they know to a younger sibling.

Do you have a child who needs to practice reading, and a child who loves to be read to? Set them up together and let the reader practice reading aloud to a sibling.

Teach the Same Thing

With the exception of certain skill-based material, such as reading and math, the children can be taught together in history, science, etc. While older children will be more prepared to tackle complex information and remember it, younger children will still be able to learn some of the content.

Take advantage of “Unit Studies” which allow the family to learn the same thing at their own independent level. This allows the entire family to learn and work together, without placing unrealistic demands on younger children or cheating older children of a challenging educational experience.

Encourage Independence

Independent learning is a wonderful skill that can be taught and acquired in a home school environment. Older children can be given tasks and encouraged to work without direct supervision.

Keep Perspective

A hundred years ago, one room schoolhouses with all age groups were the norm. Those children survived and thrived, producing educated individuals that excelled beyond the capacity of most modern-day graduates. It takes work and devotion, but homeschooling families with different age groups is very rewarding. Keep up the good work!

Strategies for FT Homeschooling Parents

The decision to home school is always a major, life-altering decision. Parents who work full-time are often faced with a terrible conflict when faced with the decision. Single parents, as well as parents who work for a much-needed second income, don't have the luxury of quitting their job even if homeschooling is the best choice for their child.

There's good news: with hard work and devotion, you can do both.

Establish a Routine

Establish a routine. If you have a rotating work schedule, a solid routine can be difficult to maintain. However, at least document how much time every day you want to spend doing various tasks. Knowing what needs to get done and when creates organization and order. In the mad rush of life, this organization can dispel feelings of chaos and stress by keeping you on track and giving you a standard by which you can measure success.


Encourage Independence

Older children can work independently and can stay home while you are at work. During school hours, lay down the expectations for the next day's independent study time. Provide assignments or projects for the children to work on while you are at work. This will keep them focused and learning for at least some of the time that you are at work.

Prioritize

Many of us feel driven to be the best, most productive and most impressive people we can be. Often times, this leads to over-committing our time, energy and resources to a variety of tasks.
Homeschooling parents who work full-time must prioritize their time and learn how to say “no” to opportunities they don't have time for—even if they are good ones. It can be very difficult to say “no” to a good opportunity, but it is essential for successful. You only have so many hours in a day, and spending all of that time with extra work, volunteering, planning, etc. will detract from time spent teaching.

Make a prioritized list of things you need to accomplish in a day and write the list down as a visual reminder. Top priorities get done first, so make sure that homeschooling is near the top of the list.

Coordinate with Other Homeschoolers

When possible, find a home school family (or find another working parent who wants to home school their children) and coordinate schedules so that your child can be cared for in a home learning environment while you are at work. Be sure to offer to take the other family's children when possible.

Sacrifice Perfection on the Altar of Reality


Ultimately, all parents must sacrifice their dreams of perfection. Only a superhero can keep their house immaculately clean, their children cared for (let alone educated!), and be wildly successful at their job all the time. Things are going to come up short sometimes. The trick is to balance as best you can, and be okay with the results. Set realistic goals and don't browbeat yourself for short comings.

All full-time working, homeschooling parents deserve praise and admiration, no matter what the house looks like or whatever else they sacrifice in their lives. Kudos to you for your remarkable decision to home school, despite the limitations on your time and energy. You certainly have my respect and admiration (and sympathy—I know what it's like!).

In the Comments: Do you have any questions/comments about homeschooling and working full time? Do you have any success stories? I'd love to hear from you!