Working With Multiple Children & Grades

A common question we get is, "how can I possibly homeschool successfully with more than one child?!!!

We at Daily Wonder fully recognize this challenge and are here to encourage you to go for it. We have collected our ideas based on teaching experience and feedback from other DW members. We hope you'll be inspired and encouraged to persevere through the inevitable learning curve. Let us remind you that not only do you need to learn to homeschool for two different grades, but most of you are new to homeschooling entirely and ought to cut yourself some slack. You heard it here; take a deep breath; you've got this!

Here are the top 10 suggestions for homeschooling more than one child:

1. Familiarize yourself with the content and theme of the unit. This will allow you to think creatively on the spot as you go through the weeks. It will also help you understand how the different units can overlap and complement each other.
2. Create and establish your routine. Decide on the "what, where, when, who and how" of each moment of your morning lesson. We recommend checking out this blog we wrote to delve into this subject.  
3. Gather your opening resources, such as verses, songs and movement ideas. Now that you're familiar with the unit contents - gather resources that could serve all of your children. For example, you might find subjects that serve both children, such as a seasonal verse, and you might have your older child recite independently while your younger child says the verse with you and your older children. With movement, you might choose a partner clapping or rhythm game to serve all of your children. Older children can support younger siblings to learn the movement and corresponding verse. 
4. Decide on suitable independent activities for each child. Within your routine, you will have separate working times for each child. You will want to have materials ready for this work time. For example, you might have a basket of specific materials/toys for your youngest child to access for this time only. Saving these materials for this particular school time will maintain interest and engagement for your child. Consider using silent reading or independent academic projects for older children, etc. Pro tip: Maintaining boundaries when teaching children how to work independently is essential. They WILL ask for help and hugs - maintain your boundaries with your vision for the long-term goal of independently working children. For younger children, it is reasonable to begin by expecting 10-15 minutes of independent work time that increases over time. 
5. Choose math games that will support all your children at once. You'll want fun ways to bring math to life for your children, and games are a great way to do this. DW has some videos and links in the Resource Hub that might suit your needs. DW also recommends that each child works for 10-15 minutes in a state/provincial grade-level math workbook daily. Having your children work side by side while you support them as needed might be possible. 
6. Accept the opportunity to honour social-emotional learning as your children navigate sharing your time and attention. Your children will take turns waiting and being patient while cultivating personal and social awareness and responsibility. Beyond academics, the need to develop personal and social awareness and responsibility is an equally important part of learning. The journey to this learning will include many opportunities for self-regulation - an ingredient of resilience. Maintaining this understanding will allow each moment to be a learning opportunity and support you to trust in the process.
7. Organize the 'review and new material' portion of your children's lessons to create the best scenario for optimal flow. For example, while your grade 5 child works on a rough draft summary after reviewing the previous day's lesson, you could work with your grade 2 child on spelling words. This will fluctuate depending on what the lesson calls for. You must create the best scenario for dividing your attention as required.
8. Consider the appropriate time for each lesson's story. Your first step is to look at each unit's story time requirements. For example, some units have a story theme running through the month, while others suggest that children who are independent readers choose a related chapter book. Based on the age and reading level, and the unit, you have a few options:
   1. If children are all in units that have a set story to tell, you could have them all hear all stories. 
   2. Read one story during morning lesson and one at bedtime, or
   3. Separate children during bookwork to present one story, then switch.
9. Take advantage of Flex Week Projects. An excellent way to have your child sink into independent work over time is to have them choose an independent project based on the unit's theme.  
10. Pat yourself on the back! We always say this, but it is true, being a parent is hard AND being a teacher is hard; you're doing both! Your effort and striving, and mistakes offer tremendous learning for your children. When the morning lesson does not go as planned, it can help to know that learning is happening all day. For ideas for activities outside the morning lesson that are wonderful learning experiences and cover learning standards, check out our blog on this subject. 

Our children today are at risk of not knowing how to work independently. Many children struggle with self-regulation and with persevering through a challenge. Our modern culture revolves around instant gratification, which can be challenging to work against. 

At Daily Wonder, we like to harken back to the old schoolhouse model where one teacher taught a community of multi-aged children. In this model, the children were expected to manage themselves and support others as learning community members. With a fresh perspective on connection rather than punishment, we can expect children to develop these same capacities for self-regulation and resilience through love, accountability and the desire to contribute positively to the community's well-being.