Homeschooling Multiple Children
Meeting Your Children’s Individual Needs Without Going Crazy
May 28, 2007
Use a literature-based, “unit study” approach to homeschooling and plan field trips that will enhance your children’s learning.
FIeld trips can serve as a springboard for in depth study or as the culminating activity at the end of a unit. A trip to the zoo may take place at the beginning (to get them excited and thinking) or at the end of the unit as an experience that ties it all together and helps the children make connections.
For example, if the homeschool group is planning a trip to a local rehabilitation center for endangered birds, check out books on the topic, go bird watching, view a documentary about birds, and so forth. Print out coloring sheets for the little ones and crossword puzzles on the topic for older children. Look for craft ideas related to birds and even have the children come up with their own activities. This unit study would incorporate all subject areas--science, social studies, art, writing, reading, and math (with some creativity). Many parents plan their unit study with a quick chart that lists traditional school subjects, jotting down ideas that will keep their children interested while improving their skills in different areas. An internet search provides parents with ideas related to the topic in a matter of minutes!
The beauty of the unit study approach is that one can meet the needs of several children without using three different curriculums. While they’re all studying endangered birds, each child gets something a little different out of the reading materials, activities, and field trip (based on their interests and abilities). Expect more from older children, asking them to create a PowerPoint presentation about the Bald Eagle and having younger ones simply write and illustrate a short story. Read aloud to younger children about endangered birds and do “buddy reading” with older children or have them read silently. The entire family is learning and talking about the same topic, with the parent providing age-appropriate activities and assistance when needed. It may sound overwhelming at first, but it actually comes naturally to many parents once they’ve gotten started with this approach and see how it benefits family life and their children’s understanding of the world around them.
Meet children’s individual needs through the use of technology, one-on-one time, and local classes.
Parents who use the unit study approach may want or need to keep detailed records of their children’s individual progress. Educational websites like Edhelper.com provide printable worksheets for math and other topics that can be downloaded for a minimal fee. Websites such as Time 4 Learning and educational software like Math Blaster can actually track progress and provide reports on skill mastery. Utilizing resources such as these can help “fill in the gaps” and set parents’ minds at ease when homeschooling multiple children. In addition, most states lists their learning objectives for each grade level online, so parents may print these and use them as a general guide throughout the year.
Parents who are homeschooling several children should make an effort to spend one-on-one time with each child on a regular basis and involve them in activities that interest them. One child might want to learn to crochet while another may want to plant a garden. Consider music and art classes or organized sports if a child shows an interest and look into homeschool cooperative groups so children can learn from other adults in the community.
 |
