Posted in School

Often times large families have a wide age range of children.  Other families have large age gaps between children.  These broad age ranges can cause confusion and frustration for the homechooling parent.  Here are a few helpful pointers to ease the stress of teaching in your one room school house...ok maybe you have more than one room in your house, but you get the idea.

• Determine what are your youngest children's best independent times of day.  If your younger children like to have a schedule activity in the morning, but enjoy playing independently before lunch, choose to teach a non-youngster friendly lesson during the hour before lunch.  You will have less interruptions if you follow the littletons internal schedule.
• Plan a few small scheduled activities for littletons each day, as you would your other lessons.  These activities should be primarily for the littletons.  There is sooooo much you can do in 15-20 min.  On a typical day, we cover letters, writing, memory verses, math, and one other topic in 30 minutes or less.  This gives them something to look forward to first thing in the morning.  Sometimes being first with school is best for littletons.  When that 20-30 minute period of learning is over, your littletons will likely give you an hour or so break from scheduled activity.  It is the planning these activities that is important.  Having the plans on paper with your other lessons, gives them an importance and for the "list" mom, a sense of accomplishment when she crosses it off each day. 
• When is nap time and how long does it last?  In our home we only have one littleton who still naps.  She may go down anywhere between 1-3, depending ont he day's activities and her crankiness level.  During this time, I will read to the non-napping littletons (1 book).  The rest of nap time is devoted to answer questions and helping the elderly kids.  If it is a quiet day assistance wise, I can get a few chores done.  Nap time can be a critical time period to accomplish thought intensive tasks without interruptions.
• Think about recess.  Do you have recess each day?  How long is recess?  What do you do for recess?  If you have a day per week that consists of the littletons playing freely outside, use that time to bask in the fresh air and read aloud with the elderly. 
• What lessons can be tailored to all age groups?  We do spelling very early in our day.  My littletons like to participate in this activity.  Although they are easy spellers, they are excited to be part of the elderly school time.  They take turns listening to each sibling do spelling dictation.  When it comes to their turn they get the same paper and pencils and I ask random 3-4 letter words.  Even littletons who are not writing letters yet can partake of this activity, because whatever they write on the paper is not of consequence.  The important thing is the training of them to participate respectfully and non-disruptively.
• If you study scripture at home, consider including everyone at one time.  While reading a lengthy Bible passage may be much for littletons to adhere to in its entirety, you will find they are picking up more and more.  As you ask questions, the littletons will become excited to participate and share their knowledge.  Always reward answers that show that they have paid attention with lots of praise!  For answers that are off base, consider praise such as,"very good effort" or "that was an awesome try.  I can tell you are thinking." 
• Do you have family read aloud time.  Consider having 2 read aloud books for each session.  One that is more on th elevel of your littletons and then one for the elderly.  Always read the littleton passage first.  This way, if they don't stick with the story for the elderly, they won't feel left out.  Also, enphasize that the littletons sit quietly and still.  This will continue to be a benefit during other times and activities.
• Break up your day.  Look at your school schedule.  Can you rearrange your schedule to accomodate 2-3 20 minute times with the littletons.  They are more likely to play on their own for a longer period of time with set activities inbetween.
• Think up daily stations that the littletons can work at independently (in our house this means No paint); reading, puppets, puzzles, games, scraps and glue, drawing, coloring, etc.  Have a different station planned for each day.  Use it during a time when your elderly need your full attention.  Restrict the playtime at this station to be only as long as the teaching of the elderly.  This will help keep them from boredom, and again, something to look forward to. 
• Stagger lessons.  Consider staggering certain lesson of the elderly to incorporate them in the littleton entertainment field.  If you are teaching algebra to your teens, have an elderly child who is not studying algebra tend to the children.
• When the day rolls around that the littletons are constantly calling for your attention, take a deep breath.  Look at their faces and remember they will not be looking to you forever. Discuss good manners regarding interruptions and ask the elderly if they can take a 15 minute break so you can regroup the littletons.  The elderly will remember that you made time for even the smallest child important at a time when that child seemed to need you most.

These are my thoughts.  Happy homeschooling!