One question I get often is: How do you school all your children with different children using different curricula.

First, I stay off the computer during school hours & I don't answer the phone. I might check my emails in the morning if I get up early enough. I try to spend an hour each day with each child. With schooling five and one running wild it's not easy but can be done. I don't stress about our chores during school hours. We pick up the evening before and after breakfast.

Because we use workbooks, it does help that I can hand my younger ones an assignment, briefly tell them what to do and start my one on one with my two older ones

I also try to stick to a schedule. It doesn't always happen but I try so hard. I also make it a goal to get my children reading by grade 3. By this I mean able to read and understand the directions in their workbooks and textbooks. This didn't happen with my first, he wasn't 'really' reading until the end of his 4th grade year. It makes it more difficult because they depend more on you when they are not reading well. My daughter on the other hand was reading great by 1st grade and it's so much easier to school her. With my third child I am really working on getting him ready to work on his own next year.

I would say the #1 thing is teaching them to be independent. That doesn't mean that you are not involved. When your child is more independent and taking control of his or her schooling it means that they don't have to have you holding their hands every step of the way. It means when they finish an assignment they 'know' to start the next. If they are stuck on a problem and you are busy with another student they can still go on and do something else until you can help them. (I'm still working on this with my oldest)

We use workbooks for Grammar, Reading, Phonics & Spelling because they can do this on their own if they have to. Recently I also switched our other subjects to textbooks and that has helped tremendously. No longer do my children have to wait on me to do Geography, History & Science. They can do it on their own.

I also use a lesson planner. On Friday or Saturday I write out the lessons for Joshua & Annette. I put the pages, subject etc. and they mark them off as they go. It's time consuming but works for us. I'm trying to figure out an easier way. Next year we will use Christian Light Education and maybe that will eliminate some of the scheduling. My children like the lesson planners.

Caleb & Brent are both using:

• R&S Phonics & Reading 1
• Climbing to English 1
• MUS Brent Alhpa & Caleb Beta (along with CLE as soon as it gets here)

They are on different lessons with R&S & CTGE so I don't school them together. Their one on one time looks something like this.

• 15 min. going over phonics lesson. Going over flash cards, reading the sidelines and doing a few problems together.
• 15 min. going over reading lesson. They read the chapter to me but do the work on their own and going over flashcards
• 15 min. of math and they do the rest on their own.
• With Caleb we do 15 minutes of Writing With Ease Mon.-Thur.
• Science & Social Studies on Friday. I read and ask questions. Might even do on Saturday.

They both do Climbing to Good English on their own and I correct if needed during our hour.

With Josh it's hard fitting in everything. I make it a priority to do Grammar, Writing, Spelling & Math with him.  That usually takes up all our time. I correct his Social Studies & Science at night and will show him if there are any corrections needed so he can do that the next day.

Annette:

• 15 min. Writing With Ease
• 15 min. First Language Lessons 3
• 15 min. of Singapore Math she does the workbook pages on her own
• last fifteen minutes we go over reading, social studies or science. Depending on what she needs help with.

One last thing. I am interrupted through out the day. In a perfect world there would be no interruptions (how boring) so I expect them and my younger ones do need attention. Sometimes I'll have Lance sit on my lap or close by. No, it's not always quiet and yes, I do have to stop to give a correction now and then. For CHRISTmas I bought some Playmobiles and these keep my four year old busy for hours. WORTH the money. LOL.  I plan to purchase another one for school hours only. LOL.

I don't know if that has answered any questions if not feel free to ask away.

Blessings,

Linda<><

Email me at Homeschooling6[At]hotmail[Dot]com.