It's less noise if I send two kids to their rooms for a break while I work with the other one, and then rotate the children in and out. Obviously this takes longer than having the two oldest do math, for example, at the same time, while the preschooler does something else. How do you teach more than one child? What works the best for your family?
with your grades/ages I would do the same thing. They will be getting it much sooner and the days will come when you can have two sitting and one off doing something else.. just be patient!
My kids are actually able to do all their lessons together except for math and reading aloud. During math time, I put one on the computer to do the free online typing course at the BBC kids website. I used to use the online curriculum time4learning.com during that time. That way, I felt like they were still doing something that was educational. I know some families do a college-type rotation with certain subjects only on certain days. For example, math and English subjects would be on MWF, and then history, science, etc. would be on T/Th. That way, they could work a little longer with each child. Thankfully, yours are young enough for the most part that their days shouldn't be too long anyway. And they really should be able to start doing some things on their own soon.
I would have the little one sit and listen and try to answer ?s with the older one. I would be good for him, he would glean from the older My dd in 1st was in privite school and her teacher had k and 1st together. she made k listen to the 1st lesson and answer the problems she gave. they learned but she did not test them or anything, while 1st was doing seat work then she would teach k, she said it worked out well and k learned better. (they heard the same lesson twice, each lesson in 1st would review k) just my toughts.
I kept my four kids in the same school room most of the time. When I started HS, I had 4th gr, 3rd gr, K, and 2 yr old. I had a playpen for the 2 yr old, and at times the K would be in the playpen with her little sister to amuse her. We also schooled durign naptimes. The school room was right next to the Kitchen, so I could bop into the kitchen to fix meals and keep an ear on them while they dawdled through their assignments <G>. When they were little, though, I did a lot of unit studies, so everyone was working on the same subject except for math. As my youngest grew, she just grew up in a home that was also a school. She wanted her own desk, and wanted to do "school" with the big kids. So she'd sit at a desk and work on puzzles or playdough or coloring pictures. And I started to teach her to read at 4, because she wanted to learn. But whatever works best for you is great. Ijust could not have sent my kids to their rooms to work, because they wouldn't have worked. They'd have played. By keeping them all together, they could help each other with problems, and also keep an eye on each other! Lorelei
Try giving the older one a list of what he can do independently. Then he can work in his room on that while you're rotating the other two. Even the middle one can do some things independently. I would also try to combine science/social studies with the older two, and have the youngest one sitting in and listening. (He can color, play with Legos, or some such thing while he listens!)
I often let my kids do computer time while I am working with one of the others on reading or math or something that needs one on one time. I have plenty of educational cd's and have bookmarked a lot of educational sites as well. It normally gives them a breather as well and they are more willing to come back to the table and work on their work when break is over.
I also have a 3rd and 1st grader and a 4 yr old. Here's our schedule... some days work out smoother than others! We start with bible and a prayer...all together I have a workbook and lots of loose coloring pages/worksheets that my 4 yr old can do if he wants. I'm not really trying to teach him anything yet, he just picks it up by listening in. He stays with us for a while in the morning and then runs off to play. Handwriting - ds2 does his "ALL BY MYSELF" heaven forbid I try to show him how to do it!! Ds1 is learning cursive so I demonstrate and then just check to make sure he's doing it semi-right. Journals - they do independently Ds1 starts spelling - independently unless it's test day. Math - ds2 usually needs me sitting with him, but he can work by himself for a few minutes, or sit quietly if ds1 needs help. When ds2 finishes math he gets a break while I help ds1. Start ds1 on science, and help ds2 with phonics. Then we do any experiments that we have for the day and then take a break. After break I help ds2 with his reading while ds1 does his by himself. After reading ds2 is done for the day so I help ds1 finish his reading. Then we do english and history. Sometimes ds2 and ds3 listen to the history. On a good day we do about 2 hours in the morning and 1 1/2 hours in the afternoon. A big chunk of that time is spent getting drinks, looking out the window, talking about anything but schoolwork.. they could definitely finish faster if they wanted.
I also alternate back and forth between my older two. The one I am not working with is usually working on several computer programs. They work on typing, phonics, and math on the computer and then can read until I call them to switch. It makes me feel better to know that they are doing something prductive while I am occupied with their sister.
I think a lot depends on the type of curriculum you use. If you use a unit study or literature based style it is easier to combine than if you use a workbook style. I combine my 2 boys for most subjects. I alternate some subjects that are computer based so they can each have a turn. They also both get reading time with me. Math they do together and I help each one as needed.
I initially thought I would teach at the same time, but then two would just sitting there while I explained math (for example) to the first one. Then the first one would get started on his work, but I am concerned he wouldn't be able to concentrate as well b/c I would be teaching the 2nd one, and so on. So today, I sent the youngest two to play in their rooms, and did math with the oldest. Then I sent the oldest to play with the youngest while I did math with the middle child, and so on. That is how it worked throughout the entire day for each subject. CLP has more work than what we did last year, so it took longer (4hrs. and 10min. to be exact - yes, I timed it). This was with three children/grades, but the preschooler's work took very little of this time. The only thing they all did together was opening/calendar, Bible, and a reading book (this is the only book they will do together the whole year, the rest are by grade level). The other subjects are separated by grade, which I do not mind. I just don't want the one working to be distracted by the one hearing their lesson. I hope I am making sense here, I am very tired!
