Just wondering how many do this? I'm thinking of combining mostly sci, history/geography, arts, and probably some L.A. stuff for them. Ds has gaps so some of our math will be combined, as well, although age appropriate review will be different for each. Has this worked for you? How well? What subjects?
I'll start doing this next year, and I've always planned to do so (although I hadn't planned on starting so soon ... they decided that... they'll be 3 and 6 doing kindergarten and 3rd grade). They'll do science and social studies together because I purposely chose the type of curricula that could be combined with any age. (Apologia Young Explorers and Mystery of History). They'll be completely different for language arts and math, but even writing can be combined, because they can learn the same letters at the same time, but at an age-appropriate level (cursive/print, neatness, etc.). I expect my little one to be "writing" with fingerpaints or a pan full of rice, while I'd expect my older one to be in a workbook like HWT or Pentime or something. Same is true for Bible. I can teach the same story, but the older one would do a crossword puzzle or fill in the blank while the younger one colors a picture about the story.
I have combined pairs of vastly different ages (8-13), but with closer ability levels (2nd--3rd/4th), for geography, health, read-alouds (they read aloud for me, alternating paragraphs or pages, then we discussed together -- this was OUTside their regular reading "class" which was individualized), some phonics-review activities, some art activities, and some brief studies for specific occasions (like a one-day thing on Veterans Day, or MLK Jr Day, or something) with differentiated work/activity sheets. It worked quite well with these two. I've also tried teaching pairs of others who were actually doing the same subject same level same curriculum, on a daily basis, and sometimes that didn't go quite as well for some reason.
I started doing this with science and history. My kids were 3,6, and 8 at the time. As 2LittleBoys said, there is some curriculum designed for this. I've used Mystery of History and also Considering God's Creation. I've also used All American History (but I didn't like it as well) and Great Science Adventures (though by that time, my oldest was too old and was doing Apologia on her own). I've also done some grouping with language, and currently my now 5th and 9th graders are doing geography with Around the World in 180 Days together (which I do like).
I have a seven and five year old and we combine all of our unit studies, lapbooks etc. The only thing separate is LA and Math. I prepare our curriculum and make sure I make the work they have to do at grade level. So say DS who is older has to write and explaination for something. I will get DD to draw(she loves drawing) a diagram instead. Works pretty well so far.
I am really hoping to combine science with my kids. DD will be two years behind, but I am going to line it up so they are doing the same thing (even if DS is doing level 2 bio while she is doing level 1...at least they will line up). I am doing Charlotte Mason style literature, history, art appreciation and music appreciation so it will be easy to line-up. I am going to keep math, spelling, phonics on grade level. I am just starting out though so that is obviously my "plan". I know how quickly plans can change when you actually try and carry them out though!
I do this for parts of history, science, and our unit studies. My kids are 10, 8, and 5. The youngest often joins us for just parts of the lessons and then does an activity related to it while I go more indepth with the older two. It is amazing how much my youngest has been learning by joining in some of their lessons!
My two are only a grade apart,3rd and 4th, and ds is really good at math, so they do everything but LA together. The only thing keeping ds on a lower level in LA is his reading level is about 1st grade. It works really well for us, except for when ds brags about being better at math than his big sister. She really hates that he works out of her math book. But I console her by reminding her that she is a much better reader than he is. I'm using Cons God's Creation for science which is supposed to span several grades, and BJU Heritage for history,which is 3rd grade. They probably could do a more advanced history, but I didn't realize that when I bought it.
We kinda sorta do this now. My 4 year old sits in on a lot of what my 1st grader learns. OF course some things don't sink in, he doesn't understand, retains less info, but, it surprises me sometimes how much he picks up when I don't even think he's paying attention! We plan to do many things together-though maybe go more in-depth, expect a bit more from the older one (as in-expect him to do more at a lesson they share because he's 3 years older-not like-in the long run expect more...), through the years.
Definitely combine whenever possible. Combining is the only way I could homeschool several kids. There's not enough time in the day to do each subject with each kid individually. And it's more enjoyable for the kids if they are learning the same things, IMO. Science and history work best for combining. Other subjects may be combined if kids are at the same skill levels.
