Ask:
I keep hearing how much easier it is if you combine your kids, but to me I think that would be holding the older one back and be too advanced for the younger. My first 2 are 18 months apart but my dd (the older one) is gifted (literally not just my pride) and my 2nd is a typical active boy. I feel like if I combine them they will each be losing out, but if I try to have everything different I don't see how I can teach three, three seperate things day in and day out. SO I'm wondering how those of you do it, any tips, pointers, etc.
I use Sonlight right now so I could combine the core and do individual math and reading, but would my younger one be ready for the heavy reading of Sonlight? I don't think so.
Answer:
I can't answer your questions specific to Sonlight. But, this is one reason why I choose to do Unit Studies. For example, we all meet to learn about a science or history subject then the assignments differ according to abilities. A preschooler may have an art project on the topic while the older chldren do independent research papers. Another thing I do is have the older children read to the younger children. I often have the older children prepare presentations or demonstrations for the younger children. They all really enjoy this. Their excitement builds off of each other. It's really fun to watch. I think they retain more that way, too. We do separate for math and grammar generally. But, the time involved in those subjects is minimal as we integrate it into so many of our other assignments when possible. You'll find as the children get older, they require much less of your time and work more independently, too.
I make up my own curriculum, for the most part, but I think Weaver is designed for multi-level teaching. I'm not sure if there are any others.
Answer:
I'm teaching a 7th grader and K-1st grader and we do integrate some things especially science and some social studies. But it is hard to do much of anything else together although my daughter who is the 7th grader likes to do calendar and read to my son.
Answer:
I have a fifth grader (dyslexic, so he learns differently than your typical fifth grader), a third grader and a first grader as well as a preschool 3 year old. We work on different things, but you would be surprised at how much they learn off of each other just by being present when the others are working on different things. My 3 year old can already do simple addition of single numbers, just by being there when my first grader was working on that lesson. We also like to explore things of interest along the way, and they all get involved in that. I always have one working on one thing and another working on their own thing as well, but if they become interested in something someone else is studying, we will all work on it together. Although I wouldn't hold one back or skip one ahead just so they would be in the same grade at the same time. That doesn't seem very beneficial to anyone really.