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Teaching Different Grade Levels
by Bart Buskey

I have been home schooling for five years. I have a fourth grader and a second grader.

Since it is October, I would like to jump ahead, assuming you have your curriculum, by answering a question for those who are home schooling two or more children. You have probably asked, "How do I home school more than one child in different grades?"

There are some out there who are thinking about home schooling in the near future. I will help you in that area, but first I want to tackle this question. If you are a first time home schooler you may or may not be confused on how to do this. I sure was. In fact, it drove me crazy.

There are various ways to do this. My way may not be the best way for you. You need to explore different ways of doing things to decide which way benefits you and your children.

I start my day with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag. I then have my boys start working in their math books. Now some would start one on math and the other child on a different subject. This works really well. My youngest usually finishes first so we than jump into language. When my oldest finishes, I usually let him have a small five minute break and than I have him start on his spelling and vocabulary words. I have my sons write each spelling word, each day, five times apiece.

By the time my 4th grader gets finished doing vocabulary and spelling, he is ready to jump into language and my youngest child takes a break.

For the next two years both boys will be doing history and geography of the Old and New Testament together. Actually, we are going to be doing this subject together as a family. Both of my sons have already had U.S. history and geography with my 4th grader having three years of it. I will start my 4th grader on world history, U.S. history and geography in a couple of years. My 2nd grader will start U.S. history and geography at that time.

Both of them are doing the same science books. Yes, it is a little easy for my 4th grader, but he is still learning. My 2nd grader is learning as well, but with this curriculum they can actually work together on their experiments and such.

This system I have set up, for now, is a system that works and we get done with our school within three to four hours. However, my 4th grader, at times, has homework that he must do.

If you feel that you are getting frustrated you should take a break yourself. There have been times that I have finished school later on in the day. The nice thing about home schooling is that you have that leeway to make your own time schedule.

Home schooling is not going to be easy all the time. It is nice to have support. This is the nice aspect about this site. We can lean and learn from each other.



Bart Buskey, Meridian, Idaho - Fatherville Contributer

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