Dear Parent,

Thank you for your questions!

Hopefully I can provide some suggestions and helpful tips that will help you juggle homeschooling your children and alleviate some of the pressure from you as the teacher. Obviously it is important that neither you nor your children experience 'burnout' from the schooling. One positive point about homeschooling is that you can control the pace. If your children are not ready to move ahead, or if they feel ready to move on, you can do so without having to stop everyone in their schooling. Also, I believe it is important to focus more on your children's needs, than their grades. It is important that you don't feel pressured or overwhelmed while you are schooling. Easier said than done, I know!

Because you mentioned some specific needs of your children, I will try to give you a few specific tips and ideas to help with the teaching. The first thing I would highly encourage you to do, is create some sort of routine or schedule for the school week. It doesn't have to be anything set in stone, but it would give you at least some idea of how much time you need to set aside for schooling, and how much time you actually have. This way, you can also set aside special time to spend one-on-one time with each of your children. Obviously you are there for all of your children during the day, but if you have set times to spend with each child, you can also use this opportunity to encourage your children to become independent learners.

It is very helpful that your oldest daughter is fairly independent. I can see this as an asset, because while you are teaching the younger children, she can use this time to work independently. If you have not already, I would encourage you to set aside some time for her [depending on how much time you think she needs] in the morning, and the same amount of time in the afternoon. In the morning you can take this opportunity to give instruction, look over together what needs to be completed that day, etc. If you have a set time, such as at 10 am, your daughter will know to gather her things together and be prepared by that time. Again, in the afternoon, you and she can go over what she has finished, what she needs to complete tomorrow and other issues. To help with her math and grammar, your daughter might benefit from educational software which she can work on independently. Also, maybe she would benefit from a private tutor, or a study group in which she could receive extra help for her math and grammar. With a daily writing program and the history program, your daughter can be working on it during her independent time, and she can go over it with you during the time that you have set aside for her.

From what you have said, your next oldest needs a lot of teaching time at this point, and that is just fine. However, I imagine it is difficult for you to give him as much time as he needs right now. Since it takes him a little longer to learn, he undoubtedly needs constant repetition, multiple hands-on activities, visuals, manipulatives and a slower pace in his curriculum. To help with his retention, constant mini reviews and visuals such as charts, pictures, and objects will help him remember. The more senses that he uses, the more he can retain, and the longer he will retain it. Because he is only in fifth grade, I would focus on the core subjects with him, and not worry about the other subjects right now. Therefore, if you can concentrate on the math, reading, grammar and religion with him, you don't necessarily need to worry about the other subjects. For instance, maybe you can do one science or social studies lesson a week and an art lesson on occasion. Right now, I would focus on the core subjects and not worry about the others. With your son, I would particularly encourage the use of educational software in reading and math. There are many computer programs that work on grammar and math skills. These are handy because he can also work independently on this, while you are teaching your other children. Also you can buy math and grammar songs on CD. This way you can incorporate learning into the day, without setting aside actual time for grammar or math. All the children can be learning in the car, during breaks, while you are fixing meals, etc.

Your second grader will also need individual help with his lessons. Again, with him I would also focus on the core subjects, and go easy on the rest. Your youngest, since he is only five, won't need too much schooling during the day. If you work even one hour, two at the most with him each day, this will be sufficient time. Also, if you are following CHC's lesson plan for your two younger children, you will have Wednesdays off. You could save the more intense one-on-one subjects on this day for the two older children. On Saturdays, you can also enlist the help of the oldest with reading review for the younger two.

Hopefully this has helped give you some ideas. Always remember that you are the best teacher for your children. You know their needs, and you can meet them as their parent and teacher.

God bless you and your family!

Laura Nicholson