So I guess I’m writing this to find out how others who homeschool 3+ kids are doing it,and if what we are doing is the normal. I will have 4 in the fall to homeschool.
I have 5th grader audhd level 1, 2nd grader, Kindergartener with autism level 1 and a 4 year old with autism level 1 who will enter TK in the fall.
We do a 4 day school week and during the summer I usually do a 3 day week. In the summer it’s mainly math, spelling, phonics for the current 2nd and Kinder kids, some grammar, and some learning to write paragraphs/essays. I have been doing the summer schooling because it seems to help us not get behind in the school year when field trips come up, park days, having to leave early for a an activity, house prepping weeks for company and so on. It’s the only way I have been able to keep up since adding more kids to homeschool school.
Practically every school day is taking me from 9-5 with all of them. Is the normal with this amount of kids to school?
We start at 9am and my 5th grader starts things he can do independently though it takes him longer to do it alone since he loses focus and determination. He does 4 180 day workbooks, a page from each, fix it grammar, and cursive on his own. Even if he got done faster I would still be busy teaching the 2nd grader to help with things I need to do with him. 5th grader needs me to teach grammar then can do alone, math needs to be taught then can do alone, Mosdos literature with me or he will not do well, spelling with me, social studies and science we use studies weekly and it is online so read to us and has videos but again needs me or will skip stuff and not focus, and writing is being taught with 2nd grader to review concepts he just needs practice on. We used IEW and did well with that but he has trouble thinking creatively for like opinions vs informational, autistic part of him.
My 2nd grader really can only do math after being taught alone and cursive. 2nd grader needs phonics lessons done with me, using AAR 4 so almost done, grammar, spelling, learning how to write paragraphs, and help with four 180 day workbooks(social studies, science, reading comprehension, and geography). Workbooks done with me due to fluency of reading and just not ready to tackle alone and understand concepts like government systems or erosion without extra explaining and such.
Kindergartener needs help with it all. I mean handwriting can be done alone, oversight is needed for math to keep this child going because this child gets overwhelmed and needs on the spot correction, plus using a spiral math which means new stuff each page. Phonics needs me, we just do 180 days workbooks for social studies, science, geography and spelling. Minus the spelling most is so basic but it checks the requirements.
We use a charter so we stick to meeting standards and they all test very well and at or above grade level in different areas. I put a lot into making sure they stay at or above grade level by not getting behind and addressing learning issues quickly.
School is taking my whole day up and I still haven’t added my youngest!
Adding Friday I don’t see as worth it because that is their fun day with friend or a field trip.
Does this get any better? By the time school is done it time to make dinner. I get worn out sitting at the school table, minus lunchtime which I try and make as short as possible for myself like 30 minutes at most. Husband isn’t home till about 415 and leave at 630.
I find it hard to sign them up for classes/activities that are during the day because they cut into school time and Friday’s social time with friends. The only classes that work best for us are like 6 pm or Saturday, which most other homeschool kids don’t seem to be at.
Two of them are in a 3pm class, it’s a short term 3 month and once a week class, and even that cuts into being able to get it all done. My children and I do not do well having mid-day activities for 2-4 hours then having energy to get back to school work it seems.
I feel like all this sitting or standing in on spot teaching them all day is causing me to get more physically unhealthy though I eat pretty healthy. It just feels so draining.
We have been trying to wake up earlier but that usually just leads to starting 30 minutes earlier. They have a very hard time waking up before 7am, minus the toddler who wakes up at 630 but with a horrible grumpy and demanding attitude. I am up at 630 but trying for earlier to get indoor exercise while they sleep but don’t seem to be able finish the work of the day till 930 then it takes me about an hour to fall asleep.
Is this other homeschool mom’s life while homeschooling 3+ kids?!! Does it become less demanding? It seems upper grade levels are making for longer days is their a magical year it gets way easier?
I’m considering putting the older 3 in public school, though none have been ever before.
Thanks for letting me vent!