How to actually Homeschool Multiple Ages with Expert Advice

I’m a homeschooling mom to one child. That’s because we are an only child family. If we had more children I’d be homeschooling them too. But since we don’t I write my homeschooling blog from our only child perspective. But, I know that most of you reading this are multiple child families and you have questions about how to successfully homeschool multiple ages and do it successfully. 

I get it. I’d be asking those questions too if I were in your shoes. Which is why I’ve been doing research. I turned to homeschool bloggers who  are experts at how to homeschool multiple ages many of which are successfully doing so in large families.

“I like to do as much family style learning as possible. We do that with science and history. I would go crazy trying to do six different science lessons and six different history lessons. No thank you! I like that we can sit down as a family and work together. Each child working as his or her own level, but all on the same topic.” Jen from Forever For Always, Homeschooling in a Large Family: How We Make it Work

Bloggers to Follow who Homeschool Multiple Ages

1. Abundant Life – Marianne
2. Aspired Living – Kyle
3. Confessions of a Homeschooler – Erica
4. Contented at Home – Judy
5. Hodgepodge – Tricia
6. Forever For Always – Jen
7. Free Homeschool Deals – Jammerill
8. Raising Arrows – Amy
9. Raising Lifelong Learners – Colleen
10. The Chaos and the Clutter – Sharla
11. The Kennedy Adventures – Dianna
12. Trains and Tutus – Laura & Amanda

This post contains affiliate links to 3rd party sites where products purchased may result in paid compensation for this blogger. 

Curriculum for Homeschooling Multiple Ages

• Bible Study Guide for All Ages – Teach one Bible Lesson, then students work at their own to level. 
• Mystery of History by Bright Ideas Press, one lesson for the whole family with individual activities for each learning level. 
• Apologia Sciences (Especially Exploring Creation Series) This is a science you can teach to multiple ages while including activities at each age level. 
• Nature Studies and Living Math at Shining Dawn Books
• Simple Start in Chalk Pastels – This art is easy to use/teach and each person works at their own skill level. 
• SQUILT Music Appreciation – A music appreciation study that allows students to work at their own level.

For an even more comprehensive listing of curriculum for homeschooling multiple ages, see this post at the Curriculum Choice.
♥ Choosing Homeschool Curriculum for Multiple Ages

Encouraging Videos for Homeschooling Multiple Ages

• Homeschool Hangouts by The iHomeschool Network
• Homeschooling Children from Multiple Ages by Mamas Learning Corner
• Occupying the Littles During School Time by Mamas Learning Corner

Must Read Homeschool Multiple Ages Blog Posts

These blog posts are filled with information for families who are homeschooling multiple ages, with advice, tips, helpful how to’s, and guides you’ll be sure to find encouragement and knowledge to help you to reach homeschooling success. 

• 10 Truths about Homeschooling a Large Family at Abundant Life
• A Day in the Life of a Large Homeschool Family at Abundant Life
• A Typical Day in Our Large-Family Homeschool at Contented at Home
• Affording the Large Family Homeschool at Raising Arrows
• Being Prepared for Homeschooling The Multiple Age Children at Blessed Learners

• Big Ones and Little Ones at The Homeschool Post
• Helpful Homeschool Habits for Multiple Ages at Hodgepodge
• Homeschool Planning for the Large Family at Contented at Home
• Homeschooling a Special Needs Child in a Large Family at Forever For Always

• Homeschooling in a Large Family: How we Make it Work at Forever For Always
• Homeschooling Multiple Ages at Hodgepodge
• Homeschooling Multiple Ages at LaToya Edward’s 
• Homeschooling Multiple Ages at Susan’s Homeschool Blog
• Homeschooling: Teaching Multiple Ages at Confessions of a Homeschooler

“As a homeschooling mom of seven, I can totally relate to the challenges of large family homeschooling. Teaching every subject from chemistry to phonics in one short day can require almost superhuman efforts. Still, the benefits of teaching my children at home far outweigh the challenges of a typical homeschool day.” Judy at Contented at Home, Large Family Homeschooling: Fitting in the “Extras”

• How Do Homeschool Moms Teach Multiple Ages Together? at The Homeschool Post
• How I Juggle the Needs of My Introvert and Extravert Learners at Education Possible
• How to Teach Preschoolers to Play Quietly (While Teaching Older Kids) at Look We’re Learning
• I Can’t Homeschool Because of the Little Ones at Hodgepodge
• “I” is for Incorporating Your Littles Into Your Homeschool Fun! at Raising Clovers

• Keeping Perspective in the Large Family Homeschool at Abundant Life
• Large Family Homeschool at Forever For Always
• Large Family Homeschooling: Fitting in the “Extras” at Contented at Home
• Large Family Logistics at The Homeschool Post
• Multiple Ages: How to Plan a Group Subject with One Text at Classic Housewife

• Must Have Homeschooling Items for a Large Family at Forever For Always
• Preschool Activities List (Activities to keep little one’s busy during the school day) at Raising Clovers
• Teaching Multiple Ages at Heart of Michelle
• The Ultimate Guide to Homeschooling Many at Sam’s Noggin
• Why I’m Sold on Independent Learning at Annie and Everything

Homeschool Networks/Group Blogs to Follow

• iHomeschool Network
• The Curriculum Choice
• The Homeschool Post
• The Homeschool Village

Stay Organized as you Homeschool Multiple Ages

• Homeschooling the Large Family in a Small House at Abundant Life
• Organizing Notebooks at Adventures in Mommydom
• Organizing the Large Family Homeschool at Raising Arrows
• Organizing the Large Family Homeschool: Schedules and Planners at Abundant Life
• Organizing the Unorganized Learner at Our Journey Westward
• Weekly Homeschool Planning Meeting with Multiple Ages at Hodgepodge
• Weekly Lesson Notebooks at Our Journey Westward
• Where we Homeschool in a Large Family at Abundant Life

Multiple Ages Homeschooling Pinterest Boards

• Homeschooling in a Large Family a Group Board
• Large Family Homeschool by Aspired Living
• Large Family Homeschooling by Bold Turquoise

How to Teach Multiple Ages

Here you will find practical advice, how to tips ,methods and curriculum choices which work well for homeschooling multiple ages.

• Hands On Geography for Multiple Ages at Hodgepodge
• How I Teach History to Multiple Ages at The Chaos and the Clutter
• How I Teach Language Arts to Multiple Ages (and Special Needs) at The Chaos and the Clutter
• How I Teach Math to Multiple Ages with Special Needs at The Chaos and the Clutter
• How I Teach Multiple Ages Using the Charlotte Mason Method at Heart of Michelle
• How to Find Free and Inexpensive Homeschool Curriculum at Abundant Life
• How to Teach Art to Multiple Ages at Hodgepodge
• Math with Multiple Ages at Hodgepodge
• Music Study for the Large Family at Forever For Always
• Project-Based Learning with Multiple Ages at Our Journey Westward
• Teaching Reading to Multiple Kids at Adventures in Mommydom
• Science with Multiple Ages at Hodgepodge
• Spring Nature Study with Multiple Ages at Hodgepodge
• Strategies for Multi-level Teaching in the Large Homeschooling Family at Abundant Life
• Writing Workshop for Multiple Ages at Hodgepodge

It is impossible for me to concentrate handling all of the children with different materials and capabilities. I can sit with them all, but they cannot depend on me getting focus on all child at the same time. Therefore, independence in doing daily work is really highlighted. Adelien at Blessed Learners, Being Prepared for Homeschooling the Multiple Age Children.

Books for Homeschooling with Multiple Ages

From what I understand (admittedly I have only one) homeschooling a family with multiple ages is completely do-able. It may require some extra planning, like utilizing some hands-on learning like, LEGO Learning options. Or, it may require using free printable curriculum that spans age ranges. And, it might mean that you have to think outside of the educational boxes and meet your kids where they are. Oh, wait, that’s kind of true for all homeschooling isn’t it?

If you are homeschooling multiple ages in your home, let me know how many and their age ranges in the comments. 

May you find peaceful homeschooling days ahead.

This Homeschool Post is part of the iHomeschool Network Resources for Homeschool Moms, (available 10/12/15).

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