10 Ways that Brothers & Sisters Can Homeschool Well, Together
Homeschooling children that are multiple ages can be taxing some days. In my opinion though, the fact that I can get this done isn’t always the problem. The problem is in the fact that I have boys and a girl that is sometimes the issue. Why can’t brothers and sisters just get along!?
I know, I know, because God created each of us differently, but then He created boys and girls on opposite ends of the spectrum also. You know, Men are from Mars and Women are from Venus?! It is So True!
So schooling multiple ages is one hurdle that we must overcome as homechoolers, and then the brother/sister tension that is sometimes (okay, most of the time!) added in too, makes for difficult school days around here. But then God . . .
A while ago I learned a secret that I want to share with you. It is possible to homeschool brothers and sisters well, together. Even if it is just getting them to sit at the same table at the same time!
Here are 10 ways I make it happen:
1. If at all possible I try to provide projects for our lessons that are of similar interests to my children. For our kids this seems the easiest route to get stuff done. Printables (eBooks, PDFs, ALL things digital) LEGO, Minecraft, and anything having to do with animals is the way for me to go. Math, science, Bible study, and even homemaking lessons can be completed with the usage of any of the previous products.
2. When I cannot get every one on the same page, I have to dig deeper into a lesson and gather pages or crafts that will interest the individual child. My daughter will be the first one to ask if she can do anything that is horse related. On the other hand my youngest son would complete any work I offered if it is truck related. On occasion it makes it more difficult but if I can get the lesson done with minimal stress by each child working on the same lesson but with different page, it is a total win for me!
3. On occasion I do come across lessons that need to be broken down to each child instead of class as a whole group. This is when I am pleased that I can use products that fit each of my children and their unique personalities and temperaments. My daughter would prefer audio work and hands-on work verses my youngest son would prefer hands-on and worksheets.
4. Food. I have found that if my kids can either help make food with me or even make food by themselves, that they learn more. It probably has to do with the hands-on approach, and the fact that they are always starving, but if I can incorporate food into any given lesson, I do it!
5. Outdoors is another way that I am able to get my boys and girl involved in lessons at the same time. Science lessons work the best because nature is a great teacher. Not counting the fresh air and sunshine we all get to enjoy while we are getting some learning done.
6. I recently discovered that my daughter is actually an auditory learner, which is different than her older brother. Since I have discovered this, I have tried to incorporate audios into our lessons. It is wonderful to get history on CD as well as using audios for spelling. Audios also make traveling and getting school done easy.
7. Teaching godly character to the children is helping with the learning to work together as well as heart training. This is so very important because these young people will always have to work with some one that they don’t always get along with, so training them now to do will increase their ability to do it better later in life.
8. Getting the brothers and sisters to work together is not always the easier thing to do. I have one piece of advice that is vital to getting them to work together instead of against each other. Do not pit your children against each other with the words you use. Each child is unique and a precious gift from above. Using one child’s uniqueness against another child’s failings will only cause more dissension. We must teach them to embrace their differences and work harder at heart parenting.
9. Encourage the children to utilize their uniqueness and allow them to help each other during lessons, if at all possible. This helps them see that they abilities are good and useful, and to turn their failings into gifts.
10. The one way that I cannot share enough about getting your boys and girls on the same page during school days is this; PRAY HARD and expect to have rough days. Nothing escapes the greatness of the Lord though, so take heart.
I hope that from this post that you can take away this encouraging advice – in homeschooling brothers and sisters, or all brothers, or all sisters, that the Lord is in total control and that this is well pleasing to Him. Stick with it mama, He sees you and He is proud of you for all of the hard work you are putting into this homeschool thing.
In His Grace.
Callie
Check out this Brother and Sister Bundle in the 2017 Build Your Bundle sale:
P.S. Or you can Build Your Own Bundle:
P.P.S. Handy Tools
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