When we first started this journey 8 years ago, I had no idea what we were doing. I signed us up for the first Catholic box curriculum I found and prayed it would work out. Not long after we started, we listed to a Matt Fradd episode of Pints with Aquinas featuring Steven Rummelsburg that changed the trajectory of our homeschooling experience. Here we are eight years later, homeschooling 4 kids at once and I can’t help but think back to the beginning. If I could go back in time, I would sit myself down with a good cup of strong coffee (cream only) and list out the following tips!
1. Do not stress about finding the perfect curriculum.
I repeat… do not stress about finding the perfect curriculum. Go purchase The Well-Trained Mind: A Guide to Classical Education at Home right now! It breaks down curriculum options, timelines, structures for your day and much more! It’s my favorite resource on how to homeschool multiple kids at once. Yes, my children ripped the jacket cover in the picture. A little tape and it’s good as new.
My second favorite book on homeschooling has to be Call of the Wild + Free from Ainsley Arment. This book breaks the last chains that bind you to thinking inside the box.
2. Rainbow Resource Center is the best resource for all supplies!
Need curriculum, art supplies, math games, pencils, or how to create a transcript? Rainbow resource has it all and more! They have so many amazing resources that I had to limit myself this last summer from buying any more. You can check out their online catalogs or request a free copy with an order to peruse. It’s now my go to location for Birthday and Christmas gifts!
3. Do not try and recreate the public school schedule!
If you’re like our family, you are homeschooling your children for multiple reasons. One of those reasons is having a flexible schedule as well as freedom to study at your own pace. I remember sitting in class, knowing the answers and being bored! Not happening here. Our oldest son does science daily for fun because we bought him Science Is after listening to an episode of the Make Joy Normal podcast. We gave him the freedom to explore and watched his love of learning explode.
Additionally, do not wait to purchase a set of encyclopedias from World Book. This has been one of the best purchases for our homeschool library. We waited until Black Friday and bought one of the older sets for a great deal. You can also find them on used bookstore websites. I clearly need to go find who has volume #14!
4. You do not need a perfectly curated homeschool room.
You do not need a perfectly curated homeschool room. Our kids naturally gravitate to where they feel most comfortable learning. I encourage you to use that decorating and cleaning energy elsewhere, like taking a shower and eating a warm meal. Just me?
5. Buy a laminator and whiteboard markers!
Hear me out… rip all the pages out of the curriculum you use for Kindergarten through 2nd or 3rd grade and laminate the pages. It is so much easier this way when you are planning on using the same books for multiple kids. You can easily pull out the pages you need each day and store them in a three ring binder. Our kids often put the pages they’re using on a clipboard and walk around.
6. Stagger your start times.
The biggest hurdle to homeschooling 4 kids at once will be figuring out how to structure your day. The one tip I can give you is staggering your kiddo’s start times for hands on learning. Start with the youngest, then the second youngest, and so on. Your older children can read or do other subjects that don’t require your help while you work with the little ones first. This is one of the best tips I ever received!
7. When you’re in the thick of early pregnancy and early postpartum, just do the basics.
Do not push lessons when you’re running on less than an empty tank. Just focus on Math and English. These subjects can be done lying down if needed. If you’re like me, you will pass through the Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG) period eventually and will have energy again. When you start to come up for air, add one subject at a time over the course of a few weeks. Group subjects together for the entire family when possible, such as history and art. This will save you time and energy when homeschooling 4 kids at once. Your brain will clear as the baby is older and you will be able to jump back in to the routine you love.
8. Find your people and start a co-op.
Homeschooling doesn’t need to be alone. Find your people and meet up once a week to share in group subjects. You will find your clan and your circle will expand. It will take trial and error, as well as heartache, but it will be worth it in the end.
Bravo to those who thrive in a very large group! We are not those people. Call it being skeptical or against the grain, but the entire reason why we chose homeschooling was to be in charge of what our children were learning. Joining a large group felt like handing the decision making for our children over to other people. This is probably controversial, but you might as well be in a public school if your beliefs and goals do not align. Do not compromise and join the large group if it’s at the expense of your children. Trust your gut and pray for guidance. God will provide.
9. Your children are capable of more than you realize.
Do not be worried that your children are too young to balance learning with life skills. Your children are cable of more than you realize!
Bring your kiddos with you during your daily life. They are capable of loading and unloading the dishwasher, rotating the laundry, and putting the laundry away. In fact, our youngest sons will fight over the vacuum when we clean the floors. I’ve been teaching them life skills I wish I had growing up, like cooking and homemaking. Today we nursed a sick chicken back to health while doing math.
Every day is a new adventure when homeschooling 4 kids at once!
From our clan to yours, you’ve got this!
Kirsten
What we’ve been up to!
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Update to the original post: I forgot to mention that the only downside to The Well-Trained Mind: A Guide to Classical Education at Home is the author’s perspective on religion. We live our faith out daily and do not need curriculum recommendations.
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