Questions for those teaching kids close in age/grade

[tess in the burbs]

I am putting together a long term plan so I know we are doing now what we need to for the future *if* the kids want to pursue a high academic career.

My kids are back to back grades. Both wanted to learn to read early. My 6.5 year old is doing '1st' grade this year. All of his work is that level. My 4 year is doing 'K' this year. She's reading well and will be doing '1st' next year.

We are doing science together this year and starting history in the fall. I waited on history so they could do it together and both get something out of it in these early years.

I just looked ahead at history, science and math and am confused on continuing this pattern. Obviously things could change in the future if one falls behind or soars ahead or any combo of that.

But come high school time do I keep them together?
Would the youngest be trying to do math too far above her ability for the age?
Do I separate science when the oldest hits high school level? so that his math and science are on track and let the youngest do something else for a year so when she's up to the high school classes she's actually the right age/maturity level for them?
Would you separate these subjects to be more on track for each child?

thanks for your insight on our future 'plans'. Just trying to make some decisions NOW about where we go in the future.

[Lori D.]

... with 2 boys who are technically 1 grade apart, 20 months in age apart. As far as language arts and math, while our boys are close in age, we held the older one back to give him time to emotionally mature, so he's often worked a bit above grade level; and the younger one has some learning issues, so he's often worked behind a grade level. So they've always been more like 2 grades apart in lang. arts and math.

However, for everything else -- science, history, art, music, geography, read alouds, etc. -- we always did everything together, and it worked fine. Up until last year. At that point they were in 7th and 8th grades, and I realized I needed to let the older one really start working at his full capability, otherwise his younger brother was going to hold him back all through high school. So, I split off literature (they each did their own "Lightning Lit." last year), and science (the older did physical science, the younger did earth science).

This year they continue to do science separately; they are also doing geography independently, each at his own rate. History is the one thing we should be able to stay together with throughout. Music and art just aren't happening here; if someone gets interested, he'll take an outside class, so they will be separate there, too.

When we started homeschooling, they were 1st and 2nd grade, so I split on the history and science cycle years: we started history with the ancients to match the younger child, but jumped ahead and started with earth science to match the older child. It's worked fine. Our history cycle so far:

1st/2nd = ancients
2nd/3rd = finish ancients
3rd/4th = medieval
4th/5th = finish medieval
5th/6th = explorers/colonial US
6th/7th = US up through modern world history
7th/8th = world culture/geography/comparative religions

So, this is what the high school history cycle will look like for the older son:
9th = ancients (match with ancient epics, and Lit. Lessons from Lord of the Rings)
10th = medieval (match with British lit)
11th = US history/US government (match with Amer. lit)
12th = modern history (match with any Great Lit we've missed)

And the younger son's 2nd history cycle will look like:
8th = ancients ancients (match with ancient epics, and Lit. Lessons from Lord of the Rings)
9th = medieval (Lightning Literature 8; a few British lit. pieces)
10th = US history (match with Amer. Lit.)
11th = modern history ("worldview" Lit.)
12th = US government; recap of all history (match with any Great Lit we've missed)

At least that's the general plan. : ) I still feel it's important to take it year by year and see what the needs are, and how they've changed.



Can't advise you as to how to handle "together" or "separate" for your children, as I don't know them -- and they will very likely change a lot over the years before high school. My only suggestion: it's great to have a general, overall plan -- but be willing to be flexible! Best of luck, Warmly, Lori D.

[GothicGyrl]

But come high school time do I keep them together?
Would the youngest be trying to do math too far above her ability for the age?
Do I separate science when the oldest hits high school level? so that his math and science are on track and let the youngest do something else for a year so when she's up to the high school classes she's actually the right age/maturity level for them?
Would you separate these subjects to be more on track for each child?

I am not sure if what I am doing would qualify enough to answer your questions fully but--I've got a 6th grader and a 10th grader doing exactly the same work--the 10th grade stuff.

I'll give it a shot answering you:

Yes, yes, No, no. Short Answer.

Longer answer:

With kids that close in age, there's no way I'd be spending money on two seperate curriculums ;).. I may not use it, but I'd find something similar to TOG, where they are all on the same track for math, science, history, but reading books are on their level.. or something similar to that.

I know my girls are much older than your two, but at middle school, I firmly believe they are learning the exact same stuff they would in high school--it's all just repeated for them come high school, so why shouldn't I do the same thing with both? That's why I do it this way.

But since you asked, the gist of my answer is--with kids that close in age, there is no way I wouldn't be doing the same things with them. I'd pick a middle of the road 1st grade curriculum--especially since you said the K can do this. And I'd do it with both all across the board.

[tess in the burbs]

Mine are 20 months apart as well. Boy, then girl. Thanks for your long term layout. Since they started reading early and both are working a grade level ahead I hope they will do a year of community college before heading off to a larger school.....after turning 18! But it's nice to see how others lay it out....thanks!

[Lisa in the UP of MI]

This is in my future too as my first two are 18 months apart and will most likely be one grade apart (my oldest has a fall birthday). They are still young so they haven't started formal schooling yet, but once we do I plan on teaching math and language arts separately (except for games) and most of the rest will be together. If and when we see the need to split we will, but I'll still try to at least stay on the same cycle for history.

[A home for their hearts]

so I'll be watching this closely to see what people think. I really can't give any advice right now because we are so far behind. My intention at the beginning of this school year was to do math/reading separately, and everything else together. My 2 oldest are in first and second grade. This is our first year of homeschooling so they spent some time in public school. My second grader is reading fairly well, while my first grader is still learning, partly because schooling has been really hit or miss lately. Math wise I'm tempted to put them both in the same grade level. I just recieved horizons 2 for my second grader but I still don't have a formal curriculum for my first grader. I think at this point my first grader would be able to do some second grade math, it seems to be his strong subject. When we do history and science I put them together.
I have wondered the same thing if the really should be doing everything on their own grade level or not, and if it would make any difference come high school.

[Excelsior! Academy]

I did not read all of the responses. We combine when possible. My oldest two will be in Omnibus at the same time. They are now doing Latin, history, science, and music together. Next year they will do the same art. The only subjects they are not working together are math and English. I hope to do the same with my younger two. In my experience it doesn't "bring down the older" or "bring up the younger" if you do it right.

[Beth in Central TX]

I came to this same dilemma. For me, I decide to break them up in the logic stage because I was requiring too much from my middle son and not enough from my oldest. The only thing we do together, and I plan to keep together through high school, is Latin, Greek, and Classical Writing. Everything else is at their own grade level or ability.

[Friederike in Persia]

My dd are that close in age and originally I kept them totally seperate. That was a pain though, so we started to combine more and more, which they love. So now they only work with different books for LA and maths.
The younger dd understands the materials covered in the other subjects, I just don't expect as much from her, when it comes to write a narration from SOTW, or writing down an experiment.

[Sweetpeach]

I came to this same dilemma. For me, I decide to break them up in the logic stage because I was requiring too much from my middle son and not enough from my oldest. The only thing we do together, and I plan to keep together through high school, is Latin, Greek, and Classical Writing. Everything else is at their own grade level or ability.

I've broken most of our subjects up now -- because everything becomes a competition, and ds#2 can't compete with ds#1's tenacity and focus. Currently, the boys do Earth Science/Latin together, but even latin is becoming a stretch.

My boys are only 17 months apart, but academically, the gap is larger. It's not an easy situation.

Tricia

[8FillTheHeart]

I would say they are simply too young for you to know.

Kids progress at different rates. What may be ok now, may not work in the future. One may leap ahead of the other. Unless you are willing to make the decision to "lock" them in academically, I would suggest simply teaching to their abilities and if they stay together, fine, but if not, find a way to teach them on different grade levels.

For example, I currently have 2 that are in 6th and 8th grades. They have never done any academics together until recently. My 6th grader is very advanced in math and is doing Foerster's alg with his older sister. This yr it is working out very well. **However** I can see that he is probably going to out pace her over the next couple of yrs. He is grasping concepts faster than she is. So I can either limit his math progression to hers or I can enjoy this yrs reprieve and then if he starts to move ahead, deal with 2 different high school maths. :)

[SBP]

My kids are 16 months apart, and we've always combined them in the older child's grade, which is fourth this year. The one exception to this is math; initially, my DD wasn't quite ready to work a grade ahead in math, so I separated them for that. And math lessons still seem to work best one-on-one, so I'll probably keep them that way.

But that's my advice, I guess - try combining them as much as you can, and if something doesn't work, you'll know it doesn't work, and you can try something else. I've really enjoyed having my kids in the same "grade", and they seem to enjoy it, too. It definitely makes life simpler, and I'm all for doing that when I can :).

SBP

[NicksMama-Zack's Mama Too]

I've broken most of our subjects up now -- because everything becomes a competition, and ds#2 can't compete with ds#1's tenacity and focus. Currently, the boys do Earth Science/Latin together, but even latin is becoming a stretch.

My boys are only 17 months apart, but academically, the gap is larger. It's not an easy situation.

Tricia

My boys are 17 months apart. Just about every subject that I teach them together has become a competition. I have had to give them their own assignments for IEW (different stories to summarize). They do science together (Exploration Education) and I can see one of my sons making connections (the youngest is a science brain) and really getting a lot out of it and my other just gets the minimal out of it. So, I will be breaking up science next year (youngest will do the Reader's Digest books, oldest will do Prentice Hall SE). I see a lot of adjustments being made down the road. I will probably keep history together, but adjust assignments....not sure.

Great thread, BTW
k

[DawnUK]

My older two are 14 months apart, and they do everything at the same level except writing. My daughter is the older one, and wants to be a writer. Her writing skills are excellent. It comes naturally to her. My son is a boy and a math kids and..... So we are working on writing. It wouldn't be right to hold my daughter back or to expect my son to write as she does. All other subjects, though, are the same. It works well for us. My younger two are 20 months apart and I hope to do the same with them, but we'll see-- they are still little.

--Dawn

[one l michele]

I have three kids, the first two are 18 months apart, and middle/youngest are 26 months apart. I keep them at their level for basic skills, content subjects we do together. I also write down the cycle we've created for each as in a couple years when my oldest reaches middle school age - gasp, I will rotate back through the cycle with my youngest and my middle will go deeper then he did the first time through since he's had time to mature. I've put it all on paper through 12th for each child and it will work well. I started with my oldest and then used his as a guide to see where I can combine my middle, then did the same for my youngest. It took some time, but gave me a HUGE sense of relief!

[5sweeties]

We've got five, and our first space is larger, but the second space is 22 months, then a 15 month space, and then an 11 month space.

Our 4 youngest do history and science together...they are all grammar stage now. We will continue to try to integrate as long as possible without holding the older ones up.

Kids 2 and 3 do Writing Tales together, in addition to history and science.

Kids 4 and 5 do everything together. These youngest two, are 5 and 6 years old, with birthdays in September, and work well together. My 6yo catches on to things more quickly than the 5yo, and her handwriting is incredible compared to his, but he is keeping up and learning well. I have them both doing a 1st grade program this year...and a very rigorous one at that. At least, in my opinion...as all the older children were in public school for kindergarten and at least the beginning of 1st grade.

Anyway, it works well for this year. I have to re-evaluate each year. At some point, my #2 child will need to be doing more advanced work in history and science, and I'll need to figure that out. (Hoping for some good advice on how to use SOTW for logic stage!) The younger 3, however, will stay grouped with those subjects for a long time.

Anyway, I've got a Kindergartener, 1st, 2nd, 4th and then one that is 3 years older. I just think you have to look at their abilities each year, and evaluate. Some years, I would think, you could have tons of overlap, and some years, you may have one struggling, or one surging ahead. In order to meet everyone's needs, it needs to be a constantly revisited decision.

:)
Kelly

[5sweeties]

Forgot to say, that all mine are doing English and Math seperately, with the exception of the youngest two. That 11 month space has always seemed remarkably small, and they have always functioned more as twins than different-aged sibblings. They have always done everything together...from the time they were about 2.5 and 1.5 years. My youngest has some idea that he has to catch up with his sister and do everything she does. He has never been left behind.

Kelly

[LindaOz]

We still do a few things together but I have some separate as well. My 7th grader has started Apologia General Science while 6th grader is doing something else and still joining the others for Elementary Apologia. My eldest is also doing Analytical Grammar whereas the 6th grader won't start this until next year. They are on different LLATL levels.

In history, however, they are still working together on SL Core 5 and Australian History and Geography (with youngers). These two work really well together (always have) and there is not a lot of difference between them as far as ability. I am glad, however, that I did not wait for my 6th grader to catch up before starting General Sci or AG. It has been good for my eldest to go ahead on her own. It's a good balance for us.

I'd say that a lot would depend on how well your children work together and what each one is ready to handle. I don't think you'll really know that until you get there.

Linda

[claire up north]

Everyone works at their own pace for reading and math.

History, Bible, Grammar, Spanish, Music, Geography, Spelling, and Science are done as a group.

I may ask my oldest kid to do something extra, like write up a summary or look up the words we are using, but usually I just ask him a few harder questions.

Eventually I foresee having everyone work at their own pace in music and Spanish, but it sure makes life easier if I minimize the one-on-one teaching time. Of course, I do it whenever I have to, but if I were planning from scratch, I'd sure try to think of creative ways to combine them all.

hth!

[frogpond1]

stage hits they may diverge. I also don't like mine to be too competitive due to their different strengths. They are 18 months apart and were quite equal in the earlier years. Now they are 5th and 7th and seem far apart. My boy is the oldest. All my kids are 18, 22 and 28 months apart. We did history together and science for years. About 6th grade for the oldest these diverged. Math has always been independent. We did Latin together until this year. The 5th grader just didn't need a high school style program. She'll get it next year. As far as high school goes, mine may come closer together after the middle school years, I don't know. I think the 7th grade year is a real big break away from the earlier years. Take this one month at a time really, boys and girls develop so differently and each child is so unique. We still read all our read alouds at lunch together - first, third, 5th and 7th grade, and have a good time together. That is the beauty of homeschool- the closeness and sharing despite grade levels. I always keep all my kids on the same history era so we can learn from each other too.

[Lolly]

A set of twins is in the middle; I don't think I could have handled a baby a year for four years!

We started out with everything together except math. The twins even had math together. That worked really well until their abilities became apparent. One twin is very gifted. One is average but dyslexic. Biggest is pretty average. It is not good when the younger starts outdoing the oldest. It is not good when there is such a disparity between twins. My oldest started high school this year. She has her own curriculum completely. The twins and the youngest do history, Bible, and Latin together. Everything else is separate. The twins both use the same grammar program, but I teach them separately.

You really just have to take it year by year. If you need to separate them, you will know. I think as long as mine could have academically kept their abilities with their ages (who can do more, do better), I don't think we would have split up until high school. Some people would say it doesn't matter if the younger are outperforming the older. In my house it does. That may be because it tends to happen in pretty much everything they do (academic and physical), not just one subject.

[chiguirre]

I've always combined read alouds and content subjects, but done the skills work seperately. Obviously, my kids are just starting so this hasn't been for very long :D. Next year we're going to try FLL and WWE 1st grade together. I think this will work because ds and dd's handwriting is about the same level. We'll still do seperate reading and math instruction even if dd catches up. Since I only have 2 hsers I can teach each one alone without it taking all day.