So, as you know, this is my first year of homeschooling with THREE students! 🙂 I’m still a bit bittersweet about my baby starting kindergarten. But, he is such a good little student, and I absolutely love this age!!
However, it has still been very hard for me to find a new groove…to get into a school morning routine.
Up until now I have done EVERYTHING, I mean everything, together with the girls. So, I didn’t really have to shuffle different kids doing different things at the same time until now. And it’s turning out to be a bit of a challenge for me.
In the past, we have started on the couch with Bible story, prayer and our Five in a Row (or other unit study) book. This has worked VERY well and we are continuing to start together on the couch now…
This is when it gets tricky for me. 🙂 After our FIAR (or unit study book) we’ve been moving to the table to work for a few minutes. Caleb does any kind of lapbook item or a letter/phonics page, etc. The girls always have some type of table work they can do (language arts, handwriting practice, etc.)
But, then we have more reading to do with the girls. We are doing The Story of the World
this year, and it is going very well so far!! (We are up to Chapter 5 and I’m very pleased with this history program!) The girls and I are also going through the worldview book, Who Is God? (And Can I Really Know Him?) 
While Caleb is at the table, he really needs my help. The girls may or may not need my help. Then, if we go back to the couch to read our history or other stuff with the girls, Caleb may or may not be done yet…
I am not good at being at the table and having 3 things going on at once. Maybe that will come with time??
I also have not been good thus far about finding independent things for the other 2 while I work with one student…they always end up needing my help.
So, this is what life looks like with 3 students in our house! 🙂 3 kids in 3 years means I have the blessing of doing many things all together, but also 3 kids that still need my help on various tasks. I’m still trying to figure out the balance. While some mornings get a little frustrating, I still would not trade this time with my kids for anything!! I love homeschooling!!
Any suggestions? Been there done that stories? Please share!
I completely understand! My youngest was in K last year and I had the hardest time. Throw a move in there and the poor girl didn’t do much. Maybe when you do your one-on-one time with Caleb, the girls can do their independent reading? Or computer? or free time? Something where they shouldn’t need you at all! Good Luck! You’ll find your groove! 🙂
It’s a HARD balance to find (at least it was for me). I struggle a lot with teaching all four of mine (this year I’ll have a 2nd, 5th, 8th and 10th grader).
The older kids are very self-directed now, I am glad for that but sometimes feel like I am not doing enough. But it’s also difficult to get my brain to switch from Algebra II to addition.
I feel your pain!
My boys are starting Kindergarten this fall, and my 8yo is starting Beyond. What I’m “planning” to do is work with the boys FIRST in separate 30-minute increments. They really do need individual attention in phonics, and I don’t want them to get lost in the shuffle. When they’re asking questions at the same time, it drives me crazy.
During that time, my dd will be doing things that don’t require my supervision (reading, math, journal writing, Draw Write Now, Dance Mat Typing, etc.) She will be told not to disturb me while I work with her brothers.
After that, I’ll do Beyond with her, and the boys will basically be free to do what they want until we’re done. They keep themselves pretty well most days w/ their train set, marble runs, and audio books.
I’ll save the afternoon for read-aloud time, art projects, and other things that all three of them can do together.
Of course, this is just a tentative plan for now, and it makes sense in my mind. Only time will tell how effective it will be.
I feel your pain! This year I’ll have a 3rd grader, 2nd grader (they both do mostly the same stuff) a Kinder and a tag-along Kinder (I’d have to tie her up in a closet to keep her from joining in her big brother’s work) and I’m hyperventilating just thinking of it!!!!
Last year we did a form of workboxes/free choice shelves that kept me from going totally insane, I’m hoping it works again (only better) this year.
Although I’m not there yet, I will be one day! I’ll be praying for you to find your groove!
I know of what you speak. 😉 I have three kids but in six years so there is quite a space between them. My oldest will be in 8th & then I have a 4th grader (!?!?! how did that happen!) and a 1st grader. Although, my little guy will be doing more of a combo K-1st since he was left by the wayside more often than not last year. It’s hard to find a groove but you will.
Candace- I did the same as some of the others…one boy wasn’t allowed to interrupt if I was working with the other. We still struggle with this!