Looking for a few tips on how to homeschool multiple kids? Here you’ll find some great options and examples on how you can easily find a homeschool curriculum for multiple kids and ages!
When it comes to homeschooling multiple kids, you’ll likely want a curriculum that will allow you to combine multiple kids in one course, is easy to use, not super expensive or that can be reused, doesn’t require a lot of prep and planning on your part . If you have children that range through a variety of grade levels, then let me tell you that it is possible to find resources to accommodate your kids and your needs. Keep reading for some tips on homeschooling multiple kids, as well as suggestions for homeschool curriculum that fit some, or all, of the criteria I just mentioned.
How to Homeschool Multiple Kids
Even before going on a curriculum hunt, you should keep a few things in mind. For starters, always remember that each one of your children is different. Their differences love to show their best face the moment you try to teach them something. Pay close attention to your children’s learning styles as they will become the driving force of the curriculum you choose.
Also, be considerate of your children’s true age of development. What I mean by this is your ten-year-old may be in true 5th grade in English, but more of a 3rd grade level in Math. Please know there is absolutely nothing wrong when that happens. It’s all part of the process and benefit of homeschooling.
Last but not least, create a homeschool routine that compliments your entire family. If you have nappers, consider that and use the time wisely. Homeschooling mostly older kids? Keep their work schedules and/or extracurricular activities in mind as you create your daily routine(s).
11 Best Homeschool Curriculums for Homeschooling Multiple Kids
With the tips mentioned above in mind, let’s look at some reliable curriculum options.
My Father’s World
My Father’s World Christian homeschool curriculum combines the top homeschool methods of Charlotte Mason, Classical Education, Unit Studies, with a biblical worldview and global focus. This literature-rich curriculum covers all subjects and all grades levels from preschool through 12th grade. My Father’s World can be used in homeschool families of all sizes, but is especially large family friendly due to The Family Learning Cycle. The Family Learning Cycle allows parents to teach children at different grade levels all at the same time.
Apologia (for elementary science)
Apologia’s Young Explorer series is a great option for combining kids in grades K-6 (and sometimes even up to 8th grade). This series immerses your student in eight different course offerings through a combination of reading, hands-on experiments and projects, narration activities, and notebooking. Each course is designed to last one year.
Journey Homeschool Academy
Journey Homeschool Academy offers online homeschool courses in the following areas – Biology, Astronomy, Chemistry, and Earth Science. These course provide a high-quality, hands-on, engaging science experience. The online courses include engaging video lessons, comprehensive quizzes, lab, project & reading assignments, research questions, and lesson outlines. What makes them great when you are homeschooling multiple kids is that these courses allow older kids to work independently and it allows elementary students to work through the same course. Also, when you purchase the elementary courses, they are yours to keep forever, so you can use them over again with younger kids, which saves you money.
Home School in the Woods
Home School in the Woods specializes in historical resources that brings learning to life for your child. With a focus on hands-on learning, they offer timeline figures and products, map sets, Time Travelers Activity-Based U.S. history studies, Project Passport World history studies, Lap-Paks, Activity-Paks, Activity Studies, and more. These resources are ideal for grades 3rd-8th.
BiblioPlan
BiblioPlan is a classical history and literature curriculum that gives students a foundational, but deep understanding of the integration of world and U.S. history and classic literature. Following the classical model, each year’s program is based around a different era – Ancient, Medieval, Early Modern, and Modern. Programs are written for a full year and are broken into grade/developmental levels. Multiple ages of students can be taught with the same program.
Tapestry of Grace
Tapestry of Grace is a classical Christian curriculum that offers history, literature, Bible, geography, and more at multiple levels, allowing entire families to learn together from one program. Full literature lists and hands-on activities are offered for each week’s lessons. Parents may pick and choose assignments to meet interest, developmental level, and schedule. Each level is based on a historical era – Ancient, Medieval, Early Modern, and Modern.
Notgrass
Notgrass History provides parents with tools and resources so that they can teach history with confidence, in a way that is effective and enjoyable. With Notgrass History, children can work independently or multiple kids can study the same course together, as the curriculum is flexible and easily adaptable to your child’s needs and abilities.
Teaching Textbooks
While Teaching Textbooks is not a curriculum that you’ll be able to combine multiple kids in one level or course, it is a great option when homeschooling multiple kids because it’s an inexpensive online option (that offers a large family discount) and it does all of the teaching and grading for you, so it will save you lots of time that you can devote to something else.
Our Journey Westward
Specializing in mostly nature study-style resources, this curriculum is flexible in the sense that it can be used as a stand-alone study or easily paired with something else. Each unit has a teacher’s section, living book suggestions, writing and research ideas, Bible lessons, interactive links, and more. You can pick between individual topics or grab-n-go nature studies!
Five in a Row
FIAR is a comprehensive, literature-based program that is perfect if you’re using the Charlotte Mason approach to homeschooling. Each lesson uses a carefully selected piece of age-appropriate literature accompanied by a unit study for teaching and learning. It offers a lot of flexibility with the ability to dial-up (or down) lessons to easily accommodate teaching multiple kids.
The Mystery of History
The Mystery of History is a chronological, creation-based homeschool world history curriculum. It consists of four books covering ancient times and biblical history, Egypt, Greece, and Rome in the first book and The Middle Ages in the second book. The final two books cover the Renaissance, explorers, scientists, and the American Revolution through The Vietnam War and modern times. Ideal for families homeschooling multiple age and grade levels, The Mystery of History also offers a Companion Guide with pre-tests, lesson ideas, and extension activities for all ages.
Conclusion
As you set out to find the best curriculum for homeschooling multiple kids, be sure to keep my tips in mind and start with some of the resource suggestions mentioned above.
Need help comparing curriculum options!?
Use these curriculum comparison sheets to help you narrow down your choices and make your decision easier.
