I was on hold one afternoon with a tech site regarding my blog. When the tech guy asked what I blogged about I said I was a homeschooling mom and I blog about homeschooling. Next question was how many kids do you have? I said I have six. Pause – “like do you actually teach ALL those kids?” Yes, I do teach ALL of those kids.
Last time I checked school teachers are always talking about classroom size and they regularly school 25-35 kids. I never understand why some people find it so hard to believe that one mom actually teaches six children. Here’s a little secret, some moms have more than six kids!!
Homeschooling Many
True, there is more to juggle with more children. More of everything. More laundry, more meals, more messes, some days more chaos. However, there is also more laughter, more interesting conversations, more unique personalities. Aside from book learning, my children have so many opportunities for building relationships with siblings. Often siblings that have different interests and different personalities and temperaments. There is always someone at the ready to play and there is most certainly always someone ready to stir up a bit of trouble.
There is no right or wrong way to educate a big family. If a rigorous, scheduled day works for your family than go for it, if a more relaxed approach is what works, then by all means do it. Honestly it will most likely take a bit of trial and error to find your groove. Then life changes, kids get older, new children arrive and it’s time to adjust to a new season of schooling.
Yes, the days are full to brimming with things to do. Someone always needs some attention, even your spouse! There isn’t much time in the margins. Breakfast is over, then it’s time for lunch, and then there’s dinner. However, the joys and successes overshadow the nuttiness. Our children are thriving at home. Perhaps not in the standards of a rigorous education {not necessarily one of my goals} but in the areas of life that can’t be measured by a standardized test or a beautifully compiled portfolio.
Don’t be afraid or intimidated to start homeschooling because you have a big family!
Practical Tips for Homeschooling a Large Family
Tips for Homeschool Planning for Multiple Ages
A Simple Plan Homeschooling Planner – works for a large family!
Homeschooling in a Large Family – Pinterest Board
Large Family Logistics
A Sane Woman’s Guide to Raising a Large Family
Be sure to check out all the other “I Can’t Homeschool Because…” blog posts
Thank you so much for posting this information, I am about to embark on homeschooling my 5 children for the first time next year and you help!!
I always laugh at this one! I’m personally equipped to teach my children, no matter how many I have, because I really and truly know them. I’ve been a part of their lives from the little ages to now. Yes, I homeschool eight children, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything!
Tristan recently posted…Summer Homeschool for Mom!
I have the opposite “problem”. We just have the one child who is an impending kindergartener and we plan to stay home. “How on earth is he going to make any friends?” “How’s he going to learn to get along with other kids?” Seriously people?
Thanks for this wonderful perspective, Jen!
As a group music instructor for young children, I’ve had up to 30 children in one session. And I enjoyed it! Having parents in the classroom often made it easier for me though. Relating directly to mom or grandma focused the kids and gave meaning to the lesson beyond just skills, facts, or patterns.
This reminds me that teachers used to lead one-room schoolrooms with children of varied ages in the 19th and 20th century. And contemporary Montessori classrooms have multiple ages and it works very well because of the attitude and preparation of the teachers.
So what a refreshing post you made to remind us that, of course, a mother can homeschool multiple children. More power to all moms of many!