Have you combined high school classes for two or more of your dc?

[cathmom]

Which classes? How? How far apart are your dc?

 

My two dds are 26 months apart, and I thought we would be able to do several classes together, but as I was mapping it out today, it looked like really only one class (civics based around the 2012 election) would work. If we can't combine a bit, I don't know how I will handle both of them in high school, plus 4 other students to teach! The baby might have to wait until he's 6 to do kindergarten, because then the older girl will have graduated. We might be able to combine some literature as well, but beyond that, I'm stumped.

[Liza Q]

We have combined History and English and could have combined Government, Economics, Philosophy and Life Skills. However, it was easier (for various reasons) to do those in different years. I *could* have had Sarah do Economics this year but I decided that she would get more out of it when she was older. If I had planned better we could have combined at least one Science and it would have saved me some trouble!

 

For example, this year I designed a Year 2 (500-1600 or so) course using some things like Spielvogel, TTC Western Civ dvds, several books (Life in Medieval Times, The Prince, a biography of Martin Luther, etc.) and writing assignments for History. Then I set up a Literature course that sort of meshed with it, using LL Medieval Lit, some Shakepeare and some other books (Athanasius and Augustine and others). As Katie is a Senior I expected better papers. As Sarah is a Sophomore she did all the same work but it took her a little longer to get through each week. They were not always at the same place during the same week but close enough! Last year we did something very similar for Ancient History/Literature.

 

Oh - Katie and Sarah are 25 months apart.

[Faithr]

My oldest are 19 months apart. We combined science, history, English, government, economics. The only thing subjects not combined were math and foreign language.

[Mommyfaithe]

We combined Geography, American Government, Economics, Theology/ Worldviews, Writing, Great Books Study,Grammar, History & Science for High School.

I did buy each child their own text but we shared supplemental books. I did this with 2 of my older children who were 21 months apart. My older dd also combined with her youngers for many subjects (Economics, Gov, Great Books...) The only thing that that was weird was my younger sons transcript shows some typical 12th grade courses taken in 9th grade and some typical 9th grade classes taken in 12th....Oh well....they will just have to deal with that. Having the kids on the same subject made my life so much easier...especially since I was still homeschooling younger children and having babies during their high school years.

 

I wish I combine my highs schooler now with his siblings, but they are so much younger than him:glare:

 

~~Faithe

Edited May 4, 2009 by Mommyfaithe
spelling

[Kendall]

This year, in addition to a baby and a 2 year old, I had kids in 11th, 9th, 5th,3rd, 1st and a 4 year old that insisted on learning to read and wanted to do math. Both my 1st grader and 4 year old went through Alphaphonics this year, so that was like teaching twins to read.

 

My 11th/9th grader(30 mo apart) did the same history and literature this year and also will next year. Until this year they also did the same Latin(though those years their hist/lit was different) My oldest took an online writing class this year. Otherwise I did it all. Did I always do everything I wanted and did I do it all well? NO! Is it going to be okay in the end? YES! Did I stress about it anyway? YES! Your 10/12 year olds will be much more independent when they are 14/16 and that will leave time for your 9 and 7 year olds. You can school this many children and do a good job and keep your sanity (well, some might debate that LOL). There will be no house beautiful awards and no elaborate meals, but you already know all this (and if you don't, then tell me how you do it!) .

 

As far as how goes - My 11th/9th had the same history reading assignments. Their tests were similar and their assignments outside the reading were sometimes a little different. In Literature they read the same works and I read them also so I could help pull the younger child through them. We discussed both subjects together when we had time. I think English/writing could be done togther with different expectations but the same base assignments. Science and math usually would need to be separate. You might be able to do a foreign language together if you start the younger one early and/or the older one late. Most electives could be done together, though I find my children work independently on those so it doesn't matter if they are doing the same thing.

 

HTH,

Kendall

[Lori D.]

We have two boys 20 months apart / 1 grade apart. Now in high school we can combine them for everything except math, writing, and the elective credit (which allows them to each pursue their own skills/interests). We get great discussions on the lit. and history this way! Warmly, Lori D.

[brendafromtenn]

My oldest two are 22 months apart. We have kept them together this year for history and lit. Next year we will add health, and maybe logic. In the future, we will do government and econ together.

 

It is the only way I can get things done, as we have two more coming along.

 

 

Hope that helps,

 

Brenda:001_smile: