To Combine or Not To Combine

A huge part of what drew us back to MFW (well, we never really left, just poked around, expensively ... lol) is that we can effectively and thoughtfully combine our children in a portion of their studies. Of course, since Sugar and Bugsy are a few years apart, this won't happen for them until 2016, when Sugar is in 7th grade (eek), but IT WILL HAPPEN.

This is why *we* homeschool. I love to have my children together ... playing, learning, laughing, learning, enjoying each other, fighting, laughing again ... and our homeschool is an extension of our family life. I don't want it to feel separate, but how can it feel inclusive if I am teaching four children three or four different guides per year (we really don't know how old St Jude is or if he will be ready for K this year as we're planning, so if he's not, I will always have four guides or plans to teach daily). I have read that people do this and I'm sure they do it well, but it is daunting to me and I already feel that it creates too much of a separation in our little one-room schoolhouse.

I am absolutely, whole heartedly, all for meeting each child where he/she is at spiritually, emotionally, academically, etc, and I will do that with no question. They will have their own Math and Language Arts and as they get older their Read-Alouds will become Independent Reading at their unique levels as will Science. I also expect that over time foreign language will be at various levels and likely the languages will be varied, as well. 

Our grade-combined subjects will include History, Geography, Bible, Literature (in the early years), Science (in the early years) Poetry, Nature Study, Picture Study, and Music Study. Combined does not mean, though, that my 2nd, 5th, and 7th graders will all do the exact same work. Again, I will meet them where they are at, but all under the umbrella of the same era of study so that we are all linked in that commonality each day. The olders will help teach the littles and the littles will help the olders learn that very teaching. 

This means so much to me, especially in thinking about our Charlotte Mason studies and even more importantly in our Bible studies and Mission work. 

There are so many schools of thought on whether to combine children, or not, and one way is not better than another, just different and ultimately the best choice rests with the needs and hopes of the family. 

Because of Him.