Homeschool Mixed-Age Math Curriculum Plan: How My Children Learn Math in Our Home School

As a homeschooling parent, I have studied and researched many methods for teaching my children, as well as a variety of different curriculum programs. After all of my studies, I eventually decided that teaching my children with a mixed-age perspective was the best choice for our family. This would be aided by a custom-designed homeschool curriculum that I would assemble myself from materials I write and make, as well as many other teaching and learning materials and books. In a series of articles, I plan to present a breakdown of what we do for home school in each individual subject.

Here you will learn about how I teach my children in their homeschool mathematics class. It is a long process, but one which I feel is necessary and am currently seeing excellent results from. This article is Part 1 on a series involving each homeschool subject from my own personal customized mixed-age curriculum plan for my homeschooled children. It is my hope that by reading our math plan, and those that follow, other homeschoolers who want to do this as well can get an idea as to how to form their own plan.

Custom Mixed-Age Homeschool Math Curriculum Step #1: Review

The first part of our mathematics lesson every day involves reviewing previous lessons to keep them fresh in the children's minds. To do this, we might play a math game, customizing the questions to each student during their turn in the game. Another way we might review is to do some math problems together. Whomever knows the answer may complete it and explain how they got the answer to everyone else.

There are a variety of ways we will review previous lessons, some written, some oral, and some hands-on. We always try to do all of the work together where possible. Of course there are times (like during testing and when completing worksheets) where that won't work. I find working together beneficial in two ways. Firstly, each child gets to review and remember previous learning, which is keeping the facts fresh in their minds. I feel this will help them in future lessons. Secondly, all of the children are listening to the other children's questions and answers.

This benefits them all because the younger children can get a preview of some of the facts they will learn in the future. Sometimes the review of the older child's work is the same thing one of the younger children is currently learning, so the younger child gets extra practice. The older children get to receive extra review by listening to the facts from the younger children's problems. Everyone gets more than one benefit from this type of learning. This same concept applies through each step of our learning process in every subject.

Custom Mixed-Age Homeschool Math Curriculum Step #2: New Lesson

Once review work is done, we then move on to the new lesson. This could be anything from learning a new concept to practicing a recently learned concept. Even though the children are in different grade levels, they listen to the oral part of the other child's lessons. As explained above, this is very beneficial to all of the children for different reasons.

When a new lesson is introduced, we do problems together, utilizing what I call the children's math journals. They must write the step-by-step process as instructed by me in the math journal. We will do some problems together, which also need to be written in the math journal. Then, I give some more problems that are done alone by each child.

I check their accuracy. If it seems they don't understand, we do some more together. This continues until the child understands a concept. I may give out a worksheet or I may not. It depends on how many problems the child has already completed. If it's a high number, we'll move on to the next step. If it's a low number, the child has to do a worksheet on the learned concept.

Since the toddler and preschooler do not work out difficult math problems yet, their work in this step might consist of tracing or writing numbers. Remember, although everyone listens, each child's work is tailored to his or her needs. The toddler and preschooler also may count objects on worksheets and pick the matching number. Basically, they will likely be filling out a worksheet with my help or writing numbers in this slot. As they advance in the learning process, so will their work.

Custom Mixed-Age Homeschool Math Curriculum Step #3: Practice

If the children have just learned a new lesson on a previous day and won't yet be learning a new lesson , there will be worksheets, math journal work, and oral examples and problems being done for practice. Some days, all of the above will be utilized. Other days, there may be only one or two utilized. It depends on what the child's strengths and weaknesses are in the lesson.

If you'll remember, each child's lessons are tailored to him or her. This is the more difficult way to homeschool, at least for the parent creating the lesson plans. However, I feel it is the best way for us. It gives the children a chance to excel faster if they are able and also to stay on an area longer if necessary. This way, the child does not move ahead before a lesson is understood, nor does a child have to keep practicing a concept he or she already knows well. This process ensures that the concepts are actually being learned, rather than rushed through to keep up with a plan.

Custom Mixed-Age Homeschool Math Curriculum Step #4: Hands-On Schoolwork

I feel that all math needs real-life application in order to be understood. This can range from a grocery trip (or other field trip) to figure out how to use math in real life situations to even playing math games (board games or active games), using manipulatives, or playing basketball and using math to keep score. Many forms of active play or real-life scenarios can represent mathematics lessons, as can arts and crafts or even playing computer games.

There are many ways to get hands-on instruction in math and many ways should be used with each lesson unit. Our hands-on slot can contain one or more of the above examples and does so every single day. Even when the children are not on the same level, they can still do these activities together. We like to do a good number of our hands-on activities outdoors, as this gives the children an enjoyable learning environment, as well as gives us open space for some of the more active games, which we generally play daily.

Custom Mixed-Age Homeschool Math Curriculum: Overview

It does take up a good amount of time for all of us to do something together for each grade level, but I feel it is beneficial and necessary in order to maintain learned skills as well as prepare for upcoming ones. While I included much of what we do in day, as with most schooling plans, there is always room for variation and sometimes other things are added on any given day. If a child is struggling, more time may be spent in a certain area.

Math and reading take up the majority of our homeschool day, as I feel both are the basis of all other lessons. Both are very important for every day life, as well as the workforce. Without either, it will be very hard to succeed in life. Click here to read my article, "Classroom Separation by Grade Levels: Time For a Change?", for more information on mixed age grouping.

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