Mom of 6, 10 and under, trial membership

[MrsMomof6]

Hi,
I'm MrsMomof6, and I have six kids (obviously), they are 10 and under. My 10 year old had an early education, and he is gifted (reading chapter books independently at 3.5, pre-algebra for gifted kids at 9) . My other children had varying levels of early instruction, but so far none of them have taken to it like he did. (I didn't use BrillKids, didn't know of it).
I have a 7 year old struggling reader, and I am looking for ways to help her. She is growing discouraged after three years of reading instruction and still only at the entering 1st grade level. She often forgets the sounds of letters, and how to sound out words.
I have a 5 year old (almost 6) with Sensory Processing Disorder, she is a quick learner, but her activity level presents certain obstacles.
Then I have a 4 year old, eager learner, who I never seem to have enough time to deliberately teach, and a 2.5 year old boy who also seems eager but I haven't had much time to teach.... and I have an infant son who is just 8 months, and reminds me SO much of my gifted 10 year olds babyhood... he's precocious, super curious, and seems to want to learn things.
I am hoping to gain some insight into simple things I can do with my kids, especially the 8mo, 2yo and 4yo. I am wondering if this program might help my struggling reader?
I am also wondering if I could use the same program for all the younger kids at the same time?? Does this program require one on one time instead?
Any thoughts you all have are very welcome! Thanks!
oh yeah, our general homeschool philosophies have been Classical and Charlotte Mason. I'm hoping to extend that into teaching the younger kids too. Though I realize that Charlotte Mason is a "start school later" type!
MrsMomof6
(homeschooling for 10 years now!)

[busyparent]

you sound like me! I also have 6 kids and I currently pregnant with my 7 child.
and I also have a child that is a struggling reader ,she is 9 year old.
welcome to the group!

[Kerileanne99]

Hello Mrs.Momof6, and welcome to the forum.

First of all, it sounds like you need some great ways to combine instruction and free up some more time for that individual time to address their interests and needs.

I actually had to read your post several times to try to come up with some ideas, but I actually think that it would work quite well to combine. You have several things going there that might help.

First, I think it would be great if you can combine ALL together, and the ages/abilities of your kids seems to actually work well. I think I would try to do it as a family lesson first. If possible, the best scenario would be to hook up a laptop to your television set to maximize the viewing size. You will need that with the crowd, and they will be more likely to pay attention if say 4 yo is not shoved against a sibling:)
Hold the baby in your lap with 2 yo very close or in oldests lap for high energy. And definitely 'enlist' the help of your oldest 2 so that they take on the role of helpers rather than students. Especially if your 7 yo is sensitive about reading? She may well feel more like the pressure is off and she is free to absorb it if she is cast in that role rather than lumped with the younger kids.
BTW, I am assuming you have had all LDs and vision issues sussed out, but it might help to know what type of instruction she has done previously.

Give this a go, and if it is too much, breaking it into 2 groups might help. Maybe assign one of the older kids as your helper with a younger...so baby and maybe 5 yo, then 2 yo, 4yo, and 7 yo helper, and ask 10 yo to read aloud to the group not working with you?

If you are wondering whether there is enough material there to accommodate their wide range of ages and abilities? Yes, I absolutely think so given your age span. Especially as the more advanced downloads can provide lots of EK for a wide range of interests, and you can easily make your own files if you need something a bit more personalized.

Have you downloaded the free trial? This might be the best way to see what you think and how it could work...and don't be turned off if you think the individual words in the beginning/trial are too easy for the older kids. It does get more challenging, and then come phrases and stories...
And if you find that you can more easily break them into groups by ability, you can always do one lesson for one group, a different lesson for another group...better yet, if you can get them to organize into one group, you might get away with playing a beginning lesson for the littles, and then a more advanced lesson for the olders. Of course, the little ones will absorb a lot from that one is well, so a bonus:)

Again, welcome, and please let us know how it is going!

[Mandabplus3]

Little reader would be a great addition to your family. Absolutely you can do it as a group. Have your youngest 5 watch it together. Defiantly use your 7 year old as a teachers helper. Little reader is useful for years, you can build courses from all the downloads available and take out anything that your older kids won't like. The 4 year olds I teach like it and think the baby categories are funny. 
If your 7 year old is forgetting letter sounds I can suggest letterland. They have a homeschool computer program that has a few levels doing phonics from basics to I can read anything. Letterland can be expensive but the computer program's are very engaging and would work Very well for your struggling 7 year old, high energy child, your 4 year old who is ready for phonics and most likely your 8 month old if he turns out to be a precocious learner. Definitely look into it. It's the new games you want. I can look up the names if you have trouble with their long list of products. It allows plenty of fun practice so those sounds will sink in.
On top of that daily practice blending words is in order. You need those sounds to become instant in recall. Use fridge magnets and take turns building silly words that you have to sound out together. Play with word families, learn to read favourite song lyrics, have our struggling reader teach your 4 and 5 year old their letters. Play as many games as you can think of. Snap with words, spot the letter, eye spy with sounds, make a rhyme.....you need to play them every day. That is the key. A little bit every single day. Especially important for struggling learners.
Welcome to the forum.

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