Homeschooling in a large family presents some different challenges than homeschooling in a smaller family. There is just more to do. More laundry, more messes, more groceries to buy, more noise!
However, there are also more laughs, more partners in crime (for the kids!), more adventures, more sticky hugs and more love.
We had an interesting discussion on my blog Facebook page about exactly how many children constitutes a big family. Several people said 4+, others said when you have to buy a specialty vehicle (like a 12 passenger van!) you are a big family. However you define “big” the following resources will help you manage your team and your home more effectively.
{Just a note, this is an extensive list of resources. It isn’t meant to be a post to breeze through in a few minutes. Refer to it often when you need encouragement, inspiration, or a great new tip!}
Large Homeschooling Family Encouragement
I Can’t Homeschool Because I Have Too Many Kids!
When Homeschooling Doesn’t Look Like You Thought – some encouragement for “those” days
Finding Me Time for Mom in a Large Family
How to Make a Homeschool Mission Statement
A Simple Survival Strategy for Homeschool Moms of Many
Do Your Children Know Why You Homeschool?
Gentle Ways to Start Homeschooling Young Children
Relaxed Homeschool, Not Lazy Homeschool
The Ultimate Guide to Homeschooling Many
5 Ways to Tell if You Fit the Large Homeschool Family Mold
10 Things I’ve Learned About Myself When Homeschooling a Large Family
I Don’t Like to be With My Kids All the Time
6 Simple Successful Strategies for Homeschooling a Houseful
Curriculum Helps for the Large Homeschooling Family
Spelling: What Works for Us in a Large Family – tips for spelling
 How I Teach in a Large Family – a series of 5 posts about teaching history, math, science etc in a large family
Large Family Classical Curriculum
7 Back Doors to Learning for Tired Moms
Music Study for the Large Homeschooling Family – a simple curriculum to help fit in the “extra” of music
Choosing Homeschool Curriculum for the Large Family
Six Ways to Plan a Simple, Excellent, Affordable Curriculum
10 Strategies for Large Family Homeschooling
Simplify the Curriculum
Large Family Curriculum – Elementary School & Middle School
Affording the Large Family Homeschool
Large Family Homeschool Curriculum Choices
Ambleside Homeschooling and a Large Family
Planning Helps for the Large Homeschooling Family
Homeschooling Multiple Ages in a Large & Busy Family
How to Plan a Homeschool When Your Family Has Suddenly Grown Large
Homeschool Planning for a Large Family
How to Plan Your Homeschool Year
Our Large Family Homeschool Schedule
My Guide to Imperfect Homeschool Planning & Scheduling
Homeschool Planning Multiple Children
Planning for the Large Family Homeschool – a 5 day series on planning, organizing, time saving tips, and inexpensive/free curriculum ideas
A Simple Plan Homeschool Planner – (this planner seems to be out of stock right now but should be back in stock for the school year)
3 Tips for a Homeschool Mother of a Large Family
How to Make a Homeschool Planner for Under $1Â – supplies you probably have on hand!
Online Tools for Planning and Organizing Your Homeschool
Daily Routine for a Growing Family
Loop Scheduling – everything doesn’t have to be done every single day
How to Simplify the Schedule
Planning a Homeschool Routine When You Are Homeschooling Multiple Children
 Homeschooling with Multiple Ages
Homeschooling with a Newborn – Preparing for Baby
Multi – Level Learning
Keeping Toddlers Busy While You Homeschool
Tips for Homeschooling Multiple Ages in a Large Family
Toddler and Preschool Activities During Homeschool – great suggestions to keep the littles busy and learning
How to Homeschool Multiple Ages (finding balance in the midst)
10 Ways Your Older Students Can Help Teach Younger Students
Homeschooling Multiple Ages – YouTube video from Lauren Hill at MamasLearningCorner.com
Weekly Homeschool Planning Meeting with Multiple Ages
Homeschooling Special Needs in a Large Family
Homeschooling a Special Needs Child in a Large Family
4 Ways to Homeschool Your Newly Adopted Child
Helping the Speech Delayed Toddler & Preschooler at Home
How I Teach My Gifted Kids in a Large Family – a 5 day series on teaching gifted children
Support for Homeschooling Adopted Children
Homeschooling Kids with Learning Differences
The Rest of the Story
Now that the nitty-gritty of homeschooling is done, let’s get to the nitty-gritty of home management. It definitely goes hand in hand with homeschooling. Our homes are the hub of everything that we do. It’s essential that the structure of our home flows as smoothly as possible. Notice I didn’t say perfectly, I said smoothly. We will have days and seasons of life when this looks more messy than other times. It doesn’t have to be perfect to be effective!
But good routines can go a long way to making life a bit less hectic.
Meal Planning for the Large Homeschooling Family
Ultimate List of Easy Slow Cooker Recipes – a well organized list of easy meals your family will love
Tips & Tricks to Get Dinner on the Table
Feeding the Large Family: Rules of the Game
Back to {Home}School Meal Plan Ideas
Large Family Cooking: 10 Must Have Kitchen Tools
10 Super Easy Family Meals – from a mom of 7
Large Family Recipes – from a mom of 8
Frugal Food for Large Families
Breakfast Stations: The Easy Way for Your Kids to Get Breakfast
Large Family Lunches {simplified}Â – great idea!
Weekly Meal Plan on a Budget
Cleaning Tips for the Large Homeschooling Family
Homeschooling and a Messy House
Laundry
Laundry Schedules & Routines for Large Families – all kinds of tips!
How We (finally) Got All Our Kids to Do Their Laundry
10 Ways to Have a Cleaner House While Homeschooling a Large Family
Cleaning Schedule for Homeschool Families
Cleaning Strategies for the Homeschool Family
Large Family Chore System
Organizing Resources for the Large Homeschooling Family
15 Organizations Tools for the Homeschool Mom
Must Haves for the Large Homeschooling Family
Homeschooling a Large Family in a Small House
 Homeschooling the Large Family: How to Get it All Done – 5 tips for making time during the day
Organizing the Large Family Homeschool
School Room Organization for a Big Family
Homeschool & Life Command Center
An Organized Large Homeschooling Family
Charts & Lists That Save My Sanity -Â Charts and lists really do make life easier
Organizing the Large Family: Schedules and Planners
Learning Room Inspiration – Pinterest board
iHN Homeschool Spaces – Pinterest board
Large Family Homeschooling Extras
Helpful Habits – a great list of helpful habits that are essential for any family
Large Family Homeschooling: Fitting in the “Extras”
Taking Young Children to Catholic Mass
Tips for Taking Young Children to Catholic Mass
Further Large Family Resources
Homeschooling in the Large Family Pinterest board
Favorite Homeschooling & Home Management Books
iHomeschool Network 100 Things series. Be sure to check out all of the other 100 lists!
This post is a beautiful site to this mama of many. Thanks for taking the time to gather all of these great articles!
Thanks for sharing your links 🙂
What a great list of resources. Thank you for pulling this together!
Susan Evans recently posted…Fill Your Own Ornament
This is a great post! Definitely pinning! And thanks for including one of my posts! I can’t wait to check out the others you have shared!
Thanks Sarah!
WHEW — so many resources here. This is awesome!
Thanks Mary!
Great round-up! Sharing widely!
Thank you!