Managing Three Kids in Different Grades

So my seven year old has a high persistence, and also a high distractibility temperament. He zeroes in on things and is very hard to shake, on the other hand, the slightest distraction can take him away from something that is not as interesting.

One thing that will be different/better (for him) is that both the younger kids will be doing school almost as much of the day as he will. That will mean not quite as much running through the classroom having light sabre battles, and tea parties. Another thing that I am going to do is make it even more of a School environment. I'm getting lift-top desks, and they'll set up their pencils, and journal/sketchbooks in there.

There will be a small bookcase near the desks, and each kids will have a shelf with their curriculum on it. There is some overlap (art and foreign language), but for the most part those books will go on the reference shelf. They will know where their books are and will be responsible for getting out some books and putting them away. I'm hoping that this will keep them feeling that they own the process (a little).

As we go more structured and conventional, I would like to keep a few Waldorfy elements. We are going to start the morning class with a lighted candle, a song, some movement, and a story.

A few things have come in, and they are already so excited that I've had to hide a couple of the workbooks.

Okay. So how will I juggle the three curricula? I have detailed lesson plans for the majority of the subject areas, and I have a weekly plan for each kid. All that remains is to shuffle them together seamlessly together on a daily basis! Ha. There are a number of things that My third grader can begin on his own while I do some instruction with my first grader. The majority of the preschooler's work was done during the opening work, leaving only some phonics workbook pages which she can begin on her own. When I check the third grader's work, I can set the first grader to work independently. This will probably take me to lunch. Before we break for lunch I will give the boys some reading for their two-hour quiet time.

Now if I can only keep my migraines at bay enough to do this without making us all crazy.