Combining your students where possible can make all the difference when using a Charlotte Mason method with your children–especially if you have several children! Even Charlotte Mason wrote notes at the end of her programmes to guide parents in combining their students. But some subjects (or some form levels within those subjects) don’t allow for combining.
Forms 1 (gr. 1-3) and 2 (gr. 4-6)
I don’t suggest combining students below Form 3 (grades 7-8.) Forms 1, 2, and 3+ students have completely different time allotments for science and ways to use that time. For example, a Form 1 student will spend two days a week reading nature lore for only 10 minutes each time; a Form 2 student will spend one day a week reading nature lore and then do formal science two days a week for 20-30 minutes; while a Form 3 student will do biology one day a week and then do another science topic three days a week for 30-40 minutes. That’s a considerable difference in time, and moving your Form 2 student up or your Form 3 student down, or any other combination, would be unfair.
Knowing that my Forms 3+ science guides are written to the child may be helpful, however, because you can spend time working with a younger child and allow your older child to work independently. Of course, you must hold them accountable for completing the work and provide the materials for experiments, but this should take some pressure off you.
One idea that can help with momentum is to have your Forms 2 and 3 students study the same subject. For instance, they could both do their own level of weather during school lessons and keep records of the temperature and rainfall during their nature study in the afternoons. Another example is to have them all do their particular astronomy level and then use the special study prompts in the Form 2 guide to study the constellation with the whole family in the evening.
Forms 3 (gr. 7-8) and High School (gr. 9-12)
However, you can combine any children from Form 3 (grades 7-8) and up. This benefits students as they can hold each other accountable, read to each other, and do experiments together, all without your involvement except to acquire all the supplies needed.
I cannot emphasize how important it is for your students to work independently of you as they get older, even if it requires workarounds when necessary, such as reading along with an audiobook or using the SeeingAI app. Even when there are learning challenges, working independently will give them confidence in their abilities rather than feeling defined by their struggles.
I have created a schedule (posted below) that works for students in grades 7 and 9 but could also be used for children in other grades. Just remember that high school students must complete three guides in a single subject area to earn a transcript credit. Still, one or more of those guides can include the Form 3-4 guides.
For example, to earn a chemistry credit, a high school student could complete:
- Form 3-4 Chemistry
- HS Chemistry—part 1
- HS Chemistry—part 2
Or a student could complete an Earth Science credit by completing:
- Form 3-4 Earth Science, Geology
- Form 3-4 Earth Science, Weather
- Form 3-4 Earth Science, Astronomy
Sample of Combined schedule for students starting in grades 7 and 9
7th grade & 9th grade
- All year: Form 3-4 Biology
- Term 1: Form 3-4 Chemistry
- Term 2: Form 3-4 Physics
- Term 3: Form 3-4 Earth Science, Geology
8th grade & 10th grade
- All year: Form 3-4 Botany (can switch with Form 3-4 Biology if you want)
- Term 1: HS Chemistry—part 1
- Term 2: HS Physics—part 1
- Term 3: Form 3-4 Earth Science—Weather
9th grade & 11th grade
- All year: HS Biology—Anatomy, part 1 (or you can choose any of the HS biology courses for this and next year.)
- Term 1: HS Chemistry—part 2
- Term 2: HS Physics—part 2
- Term 3: Form 3-4 Earth Science—Astronomy (prereq. for HS Physics, part 3, astrophysics)
10th grade & 12th grade
- All year: HS Biology—Anatomy, part 2
- Term 1: HS Chemistry—part 3
- Term 2: HS Physics—part 3, Astrophysics or Theoretical Physics
- Term 3: HS Earth Science—Geology
11th grade
- All year: HS Biology—Ecology
- Term 1: HS Biology—Microbiology, Biochemistry, or Forensics (or read a science book of interest)
- Term 2: Form 3-4 Technology
- Term 3: HS Earth Science—Weather
12th grade
Do whatever hasn’t been done or follow the student’s interest.
- All year: HS Biology—Origins
- Term 1: HS Biology—Microbiology, Biochemistry, or Forensics (or read a science book of interest, such as The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks)
- Term 2: HS Physics—Theoretical Physics or Astrophysics
- Term 3: Student Choice
I hope that helps. Remember, this is just a suggestion and not a prescription. You can take as much or as little of it as you want.