Sometimes, raising and homeschooling 8 kids (ages 21 to 2) seems totally manageable--even easy--especially when compared to other, larger families made up primarily of younger kids. At other times, homeschooling our brood proves to be the hardest thing ever.

Homeschool planning for a large family can seem daunting. From choosing curriculum to setting up a daily schedule, there are seemingly endless decisions to be made. The good news is that you can simplify the homeschool planning process. The key is to prioritize your goals before you begin planning.

An example of an organizational system for a large homeschool family.

In a large family, it is inevitable that the older children will help guide the younger ones. Here are ideas on how to capitalize on that system.

Most moms of several children become experts at multitasking with experience. We often are asked how we manage homeschooling multiple learning levels and I find it difficult to explain. It's like preparing a seven course dinner--how do you tell someone exactly how to prepare everything in such a way that it's all ready at the proper time and stays the proper temperature? I suppose you could lead them step-by-step through all the directions and it would be easier, but still experience is the best teacher.

Some ideas to encourage those who are homeschooling many children. Discusses how to develop daily plans, integrate your teaching to different age levels, maintain your presence to give your children a sense of stability, and keep your perspective.

Teaching six children can be a challenge. How do you prioritize? Where do you focus your time? How do you make sure they all learn to read, write and tie their shoes? It is not impossible to teach a large family. It takes thoughtfulness and flexibility. It will keep you on your toes and keep you humble.

Great ideas and strategies for managing a large homeschooling family.

Take a look at a day in the life of a large homeschooling family. Alison and Paul have seven children and share what a typical day is like at their house.

An artist, blogger, painter, and mother of six (that's right, six) kids from ages 5 to 13, Denise is the queen of multitasking. In addition to managing a household of eight, the Southern California mom homeschools her three oldest boys – Noah, 13, Diego, 12, and Solomon, 10 – teaches art, and does duty as a baseball mom. There's no such thing as a set-in-stone schedule in the Cortes family. But within the swirl of noise, chaos, laundry, and huge grocery bills, this 38-year-old mom is obviously doing something very right.

Regardless of how many children you have, there will always be more on your to-do list than time will allow in any one day. Wise homeschool parents will recognize this early on and take steps to maintain their sanity by practicing these tips to enhance their homeschool productivity.

This article details how Bob and Erika Shupe homeschool their nine children successfully.

There are so many benefits to having a large family, too numerous to count. However, one of the very few disadvantages is that a mom has to really stay on top clutter, particularly a homeschooling mom! It can be challenging to find a spot for everything. Organization is key when school six children.

Do you homeschool children of multiple ages? Discover tips, ideas, and strategies from experienced homeschool moms who teach a variety of ages in their own homes. Panelists include Amy Roberts (Raising Arrows), Connie Hughes (Smockity Frocks), Judy Hoch (Contented at Home), and Tricia Hodges (Hodgepodge.me). Moderator for this weekly event is Lauren Hill of Mama's Learning Corner.

A candid look at the challenges and joys of raising a large family in a hostile world. This article is written from a Catholic perspective, but has food for thought for any parent of a large brood.

Parents of several children engage in some seriously creative thinking to accomplish ordinary day to day tasks. This article is a collection of tips, gathered from ‘Moms of Many’, and is intended to supply helpful suggestions for homeschooling, maintaining your home, and generally keeping it all in balance.

What do you do when you have older children who need your help, while the younger ones need your attention too. How do you get it all done and keep your sanity? The key is finding what works for your family and doing it.

How do you switch to a discipleship homeschool way of life? Theresa, mother of ten asked such a question – here is her letter and a reply. Theresa has given permission for this to be shared in the hope that other families will be encouraged too.

The introvert can homeschool! Here are some tips for those whose nature is more introverted. Especially helpful for those homeschooling a large family.

This podcast features Amy of Raising Arrows who currently has seven children on earth and one in Heaven. She shares ideas and encouragement for anyone who is homeschooling more than four children.

This blog shares tips, ideas and some of the ups and downs of managing a home with lots of kids and raising children for the glory of God.

Sherry writes her blog and shares her experiences as a mom of 15 homeschooled children.

Shelly is the mom of eleven children and is homeschooling. Share in her journey.

This blog shares homeschooling help and encouragement, parenting tips and insights, organizational tips, and more, all while chronicling the joys and challenges of raising a large family.

This mom of 12 children shares her challenges and blessings at this blog. She shares about adoption, attachment, Sensory Processing Disorder, homeschooling, marriage, life with a large family, and more.

Carrie shares life with her 14 blessings, offering a glimpse into the daily life of their family.

This site offers articles, resources, free homeschool printable, and curriculum information.

Join Amy Roberts as she shares her tips and ideas about homeschooling and large family living.

This beautiful family has grown through adoption and birth. With fourteen children, they homeschool and share their adventures on their blog.

Follow Amber and her children as they enjoy large family learning.

The purpose of Large Family Logistics is to help Christian homeschooling mothers with the daily tasks of home management.

A recipe group list with recipes that big families can enjoy. Discuss recipe successes and failures. Feel free to upload your own recipes or download others.

This group offers a discussion of Kim Brenneman's book Large Family Logistics.

Do you come from a large family? Are you planning one? Share the challenges and joys a big family can bring.

Raising a large, Catholic, homeschooling family is a great work (Magnum Opus) and a great deal of work! Hopefully this email discussion group will be a place for parents of four or more to help each other with the nitty-gritty details of raising and educating a large, Catholic family.

This is a list for all who are pregnant for the third or more time and are having a large family by choice. Discussions include the difficulties of having several at home when dealing with sickness and fatigue, homeschooling, and more. This is a supportive list where people believe that large families are wonderful.

This group is for large families using the K-12 curriculum created by Dr. William Bennett. Both homeschooling families and Virtual School families are welcome. It is particularly intended for families with more than 3 children in K-12 as well as additional teens, toddlers and babies. Discussions include both the curriculum and the challenges of implementing it in a large family.

This mailing list is set up for parents of large families. Large for this list is defined as having five or more kids. They welcome everybody who has at least that many of any religion, or even no religion.

Are you pregnant? Do you have a large family? Do people look at you like you're crazy? This is a list for all of you out there who are pregnant again for the third or more time. This is a supportive list wehre people believe that large families are wonderful.

This list is for moms only that are part of a large family consisting of four or more children. Large families are wonderful, exciting, and very challenging. Here you will find time and money saving tips, advice and support.