TL;DR: You can teach different ages at once using Joint Lessons. SparkAI automatically groups students into "Pods" to make sure everyone learns at their own level.
One of the best parts of homeschooling is learning together as a family. However, it can be hard to teach a teenager and a seven-year-old the same topic at the same time.
LearnSpark makes this easy with Joint Lessons and Pods. When you plan a lesson for multiple students, SparkAI automatically creates "Pods" (ability groups) to fit every child's needs.
How to Create a Joint Lesson
You can start a Joint Lesson from your Dashboard or the Lessons tab. Follow these steps:
Click Create Lesson.
In the Student Selection area, check the boxes for all the children you want to include.
Enter your topic, such as "Marine Biology" or "The Solar System."
Choose how long you want the lesson to last.
Click Generate and wait for SparkAI to build your custom plan.
💡 Good to know: You do not need to create Pods yourself. SparkAI looks at each child's Operating Level to group them automatically when the lesson is made.
Understanding Pod Layering
When you open a Joint Lesson, you will see a "Group Introduction." This section is designed for everyone to enjoy together. It's a great way to start the conversation.
After the introduction, the lesson splits into different tracks or "Pods." Each Pod has tasks tailored to the students' specific Operating Levels. For example:
Lower Levels: Focus on hands-on activities, drawing, and basic vocabulary.
Middle Levels: Include more independent reading and multi-step problems.
Higher Levels: Challenge students with research and complex analysis.
Recording and Feedback
While teaching, you can use the Recording feature to capture the discussion. SparkAI will transcribe the audio and provide notes. This helps you see what each student understood.
Once the lesson is finished, you should provide feedback for each student. You can give a performance rating and list any struggles or gaps.
This feedback is very important. It tells SparkAI how to adjust the difficulty for your future LearnSpark experience. That's it — your students are on their way to mastery!
⚠️ Heads up: If a lesson feels too easy or too hard, use the feedback form to explain the struggle. Then, regenerate the lesson. SparkAI will use that info to fix the level.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Joint Lessons use more credits?
Yes. SparkAI creates multiple versions of activities and updates several Mastery Profiles at once. Because of this, Joint Lessons use more credits than a single-student lesson.
Can I change the names of the Pods?
No. Pods are generated automatically based on levels to keep things organized. Your children’s names will always appear next to their assigned tasks so they know which work is theirs.
How do I make a lesson harder for one student?
There is no manual button to set difficulty. Instead, give the student a lower performance rating or note a specific "gap" in the feedback form. When you regenerate the lesson, SparkAI will adjust the complexity.
Can I use Joint Lessons for a co-op?
Absolutely! This is a great way to manage a group with different abilities. Just make sure all students are added to your account so SparkAI can track their progress.
What if students are the same age but have different skills?
SparkAI uses Operating Levels rather than biological age. If one ten-year-old is advanced in Math and another is still practicing the basics, they will be placed in different Pods automatically.