Homeschool failure worried about 1st grade....

[amyandelle]

So I totally failed at doing Kindergarten at home. I made the mistake of not buying a curriculum (per advice from a local homeschooler who apparently is more organized than I am). We have decided to enroll Elle in a public school for 1st grade. I am really worried that she is going to be behind the other kids. What should I do? Is there anything that anyone can recommend? Can anyone point me to a list of things that she needs to know before 1st grade so I can work on the things that she does not know before school starts in the fall? Any help/advice would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks,
Amy

[zeldamomma]

Can you call the school and ask for a list of expected skills?

Every school is different, so asking is probably the best way to be sure.

[luv-my-boys]

not sure if school has finished for the yr or not where you are at but if it hasnt I would call and see if you can set up a time to meet with the 1st grade or even K teacher to speak about what they learned in K and what is expected for them to have mastered by 1st. At least that way you will have a general idea of what you can work on during the summer. I would venture to guess it would be things like numbers, counting, alphabet, beginning phonics, penmanship and all around gross motor skilss.

[kittie313]

This is what my oldest dd was doing at the end of K last school year

- reading level C books (you can go to the library to find the leveled readers, ask the children's librarian if you need help)
- beginning to tell time and identify coins
- adding and subtracting up to 4 and from 4
writing 2-3 sentences (using how the words sound out for more difficult stuff)
-STILL SOME REVERSALS IS NORMAL UNTIL 2ND OR 3RD GRADE I GUESS (I correct them though, her ps teacher didn't, and expect her to redo any work that is backwards)
- counting to 100 or higher by 1, 5, and 10 with by 2's to 20

Other than that, really it was motly cutting and pasting. And the sad thing is, dd1 wasn't able to do any of the coins and telling time stuff, and couldn't read at that level, but they still passed her to 1st grade.

[amyandelle]

Thanks Mama's

I think calling the school is an excellent idea! I am also wondering if they have a summer school program that I might be able to put her in to get her ready.

Amy

[One_Girl]

When my dd was in first grade the kids went in at anything from a third grade reading level to no reading level and barely any grasp on letter sounds. They also varied in how much math they could do. The kindergarten in our area teaches some reading and sight word and works on being able to add and subtract using hands on material. They also introduce kids to what addition and subtraction problems look like. They also do life cycles and learn about themselves and their community for social studies. If you are going to focus on building her up on something then I think you should do it with the letter sounds and adding and subtracting using material. You can make up a worksheet with word problems that you solve with concrete objects on this website:

http://www.softschools.com/math/word...ms/worksheets/

This website has some worksheets without word problems:

http://www.kidzone.ws/math/grade1.htm

[pigpokey]

You could always put her in Kumon for the summer.

[lach]

You might want to go to a bookstore and look in their workbook sections. Places like Barnes and Noble have "complete curriculum" workbooks for each elementary year. If she does a few pages each day this summer (and they don't tend to be terribly long or complicated pages) she'll have it all done by summer.

But I wouldn't worry too much. At the beginning of first grade, kids range all over the place.

[lach]

Originally Posted by zeldamomma

Can you call the school and ask for a list of expected skills?

Every school is different, so asking is probably the best way to be sure.

Also, many districts have their complete curriculum available online, and it should include a list of what children are expected to master that year. See if your district has that available.

[elizawill]

the only thing i would work on (according to my area) is reading & handwriting. both of these are fairly intensive for first grade in my town, so those would be the only things i'd concern myself with honestly. the first few weeks of school will be review & such though, and your child will catch up very quickly. don't stress about it. hugs.


ETA - be sure to cross-post in the "learning at school" forum. there are tons of previous homeschoolers there. they will ease your mind and give you the support you need as well during this transition

[CariOfOz]

Originally Posted by lach

But I wouldn't worry too much. At the beginning of first grade, kids range all over the place.

Don't stress yourself, OR her out would be my biggest suggestion. Some kids go into 1st knowing how to read ...some don't. I really don't think she will be as far behind as you are imagining, so don't be so hard on yourself

[EviesMom]

If you're worried about reading, we're loving Headsprout Reading for K-1st grade level.

[hotmamacita]

I really would not worry about it. It is first grade. Yes, it may be fruitful for you to find out the expected entry skills. I would lovingly and without pressure work on them this summer but seriously....I would not fret about it one bit longer than you already have. Inculcate the love to learn rather than the pressure to confirm or meet standards. Your heart is best for your child!

[caefi]

Originally Posted by amyandelle

So I totally failed at doing Kindergarten at home. ...... We have decided to enroll Elle in a public school for 1st grade.
Amy

Was it always your plan to put her in for 1st or are you doing this only because of your perceived failure? How does one "fail" kindergarten? and why does it mean she must go into public school?

[phathui5]

I was wondering what made you decide to send her to school.

[sbgrace]

I don't feel you can fail at K! I didn't start any academic stuff at all until six and many countries don't start until seven. I bet she did lots of play and exploring and that's great for her developmentally (much better for her brain than ABC/123 stuff).

You didn't fail. So I hope that's not why you're putting her in school. I hope you're doing it because you want to send her and think she'll enjoy it. Do call the school. Schools really vary. Most states will also have the objectives for each grade level online. I don't think you'll have issues catching her up. I hope you can have fun with it too!

[MJB]

We homeschooled for K and were very laid back about it then sent my son to 1st grade this year. The things that I think we should have done more of are sight words and handwriting. He was put in reading intervention at the beginning of the year, not because he couldn't read at a C level, but because he sounded out the words they were expected to know by sight. It didn't take him too long to catch up but still, he could have learned the sight words over the summer if I'd known. Also he really struggles with handwriting still, it is the worst in the class and he hates it. I wish we'd practiced more before he started school and was expected to write all the time.

[tammyw]

Oh my. I am really surprised about the thought that kids are able to fail kindergarten Makes me sad. I do think sometimes if you push kids too early (those who aren't ready), they will start to dislike school. I was reading a book recently called Boys Adrift, and specifically it talks about boys typically not being ready for stuff as early as girls, but how in other countries they don't really "do" school until age 7 (when they are more ready) and yet they are much more advanced than we are. It seems they are onto something?!

[domesticidyll]

My son just finished public kindergarten this year, and based on his experience, as pp said, there will be a pretty big variation academically among the kids.

Handwriting is the biggest worry I'd have also. The kids at ds's school, they are a huge range from knowing many letters to reading chapter books, but even the kids who are not reading at all are able to cobble together a few sentences based on sight words plus "word bank" words (which are given to them to use and they can copy): I see a red chicken, I like my dog.

I would say at least the first ten sight words (I like see my have is...) plus familiarity with the color words. The color words are used ALL THE TIME for the math busywork. (Color all the shapes that add up to 7 in red, etc.)

First grade often has pretty good differentiation for reading, with a focus on the younger readers, and will start with review. If she knows her letters, it's probably okay, better if she has some phonemic awareness (can say what sound a word starts with, ends with), and can sound out simple CVC words.

My experience, and I hear this elsewhere, is that there isn't often any differentiation with math (beyond independent challenge work for kids who are ahead), but the level is pretty low. They'll probably spend the first month on counting and adding and subtracting up to 8, then gradually add up to 10, etc. By the end of the year, they should understand place value up to 100, add and subtract (no borrowing/carrying, but counting on a little: 49+7 and they are expected to just count the 7).

So they will probably be OK with her if she is behind on reading, but expect a very intense focus on getting her up to level. It may be tricky if you are hoping for a gentler pace.

Heather

[Momma Aimee]

look here

http://www.worldbook.com/typical_course_of_study.html

http://www.worldbook.com/typical_cou...lum_guide.html