My son will be ready for K this fall and we already know we will be keeping him home. We have followed a child-led learning philosophy since he was born and just try to provide him with lots of books, materials, activities, etc when he shows an interest in something. He is thriving and excelling with this, so I don't want to change much as we reach "school" age.
He is not quite 5 and is a very very independent learner. He loves to rsearch things on his own. He will pick a topic and insist we buy every book we come across about that topic, will search for more info online, enjoys programs or games on that topic, etc. He honestly really really enjoys reading and then supplementing with vids, pics, etc at Cosmeo, Discovery, Animal Planet, etc. He also likes to act things out with creative play, thru experiments, thru games, thru art, etc. He is a very very visual and tactile learner.
He HATES formalized learning activities. books, games, programs on tv, websites, experiments, field trips - those are generally big hits. But workbooks are a big NO WAY (which doesn't bother me except for the issue it may raise with making a portfolio). Directed learning sessions like games with the abacus or dominos is a huge turnoff for him and he refuses to get involved - although this may be cuz it is math based and he is boycotting math.
He REFUSES to sit with me for "school time" but will then come to me daily and ask to get on the computer to do "homework" which is more research and games on the latest obsession. he could spend hours a day reading and researching dragons or medusa or octopuses. He does not lack focus, just lacks the desire to learn anything except what he wants. LOL
I don't know where to start with a curiculum for him or how to effectively create a portfolio. I have started a blog to help me document what we are doing and our various activities....
To make the challenge just a little bit harder, I think he has mastered all the K skills already and many of the 1st grade skills - but hard to prove when he won't cooperate with the idea of school time. His reading is fabulous, he can pick up any book inthe house, even my hbby's A&P textbook, and read it without much difficulty. he can add basic numbers up to 10 or so, but only if he doesnt realize that he is adding. Ask him what 2+1 is and he will stare at you or simply say no and walk away. But if it is in a game or really truly embedded in an activity, like cooking or something, he does it without hestitation or even thinking about it. sorting ad sequencing toys and stuff is great if he starts it. If I start it, he ends the playtime and moves onto something else.
The math stuff I got like cubes, the abacus, and sorting bears - I was told they were BORING and they sit and collect dust. Spelling and writng - also BORING activities. He has been writing since he was about 3, but has no interest in it once he felt that he mastered writing his letters. he can spell words like octopus and monster and cyclops without batting an eye, but ask him to spell bird and he can't (despite the fact that he could last year!)
I really think I have my work cut out for me LOL He is strong willed and not afraid to stand his ground.
Until now, I have not pushed anything. And I don't want to start either - Just fuel whatever interest he has going that week. I try to intro new ideas/topics periodically or work things like math and spelling into activities he already is enjoying. But I am worried about it now that we have to conform to school requirements for the upcoming year. I have to have some sort of cirriculum to show them, and a portfolio of his progress. And I don't know how to reconcile that with our child led learning style....
Any suggestions or advice?? TIA!
He is not quite 5 and is a very very independent learner. He loves to rsearch things on his own. He will pick a topic and insist we buy every book we come across about that topic, will search for more info online, enjoys programs or games on that topic, etc. He honestly really really enjoys reading and then supplementing with vids, pics, etc at Cosmeo, Discovery, Animal Planet, etc. He also likes to act things out with creative play, thru experiments, thru games, thru art, etc. He is a very very visual and tactile learner.
He HATES formalized learning activities. books, games, programs on tv, websites, experiments, field trips - those are generally big hits. But workbooks are a big NO WAY (which doesn't bother me except for the issue it may raise with making a portfolio). Directed learning sessions like games with the abacus or dominos is a huge turnoff for him and he refuses to get involved - although this may be cuz it is math based and he is boycotting math.
He REFUSES to sit with me for "school time" but will then come to me daily and ask to get on the computer to do "homework" which is more research and games on the latest obsession. he could spend hours a day reading and researching dragons or medusa or octopuses. He does not lack focus, just lacks the desire to learn anything except what he wants. LOL
I don't know where to start with a curiculum for him or how to effectively create a portfolio. I have started a blog to help me document what we are doing and our various activities....
To make the challenge just a little bit harder, I think he has mastered all the K skills already and many of the 1st grade skills - but hard to prove when he won't cooperate with the idea of school time. His reading is fabulous, he can pick up any book inthe house, even my hbby's A&P textbook, and read it without much difficulty. he can add basic numbers up to 10 or so, but only if he doesnt realize that he is adding. Ask him what 2+1 is and he will stare at you or simply say no and walk away. But if it is in a game or really truly embedded in an activity, like cooking or something, he does it without hestitation or even thinking about it. sorting ad sequencing toys and stuff is great if he starts it. If I start it, he ends the playtime and moves onto something else.
The math stuff I got like cubes, the abacus, and sorting bears - I was told they were BORING and they sit and collect dust. Spelling and writng - also BORING activities. He has been writing since he was about 3, but has no interest in it once he felt that he mastered writing his letters. he can spell words like octopus and monster and cyclops without batting an eye, but ask him to spell bird and he can't (despite the fact that he could last year!)
I really think I have my work cut out for me LOL He is strong willed and not afraid to stand his ground.
Until now, I have not pushed anything. And I don't want to start either - Just fuel whatever interest he has going that week. I try to intro new ideas/topics periodically or work things like math and spelling into activities he already is enjoying. But I am worried about it now that we have to conform to school requirements for the upcoming year. I have to have some sort of cirriculum to show them, and a portfolio of his progress. And I don't know how to reconcile that with our child led learning style....
Any suggestions or advice?? TIA!
