Feeling lost

[Littlebirds]

I am sitting here after our first day back from the Holiday break feeling lost! My son is 5 1/2 and we have been officially HSing for 4 months. I started this whole adventure wanting so many things that are not feeling important anymore. For example, I wanted him to be at the same level his schooled friends were, mostly because I didn't want anyone to think I wasn't teaching him anything. I am no longer worried about it. That being said, we started the year with him being very excited about learning to read and now he cringes every time we sit down to work on reading. I started off  the year with Explode The Code 1 because he already knew his letter sounds and how to blend.  I guess I am looking for some advise on how to backtrack so I can get his excitement back. We read to him a ton and I know that helps but I guess I am looking for something that might make this fun again for him. I am using Singapore Math and don't love it either, I want to just give his some manipulates and explain math but it makes me anxious not having some kind of a guide telling me what I "should" be doing

I feel like I had a plan and now that plan isn't want I want and I am a PLANNER!!

Thanks so much!

[dubatatamama]

Originally Posted by Littlebirds 

I am sitting here after our first day back from the Holiday break feeling lost! My son is 5 1/2 and we have been officially HSing for 4 months. I started this whole adventure wanting so many things that are not feeling important anymore. For example, I wanted him to be at the same level his schooled friends were, mostly because I didn't want anyone to think I wasn't teaching him anything. I am no longer worried about it. That being said, we started the year with him being very excited about learning to read and now he cringes every time we sit down to work on reading. I started off  the year with Explode The Code 1 because he already knew his letter sounds and how to blend.  I guess I am looking for some advise on how to backtrack so I can get his excitement back. We read to him a ton and I know that helps but I guess I am looking for something that might make this fun again for him. I am using Singapore Math and don't love it either, I want to just give his some manipulates and explain math but it makes me anxious not having some kind of a guide telling me what I "should" be doing

I feel like I had a plan and now that plan isn't want I want and I am a PLANNER!!

Thanks so much!

I, too, had this same worry about math (it is not my strongest subject!).  Then I found Saxon and it has been a great fit for my DS and me!  He will be be 5 on the 18th of this month, and we use the Kindergarten book.  It is a spiral program, so a ton of review, and uses a TON of manipulatives, which is what we both like about it.   We did not purchase the manipulatives, but rather made things around the house work as counters (themed erasers, toy frogs, etc.).  It has a "script" that you can choose to use word-for-word or not.  He actually asks to do math!  I know it is hard to get back into the swing of things for us, too, after the holiday break.
 

[PGTlatte]

He may just not be ready to want to work on academic skills in a structured way.  When our older son was 5.5 the most I did with him that was structured was only 5 minutes at a time, and only two or three days a week.   Now our second son is 5.5 and I am doing the same thing.  He just is not interested in doing more at this point.  The only things I schedule and plan for this age are activities out of the house, and/or with other kids.  The rest of the "academic" learning happens when it happens.