Half day kindergarten programs in Houston? or Home-school co-op

[MommyCrane]

My 4 year son desperately wants to go to pre-school next year. I have found a 1 or 2 programs that I like that are half day for pre-school, but my fear is that will lead to an expectation of going to kindergarten the following year. I have looked (and looked & looked) & cannot find any half day kindergarten programs, unless you consider Montessori (which we simply can't afford on a SAHM & grad student budget). Have I just not looked hard enough? Thus far, we have just been casually home-schooling & my DS already could pass kindergarten according to the TEA kindergarten standards on their website. I want my kid to be a kid not to be stuck in a class room all day being force fed information that he already knows & getting very few opportunities to play. I am torn, because I feel like unless I can find a kinder program that I am okay with (and can afford) I don't want him going to pre-school, even if I have found pre-school programs that I like. So, if anyone knows of either a great kinder program or a great home-school co-op (that is with in reasonable driving distance for a mom of soon to be 3), for younger kids, I would REALLY appreciate it. Also, with out full blown testing, our pediatrician & speech therapist have given him the label "gifted" I would really like an educational option that understands kids at different levels of learning academically, socially & emotionally; am I asking too much of any one program to want that?

[MamaBearCare]

Have you thought about checking into preschools?  Some are nothing more than glorified day cares, but there are those out there that are really good too.  Right now my daughter is in WeeWuns at the Cypress United Methodist Church.  She is in a 5 day program but they also have 2 and 3 days as well, however, it does run from 9-2:30.  They have a curriculum set up where they get lots of play to go along with their learning.  Each day they start off with the basics on day of the week and what not but then they also learn about gardening, bugs, recycling, space,... those are just the recent ones.  They attend library each week, have music class, Spanish class is also being intergrated, and have an Enrichment class that keeps them active and works on gross motor skills.  Beyond that they have centers in the classroom to play at as well as multiple trips outside to play each day. 

We needed a 5 day program for my daughter because she needed the additional stimulation.  She is the youngest of 3 and her brothers are in elementary and middle school, so if she wasn't bugging them, she was bored and looking for trouble.  I love to get down and play with her and what not but I am also a WAHM and cannot be her constant companion, nor watch her every move.  This school has been around for over 30 years and just keeps getting better so as soon as they offered a 5 day program, I told my husband he needed to budget for it because she was going! 

It's just a thought, but I hope you find the right place for your son.

[HeatherB]

What part of town are you in? There are many homeschooling resources all over the city - plenty to feed even the hungriest minds! We ended up doing preschool for my older two, then homeschooled starting in K. A little weird, but it worked.

Join us over in "Parenting the Gifted Child" forum, too! Lots of support for the journey.