Kindergarten Anxiety

[Seeking Refuge]

I cross posted this from my blog. Please share any insight you might have with

Again I am experiencing high levels of anxiety. This time I blame it fully on a certain Ms. Rebecca Rupp.
I ordered her book some time ago so last night I decided to take a relaxing herbal bath and read her recommendations for kindergarten. That was not such a good idea. I was up until 4 a.m trying to put together some sort of schedule . I really need help with this. I know that some of you unschoolers cringe at the mention of a schedule but as a dyspraxic mom trying to homeschool, I absolutely have to have one. Nothing else will work for us.

Many of the members of our locals homeschool association have been recommending a nearby HSAP. It was established by a hs mom years ago and is staffed by supervising teachers who have homeschooled their own children. So I sent off the open enrollment papers to our local district and the application to the HSAP some time ago and I have not heard back other than the delivery confirmation card I requested. This is also a source of stress for me. There was a school board meeting last night so hopefully I will hear from them soon.

At this point I have to enlist aid, anyone who has any advice for me about establishing a schedule that still allows him some freedom, please let me know. I am aware I have to relax a bit. I just don't think I can do it until this is done.

[Roar]

Maybe not what you are looking for but I suggest that you consider what is the worst thing that really could happen no matter what you choose. This is homeschooling. Try something, maybe it works, maybe it doesn't. You try something else. That's life and as long as you aren't intentionally doing mean stuff to your kid he'll be just fine. Really.

If you need a schedule how about this one. From 10-12 or whatever window you choose - you will always be available to do stuff with your kid. Might be painting, taking a walk, doing a science experiment, but you'll be there. And, you'll regularly read to him a variety of different books if he wants - some fiction and some non fiction. Would that be enough?

[phathui5]

What are the subjects you need to cover? What are the times of day that your son would be most receptive to doing schoolwork with you?

[Seeking Refuge]

Well I am looking at Rebecca Rupp's Homelearning Year by Year. Reading, writing, mathematics, history/geography, science, and art are just a few she mentions for the kindergarten year. Does he really need to do all of that?

[Lillian J]

I'm kind of stunned. I know Rebecca, and this doesn't compute for me. I read something she wrote where she just mentioned a few things that they ordinarily know at that age - it didn't amount to much of anything. What kind of thing is she suggesting in the book? Are you sure those are her actual recommendations - or might they be simply an account of what's usually done in schools? And might it be that she's just listed things that might be touched upon in the course of year rather than studied on an ongoing basis?

But, as an alternative to that path, I'd like to suggest that you peruse this page:
preschool and kindergarten learning activities.


- Lillian

[cielle]

Originally Posted by Seeking Refuge

Well I am looking at Rebecca Rupp's Homelearning Year by Year. Reading, writing, mathematics, history/geography, science, and art are just a few she mentions for the kindergarten year. Does he really need to do all of that?

Ergh. I just returned that to the library. I wish I had it to flip through.

Anyway, my plan for K is to do reading/phonics stuff, handwriting and math everyday. That's about 20 min. max, right? Do a craft or art a couple times a week. Do a little nature study anytime during the week to cover science. History, etc. can be covered at museums, through read alouds, storytelling, etc. Maybe memorize a little poem if he wants to now and then.

The book I have now suggests a max of 45 min/day for kindy.

eta: Just wanted to add that really my only goal for the next two years is that he become comfortable with reading and math. All the other subjects are just for fun. They shouldn't be a source of stress.

[Lillian J]

Originally Posted by Seeking Refuge

At this point I have to enlist aid, anyone who has any advice for me about establishing a schedule that still allows him some freedom, please let me know. I am aware I have to relax a bit. I just don't think I can do it until this is done.

Okay, back to the heart of your question... I'd suggest that you have an extremely simple and flexible schedule of maybe just a few blocks of time a day at most (if you feel you really need a schedule of some kind) - things like a time to read to him or tell him stories, a time to go for a nature walk, a lot of time for imaginative play and outdoors activities, a time to help cook or bake, just traditional 5 year old and family stuff.

I was going to write out a few suggestions here, but then remembered I'd already put it into this article:
A Homeschool Curriculum for Preschool and Kindergarten

Do get back to relaxing. There's absolutely no reason to stress about a curriculum for children of that age - anything he can learn now can be learned much more easily and quickly at a later age anyway. What's really vitally important is play, play, and more play - and that tends to automatically incorporate a lot of learning, but more importantly, the joy of learning. Lillian

[Linda on the move]

Originally Posted by Seeking Refuge

Well I am looking at Rebecca Rupp's Homelearning Year by Year. Reading, writing, mathematics, history/geography, science, and art are just a few she mentions for the kindergarten year. Does he really need to do all of that?

There's really nothing that you HAVE to do. It is up to you to make choices based on what you think will work best for your DC and then to adjust as things play out.

We are super relaxed, but at times my kids have really needed some structure. So my advice is that if your gut level feeling is that you need structure, start with a flexible structure but don't let yourself ever feel boxed in. It is your tool, not your boss.

So here is a run down of what we did when DD was that age:

Four days a week right after breakfast:
writing - 5 min.
reading/phonics - 15 min
math - 15 min
Art -- as long as they wanted. We rotated painting, playdough, drawing, and something using scissors and glue.

After lunch we worked on unit studies and discussed history, geography, and science as they came up. Mostly this time was spend reading really good books on the couch and doing activities to go along with the books. It was a lot of fun.

One day a week we ran errands, went to the library and the park, ect.

But, there is NOTHING that you have to do. This worked well for my DC who really needed structure. Some kids don't need and structure and this would drive them bonkers.

[Lillian J]

I have to add a personal story. My son was in a completely and strictly non-academic kindergarten - play based - and he was in for two years since he was too young for 1st grade after the second year. So when we moved to a more academic 1st grade, he was almost seven. The summer before it started, I needed to get him started reading - the other children who would be in the 1st grade with him had learned to read up to 3 letter words already. It didn't take long at all to introduce him to letter sounds and words and get him started - he was quite up to par. He did very well there - fit right in - but there were a lot of reasons why we decided to homeschool as soon as 1st grade was over. He's happily attending college now and doing very well. What I'm getting at is that he could have been grinding through an academic kindergarten and still not have ended up ahead of where he came out after being able to just play and build his imagination when he was 5 and 6. And he loves learning and has done just great in his higher education. This is true for lots of children! So try to think of them when you start to feel pressures from whoever to push studies on your little one. Lillian

[Seeking Refuge]

Well I am of two minds about this. I have read the hurried child and I am not anxious to push academics on him. On the other hand I have been doing most of the things on your preschool/kindergarten list with him for years now and he is ready for something more but I keep looking for something I like and coming up with nothing.

I like the idea of a classical education but I abhore worksheets and busy work such as copying words or tracing letters. At this point I have taught him everything he has learned with manipulatives, hands on activities and games. I want our program to be earth centered but I think Steiner is a bit on the kooky side.

He is ready to move on but I am not sure what to do next.

[Lillian J]

Originally Posted by Seeking Refuge

He is ready to move on but I am not sure what to do next.

You could expand into more fun science and nature and building/designing and such - things little boys often love - without having to get into a heavy schedule or plan. There are lots of ideas in this set of links:

Our World and Beyond: Earth, Science, Space and Technology

When my son was in his second year of kindergarten, he told me he wanted to be in a school where they had "test tubes and stuff." He had been looking into the lab room of the high school room that was next door to his kindergarten room. In the little academic school I sent him to next, ironically enough, they did have a dad who was a scientist bring in test tubes to do experiments with them - and they did unit studies and crafts based around things that fascinate kids - like marine mammals. That was one of the few virtues of the school - they did get into some interesting things. Here's a good article on unit studies - they can be fun and satisfying.

And there are lots of lovely books you can have around about all sorts of subjects. Here's one resource I like a lot:
Children's Picture Books

If you poke around in these links, you'll find all sorts of ideas:
Homeschooling Gateway to the Internet

If you just get into a rhythm of certain days being connected to certain things, it could end up feeling like a pretty solid structure. I had a homeschooling neighbor who had play day at her house on Mondays, library on Tuesdays, math games in afternoons, walks in the morning, etc. It worked out well with her own need to have a structure, and it helped her remember not to get too carried away with her gardening and neglect her kids' needs to get their teeth into something.

Lillian

[Linda on the move]

Originally Posted by Seeking Refuge

Well I am of two minds about this. I have read the hurried child and I am not anxious to push academics on him. On the other hand I have been doing most of the things on your preschool/kindergarten list with him for years now and he is ready for something more but I keep looking for something I like and coming up with nothing.

My DDs both like Five in a Row at that age. It is unit studies based on good children's books. If he likes to be read to a lot it might be a nice choice for ideas.

Family Math is a wonderful resource for hands on math.

Trust the Children: An Activity Guide for Homeschooling and Alternative Learning by Anna Kealoha is another wonderful resource.

You might see if you can get any of these through your library or with interlibrary loan to see if they are good fits before you buy them.

It is possible to plan open ended activities but have a routine and structure.

[Tonia80]

Okay, this is hwo I do kindergarten with my son, firstly we had to figure out when he woudl work best with least distractions. For us this is when hsi brothesr nap in the afternoon. this buys us a couple hours in the afternoon. I unschool BUT we call that our alone time whcih he needs anyway and thsi is when we can do stuff like book work cuz unschooled though he is he LOVES bookwork. LOL So, instead of tryingto cranm it all in to each day I make sure he learns a coupel subjects a day. For instance, on monday we may do a few math worksheets and then snuggel on teh couch and read together fro an hour. On tuesday we may bake together and then discuss soem stuff about animals and look up stuff about said animals on teh web for science. On wednesday we might practice writing letters outside with chalk and discuss teh sounds they make and what words begin with them and then read aloud agian on teh couch. On thursday we might taek a field trip to a local art gallery. On Friday we might play with clay together and then watch a video about animal babies. This is all possibilities but see how its not cramming it all into one day. keep in mind that even if you do not unschool your child is still gonna learn throughout teh day whiel playing or whatnot. My goal everyday is just to be SURE my son has had some of my focused attention to guide him if need be but no pressure at all.