beyond preschool

[funnyfeet]

What age did you start your child in Kindergarden? If you started early did you continue onto 1st grade after 1 year or did you continue with the basics until they reached the appropriate age?

My dd is almost 4. She has most of her preschool skills down. I have also started her on a phonics reading program. Now I'm researching and purchasing her kindergarden books. I plan to put together my own curriculum, using a variety of resources.

I noticed some schools have a K-4 and k-5 program. I'm not sure what the difference is in curriculum though.

Also, when do I need to start keeping records and documenting school hours? I know it might vary from state to state...I haven't decided what state to claim yet...we travel so I can chose between Florida, Colorado, or maybe even Washington state.

[moominmamma]

I would wait until registration and reporting is absolutely required by law, and would go with the least intrusive state (not sure which that is, because I live in Canada). Complying earlier or more thoroughly than necessary tends to 'raise the bar' and increase expectations for other homeschoolers. Generally speaking it's the first-grade year when reporting requirements start.

As for 'starting KG', I've never been one to think in labels like KG or K-4 or 1st grade. To me they're just tool for organizing kids into age-and-ability-levelled clumps for assignment to a classroom and the application of mass education.

I just do what it sounds like you're doing, which is to let my child move along as her interests and aptitudes change and progress. I have a newly 4yo who has just about finished the Singapore Early Bird 2B (KG-level) math workbooks, is reading, albeit not fluently, prints mostly upper case letters, and her real passions lately are riding her two-wheeler, playing the violin and watercolor painting. When people ask when she'll start KG, we say "well, she's all over the map in terms of her abilities, but she'd be starting KG in the fall of 2008 if she were to go to school."

Miranda

[rsps]

That's the beauty of HS -- the kids advance as they are ready, not by some arbitrary date.

On paper (we are in CA) they are in 1st and 3rd grades -- but the work they do runs the gamut from K to high school and everything in between.

If Washington is a possibility I believe you don't have to do anything legal till they are 8 -- so that might be a good choice.
according to HSLDAs website colorado starts at 7 and Florida at 6.
so sounds like you have plenty of time to make a choice.


this web site:
http://homeschooling.gomilpitas.com/...Legalities.htm
has good links to all the states info.

[funnyfeet]

I've only researched Florida so far, and I wasn't too excited with the legalities of what I read.

It's hard not to think in terms of grades. It's programmed into me at this time. But I don't want to put limits on my daughter. At the same time I don't want to push her too hard either. Well, at least not until she's a little older!

I was teacher's assistant in a one room school of sorts where I basically taught 1st and 2nd grade to a very small group of children. I HATED the curriculum! I realize now how limited it was.

The experience however has given me the incentive to hs my dd.

[OTMomma]

Personally, I'm not going to do the state reporting thing- we have found an umbrella school that makes things easy- and will create transcripts for me. I want that incase we later want to send dd to a public or private school- I really have no clue how the next 12 years will go, yk? I'm going to start with that this fall when dd is offically old enough for K here.

I think it is best to just go at your child's pace into whatever interests her. I don't do a formal curriculum yet- but during her year of being 4 we have done tons of "Kindergarten level" work and games, because that interests her and is on her level. We've skipped some skills she would have to do in a regular kindergarten class - like handwriting, which she isn't interested in- and we've gone much deeper than K level in other areas like science. This fall when we are officially K'ing, we will do a lot of unit studies that are not age based, and continue to work on reading and math at whatever her level is.

[frogguruami]

Originally Posted by funnyfeet

I've only researched Florida so far, and I wasn't too excited with the legalities of what I read.

FL is very easy to homeschool in. You can register as a home ed student and then you just have to submit an eval every year. There are tons of HS friendly teacher's out there to choose from. Another option is to join an umbrella school. I just joined FLUnschoolers, which is a free umbrella school. We are "technically" private school students and each quarter the director send us a reminder to submit our attendance. All we have to show is 180 days attendance, which is as simple as saying "Little Susie has completed 15 days of schooling in x month, 15 days of schooling in y month and 15 days of schooling in z month for this quarter." I don't have to keep any records, any portfolios and as far as grades go I just have to place them in a grade range. Both of my kids are in the K - 6 grade range. If you want more info PM me and I can forward you the info email.

As far as when to start what, I usually subscribe to the "start it when they are ready for it" school of thought.

[Rikki Gard]

ANyone know if there is an unbrella school for Georgia? We are probably moving to ATlanta this summer and I don't know anyone there. Hopefully I can find a homeschool group that is secular and active in the area.

[OTMomma]

I found this in a quick Yahoo search- for Georgia homeschooling:
http://www.homeschoolclassifieds.com...tate.asp?st=GA

[OTMomma]

I found this in a quick Yahoo search- for Georgia homeschooling:
http://www.homeschoolclassifieds.com...tate.asp?st=GA

[Ngandee]

I saw a review for a book entitled Practical Waldorf at Home: Kindergarten with your Three to Six Year Old by Donna Simmons at the link below. It looks interesting to me.

http://liltinghouse.clubmom.com/the_...garten_fo.html

Nina
http://preschoolathome.typepad.com/

[Rikki Gard]

Thanks! I really like thecabinopath.com