Hi mamas,
We are seriously considering homeschooling starting next year (dd will be kindergarten aged). She has been in preschool (full-day) this year and knows her letters, can write her name, can count to 100, can write most numbers, and is beginning to recognize a few sight words. She will be 5 in October.
I realize that for the kindergarten year no formal curriculum is necessary, although I'd like to have some kind of basic structure for both our sanities. Also I need to teach her the fundamentals of the Hebrew alphabet so she will be on par with her classmates if we decide to send her back to yeshiva (Jewish school) - where they do Hebrew immersion/religious studies half the time and English language-based education half the time (science, history, etc. are incorporated in both in a wholistic way).
I've been reading and reading (being the type-A that I am) and am very interested in both the "literature-led learning" idea of the Sonlight/Five in a Row kind of programs (I'm guessing these are Charlotte Mason based?) and the Well Trained Mind, which seems to be very structured and over-the-top but appeals to me. I used to be a college professor and know first hand how kids at a top university taking advanced courses could not write an effective essay, misspelled words and used improper grammar, and did not know their history or literature facts AT ALL. TWTM really seems to address these and give kids a basis for advanced literacy and confidence with language from a young age.
Can anyone comment on these ideas, how/whether they are integrated or can be combined? I'm not really good with a "free flowing" system; I and my daughter(s) will need some structure and guidance; we share the trait that in order to function happily and freely there has to be some guiding principles. It doesn't have to be rigid or all-encompassing, but I am looking for something a bit concrete, especially at the beginning (i.e. 1st grade). For next year I think I'd concentrate more on phonics and fun than anything else but I would like to start collecting stuff and have a rough road map so to speak.
TIA for any input!
We are seriously considering homeschooling starting next year (dd will be kindergarten aged). She has been in preschool (full-day) this year and knows her letters, can write her name, can count to 100, can write most numbers, and is beginning to recognize a few sight words. She will be 5 in October.
I realize that for the kindergarten year no formal curriculum is necessary, although I'd like to have some kind of basic structure for both our sanities. Also I need to teach her the fundamentals of the Hebrew alphabet so she will be on par with her classmates if we decide to send her back to yeshiva (Jewish school) - where they do Hebrew immersion/religious studies half the time and English language-based education half the time (science, history, etc. are incorporated in both in a wholistic way).
I've been reading and reading (being the type-A that I am) and am very interested in both the "literature-led learning" idea of the Sonlight/Five in a Row kind of programs (I'm guessing these are Charlotte Mason based?) and the Well Trained Mind, which seems to be very structured and over-the-top but appeals to me. I used to be a college professor and know first hand how kids at a top university taking advanced courses could not write an effective essay, misspelled words and used improper grammar, and did not know their history or literature facts AT ALL. TWTM really seems to address these and give kids a basis for advanced literacy and confidence with language from a young age.
Can anyone comment on these ideas, how/whether they are integrated or can be combined? I'm not really good with a "free flowing" system; I and my daughter(s) will need some structure and guidance; we share the trait that in order to function happily and freely there has to be some guiding principles. It doesn't have to be rigid or all-encompassing, but I am looking for something a bit concrete, especially at the beginning (i.e. 1st grade). For next year I think I'd concentrate more on phonics and fun than anything else but I would like to start collecting stuff and have a rough road map so to speak.
TIA for any input!