[Got_Cloth]

Hi all. I have jsut made my final decision... I am DEFINATELY homeshooling my dd for K. AT LEAST!!

I know there are alot of differnet programs out there, but I need some tried and true recomendations for homeschooling for kindergarten. MY dd is 4, and knows her ABC, can count can add single digits. she knows how to wrtie her name and address. and she in only 1 number off on her phone number, there are too many 3's inmy number so she forgets one. :LOL
This weeknd we started having her read to us. She is reading about 10 words now. She is not allowed to go to knidergarted for another year. her BDAY is in january, so she will ne almost 6 when she starts. so for the next 1 year and 3 months, what Am I suppsoed to do. she is READY to learn. She laready knows what most kids dont yet know comoing out of kindergarten. she is a socail butterlfy and our preschool HSing group says she is perfefct sits and listens when asked and is always helping.
If I let the public school system tell her what to leanr nad when, they will be holding her back....

PLEASE any recomendations. should I even HS with a K system or go right to first grade. Where can I find what they SHOULD know coming out of kindergarten??

thank you for your help

 

[moominmamma]

IMO if you've got a young child who is academically advanced, that's all the more reason to avoid a curriculum. Why? First of all, she's clearly thriving without one. I'm of the "don't fix what ain't broke" persuasion. Secondly, to find a curriculum that will challenge her academically you'll be looking at material that's better-suited for the maturity and learning style of a much older child (eg. lots of written seatwork, rote memory, etc.). Thirdly, if there's any possibility of her re-entering the school system at a later date, she'll probably stand a better chance of fitting in if you spend your homeschooling time broadening her education rather than accelerating it.

I have a dd with a January birthday who was similarly advanced at that age. She spent her 4th and 5th years reading anything she could get her hands on, learning to cook, garden and bicycle, doing lots of hikes, helping with her baby sister, working really hard at violin and piano, dabbling in some French, ice-skating, skiing and swimming. We didn't start formal math until she was almost 6 and we never did do "reading" or other language arts. At age 11 she's a wonderful, interesting kid with unique talents and passions that had their roots in those creativity-driven early years.

Think music and dance and sports and second languages and community service, rather than 1st grade curriculum. Just my advice.

ETA: You might be interested in reading through this recent thread about the meaningless and arbitrary nature of kindergarten skills lists.

Miranda

 

[Lillian J]

Beyond the 3Rs, which already she's way ahead on, there's a whole world of wonderful things you can be doing with her. Here's an article I put together with lots of ideas as well as links to web sites with great stuff:

A Homeschooling Curriculum for Pre-school and Kindergarten

Lillian

 

[Got_Cloth]

Thanks mamas, you have cinfrimed what I was thinking. She is my first and I am always afraid i will be doing things wrong by her even though her best interest is in mind. KWIM??

thanks

 

[Kleine Hexe]

great sites thanks.

 

[mrsuribe]

Love your website! Thanks for sharing your ideas!

 

[MrsMoe]

Here is a very detailed description of the standards for a curriculum in Canada for Kindergarden. Scroll down the page a bit for learning expectations in language, math, science & technology, personal and social development, and art. IT goes into exact specifics as to what a child should know by the end of the Kidnergarden year.

http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/documen...er/kinder.html

 

[Linda on the move]

My kids loved Five in a Row at that age. It is weekly unit studies built around a wonderful children's book. The site is somewhat religous, but the curriculum isn't. I don't know how to do links but the site is fiveinarow.com

 

[Nickarolaberry]

You can try looking into the sonlight curriculum (www.sonlight.com). It's literature based, and you can mix, match, add, and subtract whatever you want. The catalogue gives an excellent comprehensive review of all aspects. There is some Christianity to it, but it's easy to substitute or even take out if you're not into that.

Really great for kids who love to read and be read to. No pressure. No formal workbook work unless you want to. Gives you a cool library.