Lost and overwhelmed

[cpendergraff]

Thinking real seriously about starting hs kindergarten this fall when my dd is still 4 instead of waiting until she is five. I've looked at a few curriculums and I just think I'd rather make my own. I took a few classes in early elementary and was pretty good at coming up with curriculum and really enjoyed it. . Still I'd feel better with a guide, but I don't want to be out a lot of money.

What do you like/recommend in a k curriculum? Weekly units/monthly units? What subjects do you cover? Do I follow what she's interested in (science,math,literature, logic, history) and leave out others and do a partial unschooling? Should I borrow or get a few lesson plans from prominent established curriculum and use as a guide? I just don't want to feel overwhelmed and be up every night preparing.

Where should I start? We are a religiously mixed family so a secular program is preferred and id rather avoid DVD and Internet learning (we don't have a tv). I've ordered a Montessori curriculum ($35) but it is rather vague.

[tibeca]

You need to figure out what your homeschool style/beliefs are. There are TONS of curricula out there, but without knowing your style we can't recommend anything. For sanity purposes, we will be doing a semi-formal curriculum with DD1 (4 yo) since we are expecting a new baby in August. At 4, I would more follow the child's interest, but only you know your child best.

[cpendergraff]

You mean why I am homeschooling? What I want my hold to learn? That sort of thing?

[MDever]

Can I ask if you plan to use an umbrella or have your review through the state? I am not sure where you live but that could influence what you decide to cover.

[cpendergraff]

Originally Posted by MDever Can I ask if you plan to use an umbrella or have your review through the state? I am not sure where you live but that could influence what you decide to cover.

Blush.
I'm so new! I don't even know what that means. I live in ky! I have sent off for a packet. It has not arrived yet.

[tibeca]

Nope, not why. Why is easy, because we want the best for our kids. (regardless of what that best may be).

What I am looking for is why. Do you prefer classical education, montessori, charlotte mason, unit studies, waldorf, etc.

Homeschooling doesn't have to be like ps only at home. There are MANY ways to homeschool.

[jen_batten]

You could do weekly units using a letter per week. You could tie all the other learning to the letter--so for example, A math would be adding, science could be animals, writing would be A words, learn the a sound and recognize both lowercase and capital As. When we did something similar we cooked foods that started with a, and if you could start a color with the letter we wore clothes to match. I would focus mainly reading, writing and math. And I wouldn't be overly formal.

[cpendergraff]

Originally Posted by jen_batten You could do weekly units using a letter per week. You could tie all the other learning to the letter--so for example, A math would be adding, science could be animals, writing would be A words, learn the a sound and recognize both lowercase and capital As. When we did something similar we cooked foods that started with a, and if you could start a color with the letter we wore clothes to match. I would focus mainly reading, writing and math. And I wouldn't be overly formal.

This is what I am thinking!!

[ACSNMama]

At 4 years old, she may not want to sit and do work everyday. We didn't do any curriculum other than some simple workbooks where he learned how to form his letters, we also did simple math workbooks, using an abacus as counters. He worked on opposites, matching, matching beginning letter sounds, etc. This was random, not always daily.

He is now finishing up kindergarten year, reading at a 2nd grade level but doing all 1st grade work and will be moving on to 2nd grade, math phonics, etc this coming year.

[cpendergraff]

Originally Posted by ACSNMama At 4 years old, she may not want to sit and do work everyday. We didn't do any curriculum other than some simple workbooks where he learned how to form his letters, we also did simple math workbooks, using an abacus as counters. He worked on opposites, matching, matching beginning letter sounds, etc. This was random, not always daily. He is now finishing up kindergarten year, reading at a 2nd grade level but doing all 1st grade work and will be moving on to 2nd grade, math phonics, etc this coming year.

We are doing little random things now and she wants to do more. She already knows her letters and their sounds and can write lower and upper case---she likes being challenged and really wants to do school. This is why I'm thinking of starting k a year early.