New Homeschool Curriculum
October 18th, 2006 | 
Author:  |
US $.25
Question: Kindergarten Homeschool Schedule question....Please help. Thanks!?
I have a 5 year old that I'm planning on Homeschooling. I have several questions and would like advice and opinions of other homeschool mothers. First of all, what kind of schedule do you follow? In our state (Louisiana) we have to homeschool for 180 days a yr. Do you do Homeschooling every day of the week? How long should I teach my child a day? Some people say 30 mins per subject, others say that at this age, there is really no curriculum required and that only do about 30 mins all day long. What do you do? Also, since there is no "real" curriculum required, what do you teach? I know about Grade Level Expectations, do you follow that or not? Also, being new at Homeschooling, I was wondering what kind of schedule you used as far as keeping your housework done. Any other advice would be greatly appreciated!!
I also have a 5 mth old too. So I will need time with her as well. So if you have any advice on how to schedule around a baby, that would be appreciated too.
Answer: Look into Sonlight for Kindergarten. It's a literature based curriculum. Most of the learning activities are taught through great children's books.
Phonics and beginning reading skills are taught through hands on activities. Same with math. I wouldn't spend more than an hour a day with sit down workbook activities. The beauty of a literature based curriculum your 5 month old can be with you as you read to your 5 year old.
I had a 10 week early preemie when doing kindergarten with my oldest son. We did the sit down activities during nap time. I read to my 5 year old snuggled on the sofa while nursing my newborn. As my baby became a toddler, he sat in his high chair with play activities while my now 6 year old did handwriting, math and phonics workbooks. I reserves special activies for my toddler to use just for school school time---playdough, safety scissors and old scrap paper, even pudding to fingerpaint his high chair tray). During the reading time, my toddler sat with us on my lap or played on the floor with Duplos or his toy trains. During nice weather we read outside, took walks, had picnics. All this is learning. And you will be amazed at how much your baby will learn just by being in the room while you are teaching your older child. I never taught my younger son to count or say the alphabet, he just learned it incidentally by being with us during "school time" He participated as his interest allowed in various learninactivitieses and hands on experiments. I well remember struggling with my 2rd grader with a science experiment that kept failing. We were trying to prove hot air expanded by putting a dented ping pong ball into hot water. Each trial failed until I boiled the water in the microwave. Months later while drinking coffee outside while my then 3 year old toddler played I caught him dropping rocks into my coffee cup. When questioned he responded, he wanted to see if the coffee was hot enough to make the rocks get bigger. Didn't quite get the concept, but showed he had been listening even when he wandered away in boredom during those failed experiments.
We do academic work, even now (grades 8 and 12) only 4 days per week. Friday is Fun Friday reserved for field trips to the Library, museums, hiking, fishing, getogetherrs with friends, watching educational videos. When we are studying something in history or literature I look for videos that will enhance their learning, even now. While studying the American Revolution we watched The Patriot, after reading the Illiad and Odyssey we watched Troy. You can do the same with younger children. After reading Charlotte's Web, watch the Video, both the cartoon and live action versions. Then talk with your child about it, comparing the book to the movie versions. Draw pictures. Make up new adventures for Wilbur and create a book. Fun Friday can be very educational yet much more engaging than a work book. You would be surprised how many children's books have become the basis for movies...The Cat in the Hat, Horton, Misty of Chicoteaque, the list goes on and on. Your public Library has a wealth of material.
As a homeschooler, your child will learn 365 days not just the required 180 day. Learning enjoyable and it will become a lifelong lifestyle for your children.
Although my children are older they rarely spend more than 3-4 hours/day 4 days/week doing what would be considered "school". Yet my children spend their free time pursuing their own interests that can still be educational.
Why We Need A New Curriculum
Related posts
Posted in Homeschool Curriculum | 
Tags: education, games, lessonplans, new homeschool curriculum, resources, teaching