Last summer, Caroline became absolutely enthralled with a student desk set at Office Max. It was a white desk, hot pink chair, and flowered mat. She was only three (!) and it was way too big for her. But every time we have been in Office Max over the past year, she has literally ran to see that set-up. The last time we were in there, I had her sit down to see if she might be tall enough to use it. She was tall enough if the chair is put all the way to the top.
So I emailed David’s dad with the picture and asked if he could make her a desk like it. He whipped it together (he’s a master craftsman) and we painted it this weekend. The chair and floor mat went on sale on Sunday so we bought those. We finally got it all set up yesterday in her room and Caroline is a Happy Camper. I still need to find some pretty baskets to use on the shelves, but in the meantime I gave her a few Rubbermaid containers to use. So she’s very excited about having real school work and “homework” to do at her desk. (She got the idea of homework from watching Laura on Little House on the Prairie DVDs
Which brings us to the topic at hand. Like most homeschooling moms, I’m currently in the midst of planning. After doing a lot of research about the different kinds of curriculum packages available, I decided to purchase… nothing.
Kindergarten Homeschool Planning
As I looked over the different packages, I simply could not convince myself that I needed to spend hundreds of dollars for a kindergartner. I was also not convinced that Caroline would enjoy a lot of what was in the packages. I was most tempted to purchase Sonlight, especially because of their money back guarantee. But, in the end, I decided that between what I already have, what is available for free or nearly free online, what I can get from the library, what I can make myself, and what I can selectively purchase that I don’t need the whole shebang from one company.
So here’s my kindergarten homeschool planning in progress.
Homeschool Co-op
Caroline is going to participate in two classes at the homeschool co-op. One is a phonics class and the other is a literature class that uses Five in a Row
Themes for the Year
I’ve been putting together a list of themes to use for the year. I’m going to do one theme a week and build around that. I’m creating a file folder for each theme and putting ideas in the folder as I come across them in either my own files or online. My goal is to have the file folders
Hands-on Pocket Chart
Caroline is all about hands-on activities so my one big splurge is going to be a couple of pocket charts and a stand. I’m going to purchase a Monthly Calendar Pocket Chart
Kindergarten Classic Picture Books
I’ve been going through several books and online sites to compile a master list of picture books for preschool and kindergarten. We have read a lot of the books that I see on the list, but I’m still going to make a list and we’ll work our way through the rest of them this year. Some of them we will just read for fun and some we’ll do lapbooks to accompany them.
Hands-on Math
Math is going to be mostly hands-on and worksheets. Caroline thinks worksheets are actually fun so I don’t feel badly using them in conjunction with other hands-on activities. I have learned that the worksheets need to be in color though in order to engage her and keep her focused. The black and white ones don’t work nearly as well (unless they are a coloring activity). I have a list of math objectives for kindergartners and we’ll simply go through that over the year and I’ll pull whatever materials I need to cover those concepts.
The Benefit of Homeschooling an Only Child
While there are many challenges to having an only child, I think this is where having only one is going to be fantastic. I don’t have to plan extensive lessons for multiple children and attempt to keep multiple children on task while trying to offer direct instruction to one of the others. I just sit down with her, figure out what she knows, determine what she needs help with, pull something from my files or online to cover that concept, and do it. A way that having an only is a big positive!
So that’s a bit about my plan. I still haven’t completely decided what I’m going to do about reading/phonics. I’m also still deciding on Bible. I’ll share more as I find resources and compile some of my lists and such. We’re going to start the last week of August so I have about a month to get everything ready.
Two Reasons I Love Little Bear & Our Only Child Family
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I used Sonlight and like them a lot but I agree with you. I could have found a lot of their books at the library. Now I have TONS of books I don’t need!
I loved 5-in-a-row for my kids for pre-k and k we built a lot of their school day around the different enrichment actvities for each book, I taught both boys together since they were a year apart, but the younger one would get tired of hearing the same story by the third day. I often wished there was enough time in each day to spend focused on each child’s individual needs. And since some of the activities included baking, well it was like your “how to bake a cake with your child” story times two!
Hope your school year is wonder-filled.
Mrs N
When I reviewed Five in a Row, I dismissed it as something to use with Caroline as it is presented. She would not want to read the same book five days in a row and do something different with it each day. As I’ve written before, she craves variety. I know there are moms out there who plan a theme for an entire month and that would never fly here either. One week with a few activities will be all that will interest Caroline at this age. The good thing about doing the co-op is that she’ll get exposed to Five in a Row in a way that keeps it brief and focused. So I think it will be the best of both worlds for her learning style. 😀
For reading I highly recommend the Ordinary Parent’s Guide to Teaching Reading. It’s simple and not flashy, and sometimes I have to dress it up with a few games or puppets for my son, but wow is it thorough!
What a darling picture and a darling desk set-up; I love it!
This post reminded me of a post that Anna at Pleasantview Schoolhouse wrote several years ago entitled “Homeschooling Heresies” (May 11, 2007). She wrote, regarding curriculum, “I don’t care what I use to teach my children. Give me something, and I will make it work. I am deeply wary of the desire for perfect teaching materials, and I view the search for the magic bullet curriculum as a time and money pit. Because at the end of the day, the only thing that matters is that you sat down with your child and together engaged in mastering an idea.”
As a homeschooling-minded mother whose children are enrolled in classical Christian school this really, really resonated with me. I’ve returned to this quote many times over the years as we’ve sat at the dining room table mastering an idea or concept together. If God ever leads us to homeschool exclusively I know I will find a great deal of encouragement and peace in remembering that there isn’t a magic formula, but, rather, it’s a process and a relationship immersed in teaching and learning together.
Michelle – Thanks for the recommendation. I will check that out. 🙂
Christian – That post of Anna’s is one of my favorite anywhere. I’ve read it so many times over the years and I know I’ve linked to it as well. Here is the link again for anyone who hasn’t read Homeschooling Heresies http://pleasantviewschoolhouse.blogspot.com/2007/05/homeschooling-heresies.html.
(Okay, David really needs to get those quick tags loaded on this theme.)
Hi! Have fun with your planning.
I’m with you. As someone who has home educated a LONG time (soon to start year 25)
I agree with you — kindergarten DOES NOT need to cost hundreds of dollars 🙄 (no offense, anyone — if you enjoy it, great — but it DOES NOT NEED TO) — and also, getting your own ideas is the fun part! For me, anyway.
Enjoy!
I am now teaching a 6th grader, 3rd grader and 2nd grader and still haven’t found the need for any real “formal” or expensive curriculum. Instead, I love the Charlotte Mason method and we fill our life of learning with good books, great literature, and nature study. Ambleside Online & Simply Charlotte Mason have been two incredible (and free!) resources online.
Yes, we do buy some curricula…I do love my Teaching Textbooks for math. But I really don’t see the point or need for canned curriculum sets, unless your primary goal is to replicate the traditional classroom at home. Instead I prefer to home school 24/7…lifestyle of learning. I don’t want the classroom at home. But that’s just me.
Lindsey – Yes, Ambleside appeals to me. But since it doesn’t formally start until age six, there’s nothing really there for us yet. Next year will be a different story. 😀