Kindergarten planning thread for 2017-2018

[3 ladybugs]

Anyone else not using a complete program for Kindergarten?

 

My son turns 5 in July. I am slowly rolling out Kindergarten for him. 

 

Reading - AAR 1 (currently about 2/3 through AAR pre-reading)

 

Math - MUS Alpha (currently about 1/2 through MUS Primer)

 

Science - Elemental Science Intro to Science (currently doing Evan Moor Everyday Literacy Science)

 

Handwriting/spelling - Spelling You See (will start this next week)

 

Not sure if I will add to this or not. Might want to add a history overview if I can find one or he might just join older brother in modern history. 

[Mommyof1]

Hello,

 

Mine turned 5 in late fall 2017.

 

We do a lot of read aloud's on a variety of subjects. Audio books also.

 

She loves science so other then reading about it she also watches "Scishow Kids & Dr. Binocs" on Youtube. Nature walks and Science City, plus visit to the Zoo. Daddy occasionally does science experiments with her.

 

Math is currently Horizon Math K along with Ray's Arithmetic. Math facts videos. Count, Add & Subtract songs via a CD we borrow from the library. Not on the same day though it depends on the day and where her interest lie. She also loves math.

 

Going to be doing Rhythm of Handwriting from Logic of English "Cursive" she said she wants to write fancy. Start that in few weeks.

 

Redoing Alphabet Fluency and Blend Phonics PrePrimer Drills (cvc words). Then restarting Reading Made Easy with Blend Phonics. Use Phonics Pathways to change it up (she enjoys variety). Bob Books and other easy readers.

 

Teach her our towns history and then the history of our state. She is also learning the names of the states via games, videos and puzzles.

 

Anything else that catches her fancy.

[wendyroo]

The year we are planning for is '18-'19, so you might want to edit your thread title.

 

Kiddo #3 will be in K next year.  The plan is:

Math Mammoth

Finish up OPGTR and do Explode the Code books 3 and 4

Lots of readers

Joy of Handwriting + copywork

Maybe The Sentence Family with his next oldest brother

Steve Spangler Science + some of the Mr. Q experiments with his brothers

Selected chapters from SOTW 3 and The Complete Book of United States History with his brothers.

Spanish class

Art class

Gym + swimming

Speech Therapy

[jrhodes]

Oldest will be 5 in Aug so we'll start sometime after labor day. 

 

Math: Singapore (or MEP? depends on how singapore goes)

Reading: AAR - 2/3 of done with pre, so depends on where we get this year

Handwriting: HWOT

Science: Building Foundations of Scientific Understanding

History: Adventures in America along with American Story

 

Also possible preschool if he gets an IEP for his anxiety (due to his late bday I wouldn't put him in K until he was 6 for public school). 

[3 ladybugs]

Reading - AAR 1 (currently about 2/3 through AAR pre-reading)

 

Math - MUS Alpha (currently about 1/2 through MUS Primer)

 

Science - Elemental Science Intro to Science (currently doing Evan Moor Everyday Literacy Science)

 

Handwriting/spelling - Spelling You See (will start this next week)

 

Forgot to add: German - Outside the home "Saturday School". He will be in the Kindergarten class next year. He is in the Preschool class this year. He will not get a book till 2nd grade.

 

Sport - Swim class every week as well

[Melissa in Australia]

I think what we call Prep or Foundation  is what you call K. it is the first full time year of school before grade 1. Kindergarten  here means preschool - 14 hours a week for 4 year olds.

  this is my plan for the twins starting Foundation this year ( school year form Jan to Dec)

Twins boys  nearly 7- these guys have only been living with us for 3 years ( Permanent care from Foster). they have significant  fine, gross motor and cognitive delays and many learning problems.We have already started this school this year for them :-)

 

AAR1

 

Reading Eggs

 

Readers - AAR, Bob Books, Fitzroy Readers, Reading Eggs phonics books

 

Grammar- First Langauge LEssons

 

Penmanship- Progressive Phonics Writing ( just the penmanship part)http://www.progressi...com/handwriting

 

Writing - Copywork from History and Science - We will be using NotebookingPages and making a book with Arnos fasterners, also level A form Writing workshop. Also narration form fairytales

 

Math- Saxon 1

 

History - SOTW book 2 

 

Science - plant and animal kingdom using a range of Lapbooking Units - they are very visual and love lapbooking 

 

 Music- Music Maestro 

 

Art - Will be craft for SOTW

 

They will also continue to have Speach Pathology, Occupational Therapy, Play Therapy etc. 

 

[hollyhock]

I do bare minimum for K, but we'll see what she's interested in doing once fall comes. So far I have planned:

 

Progressive phonics

HWT K

ETC 1 and maybe 2 if she's up to that

Math made easy plus maybe some math games, and maybe starting MM 1 by the end of the year if she's ready

Lots of art projects, Bible memory, listening in to history if she wants

[ailysh]

My k-er will be 6 in October, so on the older side.

Math: 180 Days of Math, k with Addition and Subtraction Facts That Stick, moving into MM 1 when she's ready

 

Reading: finish First Start Reading full program from MP, moving into Elson primer

 

Handwriting, homemade

 

Tagging along with older sis for history (SOTW3) and science (Apologia Astronomy).

 

1x/week Charlotte Mason drop off program

 

ETA: she'll also start piano lessons when she turns 6.

Edited February 5, 2018 by ailysh

[Syllieann]

My youngest will be kindy. 😢 I’m thinking this:

 

AAR-finish 2 and start 3

MM-just started 1 so we will finish that and start 2 unless things head south

Sound Beginnings for handwriting/spelling or maybe Spelling You See

Mystery Science for sure

Tag along with olders for the lighter/fun portions of Story of Civilization and Story of the Bible

Home Art Studio - 2nd grade level to combine with big sis

Gymnastics-lots of it

[AimeeM]

I think we're going to wait to do formal Kindergarten with The Marvelous Flying Marco, until this upcoming year. He'll be 6, but not until the summer. He's technically "doing" kindergarten now, but with his special needs, this year has been spent almost entirely on finishing short tasks, finding a reward system that works for more than a minute, and moving from whatever he is rigidly focused on and into a mom-directed activity for even a very short period of time.

 

We are making progress there, but almost no actual academics have taken place. I'm not super concerned, because he's known his letters (and their sounds), recognizes his numbers through I-don't-even-know (numbers are his "thing"), shows an understanding of the concept of addition/subtraction in play, and enjoys read alouds.

 

So, we'll take another stab at formal K this upcoming year. 

 

PAL Reading

Memoria Press copybooks

CLE Math 1 *or* Miquon (not sure yet about this -- older kiddo uses Miquon, but when I think about the time spent on it, and the time I have available, the idea doing it with another kid, since DS8 is still using it, makes me want to cry)

 

He can tag along with DS8 for literature and enrichment subjects (we use Memoria Press for literature/enrichment and crafts; TAN's Story of Civ 2 for classical studies).

 

All of the kids do "Morning Meeting" together, which is comprised of individual recitations (age appropriate for each kid); picture study, religion, great words studies, and Latin. 

[vaquitita]

My youngest will be in kindy, but since he doesn't turn 5 till the end of November I'll be spreading kindergarten over 2 years.

 

AAR pre reading

ETC get set for the code series.

Possibly reading eggs as a supplement

 

Math... I want to use Gattengo and Miquon, but it may be too open-ended for me to actually get done. Lol. In which case, I will try right start with him.

He's been enjoying a free trial of math seeds the past few weeks, I may let him do that on the side.

 

He will also tag along with Layers of Learning year 3.

[kokotg]

My youngest just turned 5 last month. Next year we're planning:

 

Math: Singapore 

Reading: Progressive Phonics + readers

Handwriting without Tears

Science: Probably Building Foundations of Scientific Understanding? I have the book from when I did (some) of it with my older kids. Hoping to do a better job of sticking with it this time!

History/literature/other: Build Your Library 1. We're in a co-op group that's doing this--doing the reading at home and then getting together for group projects once a week

Spanish class

[Mona]

I'm still trying to adjust to adding my youngest to our home school.

LOE Foundations B&C (cursive)

Right Start Math A (If we finish early, we'll continue with B)

Beautiful Feet Books Around the World with Picture Books

Lots of Bob Books (We love reading these together and laugh a lot.)

Artistic Pursuits book one and Home Art Studio K

 

Made some changes already (again)

[UnlikelyHomeschoolingMama]

My little man turned 5 in Dec and here is what we've started:

 

Abeka L+S and phonics lessons (child led.....he really loves this)

Bob books and other readers

Mathematical Reasoning A

SL P4/5 for lit and science

 

I have no idea what to do next year. He is so mathy. We have ABEKA and Right Start in the house. But Kinder for each would be too boring. We will just keep moving in phonics and read lots of books together. Throw in A Reason For Handwriting.

[Tawlas]

Fairly relaxed about K in our house.  My youngest is nearly five, but really wants to "do school" like her older brothers, so we've done quite a bit already.  She's done pre-1 in AAR, but not ready for level 1.  We're doing the two-letter blending out of Phonics Pathways right now and it's going well.  We're almost done HWOT preK but we have the little kindergarten connection book to do (she'll be stoked!).  We've finished BFIAR but I'm not sold on FIAR 1 for her.  She's just not needing that kind of depth, though I'm still using the reading lists.  For math, she mostly does iPad apps, though we did Calendar religiously until Christmas.  I think we may start Math Mammoth in K, if she likes.  That worked well for one brother, will see how it goes.  She's a fanatic about Kumon - done many, will probably continue. 

 

All that to say, here's what I think K will look like for her:

 

HWOT K

AAR 1

Math Mammoth 1 (to do over two years, probably)

Lots of reading aloud and audio books

More Kumon mazes, cut and paste, etc

She joins in all kinds of things with her older brothers, but sporadically.  Except Nature Walks.  Family-wide favourite :)

 

 

[Soror]

My youngest is going to be in K.  I'm trying to decide if I really want to try and do it big or do the basics as usual. As of now big brother is going to PS so I will have more time. 

 

My current plan-

LoE Foundations (however far she gets)

MiF K

 

Content -

Fairy Tales, Beatrix Potter & Winnie the Pooh for lit

Nature Studies for Science (I'm making them journals based on ENWC)

Poetry time (she is going to be so excited when she can actually read poems- she always makes up her own, which are quite entertaining)

Tag along Brittish/Medieval History with her sisters- sisters are using Galore Park and read-alouds but I might buy the PDF for SoTW 2 for the coloring pages

 

(I do love the look of the new Torchlight curriculum but realistically that probably wouldn't happen)

 

 

Edited February 20, 2018 by soror

[Tumbatoo]

My youngest will be 5 in October. The jury is still out on whether he'll be K or PreK.

 

But, so far we're planning:

Sonlight A - social studies/lit

 

Science - ? Looking at Easy Peasy L

Or Sonlight science A

 

Math: Singapore 1, MEP

 

LA: Good and Beautiful 1, Sonlight readers 1, ETC 2,3

 

Dance

Music - he wants to learn piano, but don't think he's ready

[vaquitita]

Are we planning 2018/2019 school year? :D

 

My youngest will be 5 in November and doing TK.

 

LA: finish AAR pre level and get set for the code. When he's ready; Reading eggs, ETC, and Bob books. Which might not be till the following year.

 

Math: my preference is for cuisenairre rods/Gattengo/Miquon, and I sure have purchased enough of that stuff I should use it, BUT I'm struggling with balancing four kiddos and open and go Right Start A may just be what my tired brain needs. He has super enjoyed the yellow is the sun book this year and playing with things during his older brothers lessons. And math seeds, he's really enjoying that right now.

 

Lit: classic picture books

 

History/science: tag along with the family, using Layers of Learning year 3

 

Enrichment: he'll probably do an early music awareness class, swimming or maybe gymnastics, nature study.

Edited February 28, 2018 by vaquitita

[alicai]

I think I'm going to go with Torchlight. I picked up the PDF guide yesterday (only $30) and I love the looks of this - it's like a more modern, better organized FIAR, which I did with my oldest and that was one of our best years homeschooling ever. The author has put a great deal of thought into making this easy, flexible, fun and increasing the joy and love of learning in your child. I also like the look of the Be Naturally Curious units she recommends for science (and you get 60% off if you buy Torchlight).

 

I'd already decided on RightStart for math. The only place I'm wavering is handwriting/phonics. The Torchlight author recommends LOE, which I am unfamiliar with. I was looking at HWOT because DD5 has visual tracking issues (needs VT) and is already showing the same pencil grip (highly unusual) of DD9, who probably has dysgraphia. I'm feeling a lot of pressure to head this problem off at the pass and I welcome any input.

 

As for phonics, I taught the other kids to read without a formal program and they both read well. But DD5 seems like she may struggle. It's hard to say yet. So a more formal program may benefit her. AAR seems really expensive and intensive. Although she could end up needing that. Decisions!

[Mbelle]

I did not end up using a complete program for our K year this year.

I started with MP K and it just went too fast for us. We do use the Bible part, the recitations and the enrichment books which he loves.

We went back to Abeka K4 because I had it and went through it slowly at first and now we are flying through it 2 lessons at a time

In addition we do Get Ready for the Code to supplement.  We just flip to the sound being taught in Abeka.  He love it.

Then sometimes we use Handwriting without Tears too.  Also just flipping to the sound we are studying or for review.

We also use Bob Books. 

 

For math we use Horizons K for the most part.  We also do a few games and other things like skip counting and I have a Base Ten set that we use.

 

He gets Kiwi Crate and I guess that's science.  We don't do science really at this age other than reading books.

[Syllieann]

I think I'm going to go with Torchlight. I picked up the PDF guide yesterday (only $30) and I love the looks of this - it's like a more modern, better organized FIAR, which I did with my oldest and that was one of our best years homeschooling ever. The author has put a great deal of thought into making this easy, flexible, fun and increasing the joy and love of learning in your child. I also like the look of the Be Naturally Curious units she recommends for science (and you get 60% off if you buy Torchlight).

 

I'd already decided on RightStart for math. The only place I'm wavering is handwriting/phonics. The Torchlight author recommends LOE, which I am unfamiliar with. I was looking at HWOT because DD5 has visual tracking issues (needs VT) and is already showing the same pencil grip (highly unusual) of DD9, who probably has dysgraphia. I'm feeling a lot of pressure to head this problem off at the pass and I welcome any input.

 

As for phonics, I taught the other kids to read without a formal program and they both read well. But DD5 seems like she may struggle. It's hard to say yet. So a more formal program may benefit her. AAR seems really expensive and intensive. Although she could end up needing that. Decisions!

I would do HWOT and AAR in this case. LOE and other spell to read programs require the child to read/spell/write all together. I have not used LOE, but I have used a different spell to read. It was perfectly fine for my oldest. My middle child didn’t do very well with it, though. For reference, I wouldn’t even say she struggles, though she is probably not highly gifted like my oldest. It was too many new things at once. hWOT breaks the handwriting down into teeny steps. AAR breaks the reading down into teeny steps. Spelling is left completely separate. If you expect struggles in one area, let alone two, definitely go with smaller steps. Like SWB says, you should only ask them to do one hard thing at a time.

[alicai]

I would do HWOT and AAR in this case. LOE and other spell to read programs require the child to read/spell/write all together. I have not used LOE, but I have used a different spell to read. It was perfectly fine for my oldest. My middle child didn’t do very well with it, though. For reference, I wouldn’t even say she struggles, though she is probably not highly gifted like my oldest. It was too many new things at once. hWOT breaks the handwriting down into teeny steps. AAR breaks the reading down into teeny steps. Spelling is left completely separate. If you expect struggles in one area, let alone two, definitely go with smaller steps. Like SWB says, you should only ask them to do one hard thing at a time.

Thank you, this is helpful. That’s a great point about working on multiple things at once.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[knitgrl]

My youngest is going to be in K.  I'm trying to decide if I really want to try and do it big or do the basics as usual. As of now big brother is going to PS so I will have more time. 

 

My current plan-

LoE Foundations (however far she gets)

MiF K

 

Content -

Fairy Tales, Beatrix Potter & Winnie the Pooh for lit

Nature Studies for Science (I'm making them journals based on ENWC)

Poetry time (she is going to be so excited when she can actually read poems- she always makes up her own, which are quite entertaining)

Tag along Brittish/Medieval History with her sisters- sisters are using Galore Park and read-alouds but I might buy the PDF for SoTW 2 for the coloring pages

 

(I do love the look of the new Torchlight curriculum but realistically that probably wouldn't happen)

 

I never heard of Torchlight until seeing your post. It looks so cool! This forum is absolutely wonderful, and yet terrible in terms of book-lust and curriculum-lust. :lol:

 

[medawyn]

I've been a member of this forum for 7 years, and I'm finally getting to plan a school year :-)

DS1 will be starting K officially in the fall.  We'll be using RightStart A/B (we're part way through A now) and reading aloud whatever he's interested in.  We'll be working on letter formation for handwriting, and that's about it.

Outside of skill work, we'll be learning to read maps and learning about countries Daddy goes to for work.  No set curriculum or plan, just map work and pictures books as he's interested.