Philosophy #1: You want your child to begin formal education early, want them to be an early reader. You plug away. There are challenges, sometimes brick walls, the progress 'feels' slow(er) sometimes, and sometimes you come across what seems like inability on your child's part. Even though they are learning, it seems slow. You thought your child was ready but they don't seem to be grasping the material as quickly as you thought. Philosophy #2: You wait until your child is at the actual 'appropriate' age for Kindergarten before you start any 'formal' learning, before any kind of phonics or math, etc. Your child seems to pick up on things quickly but things almost seem too easy. You wonder if you should even bother with what you think is the age-appropriate material and actually seek something more advanced for the age. Either "philosophy" you choose, your child might end up working on more advanced material than what is considered 'age-appropriate' (example: reading well age 3 because you started early. Tough road at first. Or taking the 'easy road' at first and starting your child later than normal or even on time with public school kids, and giving harder material at that point?) If you have an early learner but the going is slow, do you just stop and wait until they're the 'normal age'? Do you stop until you feel they are 'ready' or forge ahead because you think no matter how old they are, there will be tough spots, brick walls and tears? There is no 'normal age' with learning, just guidelines and averages, but what are your thoughts on those philosophies?

Wow gals! Thanks for all your tips and encouragement! The running theme I'm reading is I basically need to ease off on my own {personal} expectations, to relax and to continue bit by bit. This HS'ing thing is brand new to me and I know I have a lot to learn and experience. It's not just choosing curriculum but all the other stuff about HS'ing that you pick up along the way, eh? Thanks for helping!

Yup, I'm pointing to the calendar the whole time when I ask the questions. :001_smile: I say January, point at January, etc, etc, etc. Yes, I think my expectations are high and probably misguided in this sense. It's my very first time doing this and since he pick up on many concepts, ideas, has such random and amazing memory, I thought he'd understand especially when we say, point, talk about, etc. Sounds like I need to relax and keep a steady pace and not expect too muh.

Good point Meghan. I should try that. I have tried so many techniques and am just left baffled with him saying something so utterly different than what was just said. I'm thinking, "I said January, where did he hear August??" I will try the approach you mentioned and maybe he will get it before too long. {Patience is definitely something God will be growing in my heart!}

Hilarious! Yes, we look at the calendar every time. I point at the month and say January. I point to the date and say twenty-sixth. He's visual so I know referring to the calendar is huge for him. Then when I ask him the month again I say, "What month is it? It is January." (pointing at the month). then I say, "What month is it?" (pointing at the month) and he will say, "2011? August?" I sometimes get frustrated and think, "We JUST said January.... Where are you getting August from??"

I've finished Day 4 of my very first week of teaching K to my 5 year old. I'm very discouraged and looking for encouragement. My very bright son seems to struggle with actually hearing what I'm saying. We talk about today's date (from Saxon) - January 26, 2012 - and after talking about the month, the date, the year, he can't remember that it is January. He looks up at me and says, "August?" Now, I think you may be wondering if he is being ornery but he really looks confused :001_huh:... which has me pretty baffled. It's like he hears what I'm saying and says it back with me, then it gets bounced around in his head and comes out competely 'other' than what we just discussed. We talk about how the year is 2012 and he says 2011. We talk about it being the twenty-sixth and he says "fourteenth?" I have made it upbeat and fun at times thinking maybe he's feeling overwhelmed. Then I try to have us say the month 10 times holding up 10 fingers, trying to keep this light and fun, "This month is January... This month is January... This month is January...". After the 10th time I'll say, "What month are we in right now?" And he says, "August?" Then he'll pause and say, "No, 2011??" I'm like....huh??? :glare: I wonder what I am doing wrong... if he is too young (though he's ready on all the 'readiness signs').... If he is seriously not understanding my words ... if there is some kind of learning issue he has... if he's just feeling pressure some how. He is kind of a perfectionist to a degree; very bright, sweet, stubborn, sensitive. I know it's week 1 and I just need to chill, probably, and keep plugging away. But still. Hm. Bleh. Thoughts?