So, we had week 1 of homeschooling this past week, and overall I'd say it was a real success. We are secular ecclectic homeschoolers with an eye towards the Well Trained Mind and Core Knowledge. I am happy with what I'm doing with Math (RightStart) and Language Arts (Teaching Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons, Handwriting Without Tears, and lots of library book read alouds). I've got science covered pretty well through programs available to me locally. It's social studies that is stumping me. I planned, for the first half of the year, to follow Core Knowledge's approach to Kindergarten History and Geography, covering a basic overview of world geography and map skills, then early American History that would coincide with Thanksgiving and President's Day. In the second half of the year I plan on starting The Story of the World and the accompanying workbook. The problem I am facing, is that I am utterly exhausted trying to piecemeal together the history/geography lessons I hope to teach in the first half of the year. I love the "What Your Kindergartener Needs to Know" book, but even though it is written very well to read aloud to a child, it is not structured to reinforce key concepts with projects, worksheets, etc. Core Knowledge does sell a set of lesson plans (and the Baltimore Curriculum Project has their free online lesson plans) but I find that these are written for a classroom, not a homeschooler, and I just don't have the time to sort through the expansive lesson plans that are offered. I don't need all the learning objectives and jargon. I just need the key nuggets of what to teach - know what I mean? I have lots of book lists on teaching about the explorers, Native Americans, pilgrims/settlers, etc., but that still leaves me with the task of putting them into the right order and figuring out how to tie it all together. It seems silly to reinvent the wheel when I know there must be great comprehensive resources out there. So.... I am very open to suggestions for a good American History and Geography curriculum for Kindergarteners that is simple to use and reasonably priced. I do not necessarly need an all-in-one curriculum (meaning, I'm happy to get books from the library), but I am open to anything. Sorry this is SO long winded! Any ideas would be greatly appreciated! Rochelle

I have always loved the word "tactile."

What a fantasy homeschool space! Amazing! Awesome! Hats off to you!

I just thought I'd post about this... My daughter is 5.5 and we have started with Level A. I'm doubling up on the first few lessons because they are so easy, and that has gone fine. I think she will really get interested when we start with the abacus. One simple thing that threw me off today -- when we were working with the tally (popsicle) sticks, the slick table we were on made them slide all over. It was a little frustrating for her. This evening I grabbed a piece of felt and put it in our math box. I suspect using the tally sticks will be much easier tomorrow when we place them on top of the felt so they don't slide all around. I'm a little frustrated myself at the little tasks I have to do to get ready for the lessons. For the price of the program, it seems that maybe I wouldn't have to photocopy some pages or rubber band sticks together - that these extras could be included. But of course this isn't a deal breaker. I think overall I will be very happy with the program. Just my thoughts for today -- our very first official day of homeschooling.

Thanks for the responses! Any others?

My daughter is 5.5 and can count to 100 with a little help once we get passed 60. I am very excited to be starting RightStart, but I am wondering how she will react to a new way of counting (ten-1, ten-2, 2-ten-5, etc.). Anyone have experiences to share? What about when she is with other kids and they are counting together (i.e. hide-and-seek)? Very curious to hear anyone's experiences. Thanks!

I was unfamiliar with Right Start Math until a conference a few days ago, and it was love at first sight! I had been planning on using Horizons Math for my kindergartener. I am really not sure of her learning style, and she often enjoys doing worksheets... I was thinking of following the RS curriculum and using Horizons to supplement. Is that crazy? Overkill? Confusing to her, or reinforcing? I would love to hear thoughts... Also, I have heard that people sometimes supplement RS with word problem workbooks, but for Kindergarten I'm not really sure what that means. Any recommendations or thoughts about this? Does Horizons cover word problems? Thanks!