New to After Schooling, need advice!

[JoLuRu]

Hi! I'm new here and need a little help in picking the right direction for our family.

 

I have an early-fall-birthday 6 year old boy who will be in PS first grade this fall after repeating kindergarten this past year. We live in a very high-achieving area with an amazing elementary school. The kinder class is older from rampant red-shirting and I mistakenly sent him to kinder as a not-quite-five year old without knowing how to read, which I later learned just isn't done in our area - there were kids turning 7 in his kinder class and he was just barely 5! He was sent to a reading specialist several mornings a week for his two years of kinder and is now at grade level for reading. He still struggles with legible writing and math - knows his numbers but addition isn't there yet.

 

He's a sweet, bright boy, and while it's challenging for him, he LOVES school; home schooling full time wouldn't be in either of our best interest. However, it seems that he needs a bit more at home to solidify the lessons he's learning at school and keep up with his classmates. I also want to pre-present some of what he'll be learning this year so he goes into first grade with confidence in his knowledge and skills.

 

Currently, I'm having him read the first grade sight word list and 20 minutes of predecoded and BOB books with me daily and write a sentence in a daily journal to practice penmanship. We also read aloud a TON.

 

I bought "No Stress Chess", addition/subtraction wrap ups, and a book of science projects and we have been playing with those for fun. We watched Venus in transit last week and the eclipse last month and have spent a lot of time learning about planets at his direction in the past few weeks. I just bought an eBay lot of "Let's Read and Find Out..." books, which I think he'll really enjoy.

 

At his school, they're using Open Court for reading, Handwriting Without Tears for writing, and Everyday Mathematics for math. From what I've read, it sounds like Everyday Mathematics isn't the best option and we'll want to work on that outside of class to give him the mental math skills he'll need. I'd like suggestions on what we should use at home to present those skills in an easy to understand, hopefully fun way.

 

I also have a late-summer-birthday 3 year old who I now understand needs more prep before hitting kinder in a year (we're not red-shirting her), and she is picking a lot up just from participating along with her big brother. More specific suggestions are more than welcome!

 

*whew, that was long!*

[jenbrdsly]

Welcome to Hive! I'm not sure if this will help since your son is already 6, but here are some ideas from my blog for 5 year olds with fall birthdays. Here are some ideas for Afterschooling 1st-4th grade.

[JenniferLynn]

Welcome,

 

My kids are the same age. DD5 (6 late August) just finished kindergarten and my DS/DD3 twins will be 4 in September and heading for K next year. They are all on the young side and while there is some red-shirting there is more of a mix here.

 

DD5 was done with OPGTR going into K. We spent the year doing WWE1, FLL1 and reading leveled readers. WWE1 was probably the best and helped her comprehension and narrating skills (which were minimal at the beginning). The best part of FLL for us is the poem memory work. She has been a strong speller and we just finished AAS4. She finished Singapore Essentials before K and much of Right Start A - the abacus work and the card games. She is finishing Singapore 1B this summer. They use Envision at school and I much prefer Singapore and we will continue with it. I learned they do timed math facts in 1st grade which is hard for some kids. DD5 gets flustered with timed activities so we started using the Timez Attacks Addition/Subtraction Beta download which has been great. We also started SOTW1 which she loves. We got the audio book and she does the map work and questions. We also have almost every Jim Weiss CD.

 

DS3 is 1/3 through OPGTR and through the 1st Bob set. DD3 is uninterested. Both watch the Leap Frog DVD's and every other week or so I try some more formal phonics with DD3. They do connect the dot activity books ABC and 123 which is helping fine motor skills. DS3 was trying to spell so we do AAS 1 gently with tiles only. I am starting the Rightstart games with both and just order Miquon too based on the positive reviews of combining it with Singapore.

 

Probably the most important thing the past year was figuring out the best time of day to do this. We were a late start K at 9:30 and for months I did it before school. But DD5 finally told me she prefers afternoons and she does much better later in the day. The 3 year olds can do activities 4-5 times per day but often in 5 minute increments.

 

Good luck and enjoy!

[nellecv]

Hi! I personally like Math Mammoth for math. It's very, very easy for a parent to use - just open and go. Where Everyday Math jumps around a ton, MM focuses on one concept at a time until it's really mastered. If your child gets the concept, you can skip some of the problems, if not, you have him do all of them. There are also extra worksheets for practice. It can be a bit dull, but if you use the suggestions for games (online and off) it breaks it up a bit. We also use xtramath.com to memorize math facts.

[JoLuRu]

Thanks for all of your responses! I've added all of the resources recommended here to my list to research.

 

Jen - I've been DEVOURING your blog over the past few days. I just bought a Right Start Abacus set from someone here based on your reviews. :) My son isn't gifted and I think that many of the projects you do with your son would be over my kids' heads, but it's really great to see how much effort you put in and the positive effects of it! I'm definitely with you on adding hours to their school years so they can make the most of these formative years.

 

Also, I'm near Ravenswood but in one of the much more affluent neighborhoods (although I'm not so affluent myself!), and reading about that district from your perspective is fascinating. It's such a crazy disparity between the two districts, separated just by a freeway! I'll be interested to see how the district will evolve since Facebook just moved into that neighborhood. Housing values are already increasing.

 

Jennifer and nelle and fairytalemama - After reading through these boards and several blogs over the past few days, I worry about Everyday Math giving him the mental math that is so necessary. I think Singapore with added math games, abacus work, cards, etc. may be the way to go for DS.

 

fairytalemama - My son needed glasses and before getting them, expressed NO interest in coloring or drawing. Within the past year, he draws huge, elaborate inventions, makes his own books, etc. I don't know if it was age, maturity, or the glasses, but it's like a switch was flipped and off he went! Perhaps your son will be the same way?

[Spy Car]

Welcome to the forum :001_smile:

 

I have a summer-boy myself (just finishing 2nd Grade) at one of those very-high achieving type elementary schools. And, if I'm going to be honest, I'm also one of "those" parents who had my child well ahead of grade-level before starting K and have worked to stay a year or so ahead at home. So, yah.

 

I could go on forever (:tongue_smilie:) but the advice I would give you would be predicated on being strategic, efficient, making after-schooling fun, teaching for "understanding" and trying to get somewhat ahead of the curve at school. Sounds like a tall order when I put it that way.

 

I don't know how much time you want to put into this. If it is "a lot" people such as myself might want to chime in with additional ideas, but here are a few:

 

Handwriting Encourage the child to color in coloring books that have a lot of detail (like Dover) using colored pencils (not crayons) with a good grip and small up and down movements. This includes the "stay with-in the lines" advice that most of us have learned to rebel against. The truth is this really helps to build the hand strength and fine motor skills necessary for good handwriting.

 

Math This will probably need to be your priority area. The "default" recommendation would be to use Singapore math (actual name "Primary Mathematics") Standards Edition. It gives a strong foundation in concepts, mental math, mastery of standard algorithms, and word problem solving skills. It is very efficient and generally user friendly. There are worthy alternatives if the style is a poor fit, but as a general recommendation Singapore would be a great antidote to Everyday Mathematics (just get ahead of EM).

 

The one deficiency of Singapore math is that it is weak in the early "concrete" stage of learning, even with the Home Instructors Guides (HIGs). Many of us have had amazing results "turning on the lights" of whole-parts math by using a manipulative called Cuisenaire Rods with (or without) a program called Miquon (which is built around early developmental learning.

 

Recently board-member "Rosie" began posting videos demonstrating C Rods in action, and they can give one a pretty good feel for how to learn/teach using these. Figuring all this out takes "parent/teacher time," but is hyper-efficient with the children. When they "see" the combinations of numbers that make "7" with C Rods (which is akin to the "number bonds in Singapore Math) they internalize the so-called math facts in a playful and fun way. And math learned in a spirit of fun sinks in, and inspires enjoyment of the subject. Teaching for understanding is a good thing.

 

Reading/Phonics

 

For the younger (and perhaps the older) the Leapfrog Talking Letter Factory and Talking Word Factory I and II can't be beat for those moments when you can't actively work with them, and they need to be "entertained." they do a great job of introducing basic phonics and things like blends.

 

You have the Bob Books.

 

There is also "Explode the Code." These are phonics workbooks with drawings and a lot of goofy-humor. Put ETC, Bob Books, and Leapfrog videos together and you get what I call "The Cartoon Road to Reading."

 

With ETC we did not do the handwriting elements in the first 3 levels as I did not want to mix any handwriting frustrations into the joy of reading. The good news is ETC can be done by-and-large orally or with a finger trace.

 

Open Court is (mostly) phonic based, so the priority level might not be as critically high as the math, but it is still smart to get ahead of the curve.

 

I'm going to limit myself, but these are a few of the things that have most helped us.

 

Best wishes to you.

 

Bill

Edited June 11, 2012 by Spy Car

[JoLuRu]

Bill, thank you! You can bet that our younger two will be going in ahead of the curve after the experience with our oldest. To be honest, I thought that living in a fantastic school district and being involved parents (I volunteer weekly in the classroom, and do lots of enrichment activities with the kids outside of school) would be plenty and we didn't need to push any academics before he went to kinder. I mean, they go to kinder to learn to read, right? I now know the error in that thinking around here!

 

I talked to DH about starting Singapore this summer to jump ahead of EM and let school be a review of the skills he's learned at home and he thinks that's fine. In addition to games, cards, the abacus, wrap-ups, and other fun ways of drilling the basics, I think he'll go in with a strong start to the school year. Would you suggest the rods in addition to an abacus? I just bought an abacus, but can add the rods if that would be helpful. We do have TONS of LEGOS, and those could be used in the place of rods, right?

 

I appreciate the suggestion of colored pencils in Dover coloring books! Great way to creatively practice the fine motor skills! I added a few to my amazon cart, which is oh so full today.

 

We have watched the Leapfrog videos. I'll add Explode the Code to our list to check out!

[Spy Car]

Bill, thank you! You can bet that our younger two will be going in ahead of the curve after the experience with our oldest. To be honest, I thought that living in a fantastic school district and being involved parents (I volunteer weekly in the classroom, and do lots of enrichment activities with the kids outside of school) would be plenty and we didn't need to push any academics before he went to kinder. I mean, they go to kinder to learn to read, right? I now know the error in that thinking around here!

 

I talked to DH about starting Singapore this summer to jump ahead of EM and let school be a review of the skills he's learned at home and he thinks that's fine. In addition to games, cards, the abacus, wrap-ups, and other fun ways of drilling the basics, I think he'll go in with a strong start to the school year. Would you suggest the rods in addition to an abacus? I just bought an abacus, but can add the rods if that would be helpful. We do have TONS of LEGOS, and those could be used in the place of rods, right?

 

I appreciate the suggestion of colored pencils in Dover coloring books! Great way to creatively practice the fine motor skills! I added a few to my amazon cart, which is oh so full today.

 

We have watched the Leapfrog videos. I'll add Explode the Code to our list to check out!

 

I feel pretty strongly about the effectiveness of Cuisenaire Rods, and have 14,000 posts to prove it (:tongue_smilie:). Legos are not the same. Trust me.

 

Did you get an AL abacus from RightStart?

 

One thing I love about C Rods (especially with youngers...but old enough so they don't eat them) is that they can learn though play. Smetimes this takes "directed" play, but they are manipulatives a child can control themselves. An abacus often (usually) requires a parent to control it. This changes the learning dynamic.

 

I get being surprised with the expectations for Kindergarten at high-achieving type schools. There is certainly controversy surrounding the advancement of "academics" in young children on this forum. But the reality is you don't want your child to be the one that's "behind."

 

The good news is there are ways to introduce "academic" subjects (like math) that are fun and developmentally appropriate. This forum is a great resource for finding things that are both effective and fun.

 

Bill

[jenbrdsly]

You are making me miss my former home! I want to go eat blue-germ pancakes at Stacks, take my two year old for a stroll through the Cantor Art Museum, and then check out the petting zoo at the free children's museum in Palo Alto. Sigh....

[JenniferLynn]

I'm in the East Bay now and loving it, but do miss the years living around Stanford (volunteered in Ravenswood too).

[Uff Da!]

nm

[JoLuRu]

Bill, I did get the Al Abacus from Right Start. And I'm adding Cuisinaire rods to my amazon list! Hopefully we can do enough fun academics by way of games and activities that it gives the kids the academic edge they need without it being a painful chore.

 

My son is happily writing his summer journal every evening and reading 3 books without complaint. He's also been happy to do new projects (we froze plastic dinosaurs in ice and excavated them yesterday, talking about archaeology and paleontology.) So far, it's been fun and not too "schooly."

 

Jen and Jennifer - The cost of living is ridiculous, but there are so many great places for kids. We love the junior museum and zoo, and Cantor Arts, among other free and low cost field trips. We've scheduled one field trip a week for the summer. This week we went to the Bay Area Discovery Museum in Sausalito - so fun!

 

Winter - We have used Starfall, as well as Cookie and RazKids (login from his school.) They are definitely fun ways to practice!

[Spy Car]

Bill, I did get the Al Abacus from Right Start. And I'm adding Cuisinaire rods to my amazon list! Hopefully we can do enough fun academics by way of games and activities that it gives the kids the academic edge they need without it being a painful chore.

 

When you order the C Rods be aware that you have a few options. Avoid the ones "branded" as Cuisenaire Rods (but ain't) that are "scored and linking." You do not want these.

 

Instead get a "Small Group set" of 155 (or larger). I actually prefer the so-called "plastic" version to those made of wood. They are more dense and solid feeling ("wood-like") compared to the light-weight wood.

 

When you get the hang of how to use the C Rods (or better, let the child use them) you will see how well they make the Singapore Math Method comprehensible to a child.

 

My son is happily writing his summer journal every evening and reading 3 books without complaint. He's also been happy to do new projects (we froze plastic dinosaurs in ice and excavated them yesterday, talking about archaeology and paleontology.) So far, it's been fun and not too "schooly."

 

Sounds great. But even some of the "schooly" subjects that one might think can't be fun, can be. Grammar instruction comes to mind. There is a Language Arts program by Michael Clay Thompson (usually called "MCT" on this forum) that is utterly fantastic and something to consider in future years. There are multiple programs that don't suck the joy out of learning (along with some that do ;)).

 

Go Bears! Give Stanford the axe :D

 

Bill

[jenbrdsly]

 

Go Bears! Give Stanford the axe :D

 

Bill

 

hissssssssss!

[Sneezyone]

Bears? They don't even have their own fight song, they share! All that mojo is spread so thin. FIGHT ON!!

 

Going back to my :lurk5:.

[JoLuRu]

I live here but have no real Stanford (or Berkeley) allegiance. I do like the arts center at Stanford, though, and enjoy free community lectures and various activities on campus; plus, my baby was born at their hospital, so perhaps I ought to have a bit more attachment than I do!

 

Back to the subject, I found SOTW available on audio at our local library, so that's going in the car for summer listening. We have lots of playdates and field trips lined up this summer, as well as a vacation 4 hours away, so there will be plenty of time to listen!

 

I ordered Singapore Math 1A/B text and workbook, which we'll start when they arrive, and the aforementioned abacus set. I think adding 15-20 minutes of math a day this summer will be a good way to get ahead of the 1st grade math at school.

 

I can't be the only one excited waiting for curriculum to come in the mail, right? Hurry up, math books!

 

I also hit up the local Savers thrift store and cleared out their children's section. :lol: Kids books are $.69/each and if you buy 4, you get 1 free. I think a homeschooler made a donation recently because there were history and science books this time, plus a few teaching manuals. I bought everything of any literary value (left behind the licensed character stories and junk readers) and have a serious stack of new reading material for under $40. I was excited to find some classics - Where the Wild Things Are, Charlotte's Web, The Secret Garden, Make Way for Duckling, Blueberries for Sal, lots of Dr. Suess and Berenstein Bears. They should make for more interesting reading than the BOB books we're plowing through, and great read aloud options, too.

[JoLuRu]

The Singapore books arrived yesterday and we got started with them right away. DS was jumping up and down asking, "Can we play math now?" this morning! LOVE that! We did the first chapter and a half in the past two days, mostly review, using poker chips as manipulatives and playing War with cards. He's enjoying it and engaged, writing in his summer journal, "I like math." I'm hopeful that between this, games, and the abacus, we'll have a smooth summer of 1st grade math and get him ahead of Everyday Math when he gets back to school!

 

I also told him that as long as he's reading to me, he can stay up late. Last night he read for nearly an hour - a record for him - and I anticipate another late night of BOB books.

 

With a two hour park visit every day this week to exercise, lots of games and books, only a small amount of TV (including a NatGeo program on undersea volcanoes), and listening to a vocabulary building story in the car, it's been a really great week for him. He's had the least tantrums in recent memory and has been more cooperative in general. Maybe I have been underestimating him and he's been lacking challenge all along?

[Spy Car]

The Singapore books arrived yesterday and we got started with them right away. DS was jumping up and down asking, "Can we play math now?" this morning! LOVE that! We did the first chapter and a half in the past two days, mostly review, using poker chips as manipulatives and playing War with cards. He's enjoying it and engaged, writing in his summer journal, "I like math." I'm hopeful that between this, games, and the abacus, we'll have a smooth summer of 1st grade math and get him ahead of Everyday Math when he gets back to school!

 

I also told him that as long as he's reading to me, he can stay up late. Last night he read for nearly an hour - a record for him - and I anticipate another late night of BOB books.

 

With a two hour park visit every day this week to exercise, lots of games and books, only a small amount of TV (including a NatGeo program on undersea volcanoes), and listening to a vocabulary building story in the car, it's been a really great week for him. He's had the least tantrums in recent memory and has been more cooperative in general. Maybe I have been underestimating him and he's been lacking challenge all along?

 

Sounds awesome!

 

That exercise is an important thing too. Sounds like you're finding a groove!

 

Bill

[jenbrdsly]

He's had the least tantrums in recent memory and has been more cooperative in general. Maybe I have been underestimating him and he's been lacking challenge all along?

 

My son is usually better behaved when his brain is full too.

[Spy Car]

My son is usually better behaved when his brain is full too.

 

Mine is best when run, run, run, then has his head stuffed.

 

Bill

[JoLuRu]

Mine is best when run, run, run, then has his head stuffed.

 

Bill

 

This seems to be the case here, too! We'll keep experimenting, but right now he's a happy kid. I'll take it!

[StephF]

I don't have much to add to the conversation, but I live in San Jose (Moreland School District) and wanted to thank you for mentioning the Cantor Arts Center. I have never heard of it before (fairly new to the Bay Area). I have a 4.5 dd and will be afterschooling next year.

[Carrie75]

I keep hearing about All About Spelling so I ordered Levels 1 and 2 last night. My oldest is a good speller but my younger struggles with it in class so hope this can help him out a little.

 

I think "red-shirting" is popular in CA because the cutoff date is/was so late. I couldn't send MY four year old in to K. He wasn't ready and is doing great now as one of the older kids. I am glad they are changing the cutoff to 9/1.

[jenbrdsly]

I don't have much to add to the conversation, but I live in San Jose (Moreland School District) and wanted to thank you for mentioning the Cantor Arts Center. I have never heard of it before (fairly new to the Bay Area). I have a 4.5 dd and will be afterschooling next year.

 

Hopefully it's still free! The best part is that your kids are free to climb all over the Rodin sculptures in the garden. Inebriated Stanford students do it all the time.

[JoLuRu]

 

I think "red-shirting" is popular in CA because the cutoff date is/was so late. I couldn't send MY four year old in to K. He wasn't ready and is doing great now as one of the older kids. I am glad they are changing the cutoff to 9/1.

 

I think you're right - parents that can afford it often redshirt and have their kids in a "young 5's" program. My son turned 5 a month into kindergarten, when some classmates were turning 7 that same year! (He repeated kindergarten, and will turn 7 a month into first grade.) I agree that the change in cut-off date will help. My son, by the new cut-off date, wouldn't have been allowed to go to kindergarten that first year.

 

Steph - Cantor Arts is free and a great place for kids. There are lots of great field trips for kids in this area! Have you gone up to Hidden Villa in Los Altos? The NASA Exploration Center? The Tech Museum in San Jose? It's a great place to raise thinking kids!

[StephF]

I think you're right - parents that can afford it often redshirt and have their kids in a "young 5's" program. My son turned 5 a month into kindergarten, when some classmates were turning 7 that same year! (He repeated kindergarten, and will turn 7 a month into first grade.) I agree that the change in cut-off date will help. My son, by the new cut-off date, wouldn't have been allowed to go to kindergarten that first year.

 

Steph - Cantor Arts is free and a great place for kids. There are lots of great field trips for kids in this area! Have you gone up to Hidden Villa in Los Altos? The NASA Exploration Center? The Tech Museum in San Jose? It's a great place to raise thinking kids!

 

I didn't even know about the NASA Exploration Center. Thanks! I have been to the other locations.

[StephF]

Hopefully it's still free! The best part is that your kids are free to climb all over the Rodin sculptures in the garden. Inebriated Stanford students do it all the time.

 

I will do my best to keep away from the inebriated students. Thanks for the heads up. :lol:

[jenbrdsly]

I will do my best to keep away from the inebriated students. Thanks for the heads up. :lol:

 

 

:lol:

[JoLuRu]

Heigh Ho, DS is starting cub scouts in the fall. We're also part of a summer activity group that does a project, field trip, or playdate every morning during the summer, so there has been a lot of fun learning in that. We went on a tour of a local nursery last week, the morning after reading about the word "deciduous" in LOF, and the guide asked if anyone knew what you call a tree that loses its leaves in the winter. DS was so excited to know the answer!

 

Steph, NASA is fun. Check the Bay Area Parents freebie magazine's Best of the Bay and their website for the free days to local museums. It's a good way to find new ones. :)