faiths13 Posted August 27, 2012 Share Posted August 27, 2012 or maybe early K curric? my son is 5 next month, he only knows a little of the alphabet, can count only to 5, knows all the shapes and colors though. I was hoping they might be a cute little already put together curric for him that is really cheap, lol. I was looking at CLE, but Im not sure if that would be a good fit for him. If there isnt something already put together, any thoughts on what I could put together myself for little money? i really want to cover alphabet, numbers, social studies, science at least. thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momma2three Posted August 27, 2012 Share Posted August 27, 2012 We did more.Starfall.com last year as an early kindergarten year. It was $35, and it came with the full online site for kids (even more stuff than the free Starfall curriculum), and a full teacher's guide. Like, really full. 20 pages for each week, or something like that. They have a bunch of consumables and workbooks you can also buy. I think we bought the handwriting workbook, and one other. We stopped using it about halfway through the year, for no real reason. It was a really nice curriculum, and you couldn't beat the price. I think you could certainly cobble something together for free, though. The free portion of Starfall is great, and MEP math is free, and if you have a good public library you can find tons of nonfiction books and ideas for experiments and activities and stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dinsfamily Posted August 27, 2012 Share Posted August 27, 2012 The Rod and Staff ABC series should fit and it is inexpensive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blondeviolin Posted August 27, 2012 Share Posted August 27, 2012 The What Your Preschooler Should Know Activity Books and the book that goes with it are great! It is VERY open and go. Add in a letter craft occasionally, and you're golden! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
faiths13 Posted August 27, 2012 Author Share Posted August 27, 2012 thanks :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellie Posted August 27, 2012 Share Posted August 27, 2012 Spalding for gentle, beginning-reading instruction, which you can continue next year...and the next... New Franklin Arithmetic New Franklin Arithmetic (second book) New Franklin Arithmetic (key) And nothing else, other than hanging out with the older dc, exploring on his own, doing puzzles or legos or whatnot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
morosophe Posted August 28, 2012 Share Posted August 28, 2012 I'd definitely second the recommendation for the free Starfall resources. My son (a young kindergartener) loves those. For teaching reading, I went with (and am going with again) Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons. I know, a lot of people here don't like it, since it really just gets your kid started and doesn't do all the phonics they'll need, but I checked it out from my local library and loved it. (Something else my local library has is the Bob books, although my son hasn't been too thrilled with those.) For my oldest, I followed that up (in first grade) with Sonlight's Grade 2 Readers, and now I'm doing All About Spelling to add back in some of that phonics instruction. If you're not scared to go it without a prepackaged curriculum, you could check out Ruth Beechick's The Three R's and work from there. Or, Progressive Phonics is free, although I've never used it. Also, for math, Jay Wright's Kitchen Table Math is pretty popular around here; Book 1 is the "Beginning Math" book. (I linked to Rainbow Resource because it's six dollars cheaper there than on Amazon. If you manage to scrape together a $50.00 order from Rainbow Resource, shipping is free.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sue G in PA Posted August 28, 2012 Share Posted August 28, 2012 I haven't used it, but have you checked out Confessions of a Homeschooler's K curriculum? It is a download and I just love all of her stuff. :D Very inexpensive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GalmiBorn Posted August 28, 2012 Share Posted August 28, 2012 I have printed out Wee Art Homeschool. I think it could easily be bulked up with a phonics book like Ordinary Parent's Guide to cover reading. It has social studies, science and art through picture books and activities. Enjoy your Kindy year! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xixstar Posted August 28, 2012 Share Posted August 28, 2012 I have printed out Wee Art Homeschool. I think it could easily be bulked up with a phonics book like Ordinary Parent's Guide to cover reading. It has social studies, science and art through picture books and activities. Enjoy your Kindy year! This is what we are doing this year for PreK but it would work well for K as well. We also have phonic instruction option with OPGTR or the 100EZ Lessons, if we choose to do it. And we may also do a Letter of the Week for fun. Wee Folk Art: http://weefolkart.com/content/homeschool-companion-guides Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chelli Posted August 28, 2012 Share Posted August 28, 2012 I have printed out Wee Art Homeschool. I think it could easily be bulked up with a phonics book like Ordinary Parent's Guide to cover reading. It has social studies, science and art through picture books and activities. Enjoy your Kindy year! :iagree: We are using this for K this year. Once we finish the ETC primer books, then we will add in OPGTR and Happy Phonics around Christmas. It is a really cute program! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TengoFive Posted August 28, 2012 Share Posted August 28, 2012 This is exactly what I was going to say. I haven't used it, but have you checked out Confessions of a Homeschooler's K curriculum? It is a download and I just love all of her stuff. :D Very inexpensive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hunter Posted August 28, 2012 Share Posted August 28, 2012 Spalding for gentle, beginning-reading instruction, which you can continue next year...and the next... New Franklin Arithmetic New Franklin Arithmetic (second book) New Franklin Arithmetic (key) And nothing else, other than hanging out with the older dc, exploring on his own, doing puzzles or legos or whatnot. Franklin Arithmetic is based off Grube's Method, just in case you want to read about it. This African Waldorf stuff is free Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandra in va Posted August 28, 2012 Share Posted August 28, 2012 Five in a Row is great. There is a manual you'd have to buy, but then you could find the books at the library. It would cover social studies, science, art, and topics in math and language arts. If you added it to some of the workbook ideas others have mentioned, you'd have a great K year! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FO4UR Posted August 28, 2012 Share Posted August 28, 2012 Blend Phonics or Word Mastery MEP Math (Start with Reception Year.) ...and :iagree: with Five in a Row. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abacus2 Posted August 28, 2012 Share Posted August 28, 2012 The Rod and Staff ABC series should fit and it is inexpensive. :iagree: I would add some reading lessons. There are several affordable options. I really like Dynamic Phonics, a just the basics curriculum book that actually covers K -2nd phonics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tammieb Posted August 28, 2012 Share Posted August 28, 2012 Rod and Staff letter & number color books Learn to Read in 100 Easy Lessons Lots of blocks, legos, and things to count The Library :) I learned the hard way with my first, Kindergarten should be FUN! Not "playtime," but enjoyable learning. If you start them off too rigid, you're gonna get burnout and attitudes by mid-elementary! If you teach them to LOVE learning by gentle, evenly paced instruction, they'll have a love of learning the rest of their lives! Happy Homeschooling Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmmaNZ Posted August 28, 2012 Share Posted August 28, 2012 I have printed out Wee Art Homeschool. I think it could easily be bulked up with a phonics book like Ordinary Parent's Guide to cover reading. It has social studies, science and art through picture books and activities. Enjoy your Kindy year! Oh thank you!! This is what I have been looking for! I'm :001_wub:! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farrar Posted August 28, 2012 Share Posted August 28, 2012 Blend Phonics or Word Mastery MEP Math (Start with Reception Year.) ...and :iagree: with Five in a Row. :iagree: I don't know why more people don't just do Blend Phonics. That's pretty much what we used. Also, Progressive Phonics, which is also free and has added SO much more stuff since my kids were in K. MEP is free. I'd invest in an abacus and a set of C-rods. Then you could use Rosie's amazing videos at Education Unboxed. If you wanted to do something not FIAR, then BFSU for science is just $5 as a pdf. And Adventures in America is pretty inexpensive. I'd personally just do FIAR or a picture book study though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cmac Posted August 28, 2012 Share Posted August 28, 2012 I loved MFW K. I needed more hand-holding in their science and bible, but I loved getting the books at the library. Their phonics worked great for us, but I've heard it doesn't work for everyone. It looks like you can get their stuff used for a reasonable price. Sorry, but I can't remember if they covered social studies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alisoncooks Posted August 28, 2012 Share Posted August 28, 2012 I loved MFW K. I needed more hand-holding in their science and bible, but I loved getting the books at the library. Their phonics worked great for us, but I've heard it doesn't work for everyone. It looks like you can get their stuff used for a reasonable price. Sorry, but I can't remember if they covered social studies. Someone has this (older edition) on the swap/sale forum for $25..... (or they did!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teeniebeenie6 Posted August 28, 2012 Share Posted August 28, 2012 I too am a big fan of MFW K. It is gentle and fun. You can keep it light or add to it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abacus2 Posted August 28, 2012 Share Posted August 28, 2012 I did not like MFW K. I also wouldn't consider it inexpensive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SarahPotter Posted August 28, 2012 Share Posted August 28, 2012 The Rod and Staff ABC series should fit and it is inexpensive. This is what we started with! We then went onto Ordinary Parent's Guide to Teaching Reading, Saxon Math K and A Reason for Handwriting K. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ewe Mama Posted August 28, 2012 Share Posted August 28, 2012 (edited) My youngest just finished up CLE's new Kindergarten II program. I think it was $30 for the entire set. She really liked it. It is from a Mennonite perspective, but I don't really recall any specifically Christian content. Rod & Staff definitely has more Bible activities included. While I liked the R&S Bible content, I wasn't crazy about all of the letter tracing on the dotted lines. That was the main reason I went with the new CLE program. I preferred to show her how to properly form the letter and then have her make her own in the blank spaces. All of my dc would get so focused with trying to stay on the dashed lines that they weren't really learning how to make them on their own. Then they would look at their work and get upset when they realized that they had gone off the dashed lines. We weren't impressed with MEP. I wanted to love it, but we just didn't "get" it. I personally love Rosie's Education Unboxed videos, but dd hates the c-rods. Blend phonics with Progressive phonics for extra practice is all you need to teach reading. I wish I had stuck with my tried and true before succumbing to the lure of All About Reading. :tongue_smilie: This is our fifth Kindergarten level child in the past four years. I have tried just about everything out there. I just checked out the Wee Art Homeschool site info. That is too adorable! I'm going to print that off for dd. We are taking it nice and slow since she is apparently my last baby. I have done MFW K in the past and it is a wonderful program, if you can get it used for a good price. Best wishes to you, OP. Enjoy this time with your dc. Keep it simple, sweet, and slow. You will both be thankful you did. Edited August 28, 2012 by Sheep Lady Mama Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wearejenandkev Posted August 28, 2012 Share Posted August 28, 2012 We like Saxon Math and Saxon Phonics for kindergarten. (I don't know if they are considered inexpensive, but they are worth every penny!) Here is more info on how we homeschool kindergarten: http://teachingboys.net/2012/05/08/homeschooling-kindergarten-a-quick-start-guide/ Jennifer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swellmomma Posted August 28, 2012 Share Posted August 28, 2012 With his abilities where they are I would do letter of the week and preschool packs from homeschool creations. Both are excellent and well suited to a child of any age at that ability level. My dd is the same age as your ds, and also doing K. She is beginning to read and write but she still loves both of those programs so they certainly are suitable for all K students. If you manage to get some money to order curric all about reading pre-level 1 and mathematical reasoning beginning book 1& 2 would be absolutely wonderful too, they are my dd's favorite curric items Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teeniebeenie6 Posted August 28, 2012 Share Posted August 28, 2012 There are some great free curriculums here: http://www.letteroftheweek.com/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jennay Posted August 28, 2012 Share Posted August 28, 2012 Singapore Math Essentials Reading Made Easy or another phonics program Five in a Row Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
faiths13 Posted August 29, 2012 Author Share Posted August 29, 2012 thanks for all the suggestions! i ended up ordering one of the KII CLE books to try, and a couple of the ABC program books to try, along with the first ETC primer. I love the look of the Wee Art HS and am waiting on the first two books from the library and I also found some really great looking science books on the LOTW site! So I am pretty excited and I hope we have alot of fun!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mom2one Posted August 29, 2012 Share Posted August 29, 2012 Letter of the Week is free and is great for, well, learning letters. They also have some science and social studies stuff there too, I believe. Five in a Row is relatively inexpensive, especially if you can get the books from the library. And if you're wanting to teach printing, I highly, highly, highly recommend Handwriting Without Tears. Some people don't like how "basic" the letters look, but it's so simple and gentle that even the youngest kids can learn to print neatly, which IMO is more important than printing beautifully. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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