First grade help! - added possible options

[TyraTooters]

**I added a couple of the choices I am thinking about at the end**

 

Currently our six (March birthday) year old is in first grade in the public school system. He's doing great there, but struggles at home. We feel we've been called to homeschool the boys (one in preschool). Last year he did awesome in kinder. Learned to repaid very quickly and easily. Spelling was a breeze. Math was simple but he got it.

First grade seems to be quite the jump. Some kids are still doing spelling words they did last year with words like 'as, us, on, of, go, was, she...' So if you ace the pre-test you are given a set of challenge words. Those are words like 'match, patch, oxen, drop, clock...' He's struggling now. To the point where if he messes up once he is done. He's got a bit of a perfectionist attitude/fear of failing which makes things pretty difficult. Add in the tantrums that come after the failure (which I always remind him that its okay to mess up...) are awful. He's done after that and I'm lucky if I can get him to do any sort if school. Even if its 'hidden' school. He catches on and out in 2.3 seconds.

He's been coming home everyday saying he hates school. Hates it because he has to 'sit all day and learn!' I've been there and know exactly what he means. I've been looking, and looking, researching, and researching what to use and I'm still torn.

The kid is smart. Can usually catch on pretty quickly - if he allows himself to. He's reading with very little help, can do basic addition and subtraction (#'s 1-10) with a little encouragement/visual aides, has a desire to learn (until he finds out its part of school!).

It seems that un-schooling would work best for him but we both need some sort of structure and if we were just 'winging it' I'm afraid I would be doing him a dis-service. So I've been trying to look at curriculum that is short & sweet. To the point. Hands on. Easy for us both to grasp and do without butting heads (he's a stubborn one and has no currency! The kid cannot be bought). Yet still meaty.

Can any of you throw some ideas my way? Here are my top three core choices: Bible, math, grammar/language arts/spelling. Even if we alternated that last group (I grouped them because sometimes people call it all the same or its grouped that way in guides). For reading I plan to allow him to pick what he wants from the library, we are currently reading one chapter of Stuart Little each night (I'm reading aloud to the boys) and we talk about it afterwards. I'm hoping to encourage him to pick up longer books on his own towards the end if the year and we need to work on reading comp.

Oh, and as far as writing I though we could do some sort of daily or every other day journaling. Something short and sweet.

I think that's it. For now.

 

 

**Choices I am considering**

Language Arts- Grammar and Punctuation 1 with the Daily Language Review 1 workbook

Spelling: one of the teachers where he is currently attending has the years spelling words for first grade on her teacher website, I'm considering using her list as I want and adding in Pinterest activities to go along with them. That and the free Spellcity website. 

Writing: he hates writing unless, of course, it's something he has decided to do. I thought about doing a journal entry a couple days a week, maybe a pen pal (or just write to family members), and maybe some journal entries to go along with books that we are reading. 

 

Math: Singapore OR Horizons. 

 

Bible: Who is God and Can I Know Him along with the notebook journal and possibly the coloring book OR Answers For Kids 

 

Science & History will be covered as he shows interest. He's currently interested in the human body so we might find books, videos, activities to go with that! 

 

Have any of you used any of the mentioned choices? 

 

 

[Ellie]

Well, you can't unschool and have structure (other than what you might have as far as parenting or running your household) :-) You can be relaxed; you can choose something like Charlotte Mason which is structured, but is feels more relaxed than classical/Well Trained Mind. :-)

 

Grammar and spelling are both components of "language arts."  :001_smile:  So, are you wanting grammar? composition? spelling?

 

You might check out Queen Homeschool Supplies. It has everything for a Charlotte Mason-based homeschool.

[TyraTooters]

Well, you can't unschool and have structure (other than what you might have as far as parenting or running your household) :-) You can be relaxed; you can choose something like Charlotte Mason which is structured, but is feels more relaxed than classical/Well Trained Mind. :-)

 

Grammar and spelling are both components of "language arts." :001_smile: So, are you wanting grammar? composition? spelling?

 

You might check out Queen Homeschool Supplies. It has everything for a Charlotte Mason-based homeschool.

We need enough structure to know that there WILL be school to be done. At the desk, table, floor, couch...somewhere...but it will get done. More than likely in the morning since I fear once he's been outside to play or left to free play he won't want to refocus enough for a lesson.

 

I'd like spelling, grammar, and composition (light lessons). Enough to know the stuff but not a really strong focus where we have to spend an hour on it. Making sense? A gentle intro maybe?

[LEK]

I compromise on the structure/free learning ideals. We have a morning routine that takes about 1-2 hours (usually closer to 1) and covers the essentials mainly LA and math but also logic and mapping once a week. After that we "unschool" for the rest of the day.  This gives me the knowledge and reassurance that we are covering the basics and are not missing anything essential but also gives us the freedom and time to explore and learn what we are really interested in. My girls are in preK (but doing K) and 1st grade. I mostly keep lessons in each topic to 5-10 minutes.

[TyraTooters]

I compromise on the structure/free learning ideals. We have a morning routine that takes about 1-2 hours (usually closer to 1) and covers the essentials mainly LA and math but also logic and mapping once a week. After that we "unschool" for the rest of the day.  This gives me the knowledge and reassurance that we are covering the basics and are not missing anything essential but also gives us the freedom and time to explore and learn what we are really interested in. My girls are in preK (but doing K) and 1st grade. I mostly keep lessons in each topic to 5-10 minutes.

 

LEK, this exactly. That's kind of the approach I want to take. School for short periods on the essential core and then leave the rest of the day to to 'unschool.' I plan to follow his lead in science and history that way. Whatever he finds interesting we will look into and 'study' for however long he wants to. It's just picking the initial core books/materials that I'd like to use. I know I don't really NEED anything but *I* need a guide, some directions, and such to coach me along the way! 

[blondeviolin]

FWIW, nearly anything recommended in WTM will be age appropriate and fine for boys.  SWB herself had boys first.  :)  

 

First Language Lessons is short and sweet at this level.  

 

Spelling Workout can be short and sweet.  We use All About Spelling which is a lot more phonics-based.  If you've got a natural speller (I have one), SWO would be just fine.

 

Writing With Ease lessons at this level does not take more than 10 minutes.

 

For math, Math Mammoth is pretty incremental.  For a perfectionist, the step-by-step, hold-my-hand approach is very welcome.  We also liked Miquon at the beginning math level.

 

So, for first grade with grammar, spelling, writing, and math, you could be done in an hour for sure.  

[TyraTooters]

Thank you so much for the recommendations. I will go check them out! (also going to check out your blog as we have children close in age!) 

 

I might need to work on a little phonics with him...he's having a hard time with his current words (the last three sets have been 'challenge' words since he aced the pretest). He's struggling with the the ends of the words mostly. I don't know where  we need to start with phonics work since he can read and sound out most words, it's just the actual spelling of the words he has trouble with. 

 

 

[ElizabethB]

For phonics, work through blend phonics in the manner I describe on my how to tutor page in the links at the end.

 

Use the quick version, quoted from my webpage here:

 

For a quick version of the above, use the above links but use the following Webster's Speller Excerpts and the checklist below. Read and spell a few words of each type for things your student knows well. Read all and spell a few more for word types your student does not know well. Use the phonics concentration game as needed to curb guessing habits.

 

http://www.thephonicspage.org/On%20Reading/howtotutor.html

 

Again, the links you need are at the end of the page. It adds in spelling rules and is mastery based, so it is easy to do just a bit for areas that are well known but the whole section for an area that needs work. The concentration game is fun for that age, and a good way to practice phonics because it includes nonsense words.

[Ellie]

We need enough structure to know that there WILL be school to be done. At the desk, table, floor, couch...somewhere...but it will get done.

 

This excludes unschooling. And that isn't a bad thing. It just isn't unschooling. Possibly you are unsure of what unschooling really is, and that isn't a bad thing, either. :001_smile:

[TyraTooters]

This excludes unschooling. And that isn't a bad thing. It just isn't unschooling. Possibly you are unsure of what unschooling really is, and that isn't a bad thing, either. :001_smile:

 

LOL after I posted that and looked at my choices again I realized I didn't word it correctly! Obviously I don't mean unschooling in the traditional sense. We will have a more classical approach for the core (language arts {and all that falls under that umbrella}, math, reading) and then we will allow the six year old to pick what he wants to learn about in science and history areas. He's taken a real interest in the human body so we might do a few weeks of that with books, videos, hands on activities and such. So yes, we will not be unschooling...didn't mean to use the term incorrectly. Just meant that the rest of the studies we do will be child-led. 

[lorisuewho]

I would definitely consider doing a phonics program with him instead of spelling, until he is reading well. OR do a phonics program that includes spelling like using the Webster's Speller (linked above), All About Spelling, The Writing Road to Reading, etc. Just studying words on a spelling list probably will not give your son the phonics he needs.

 

I think it sounds like a great idea to be structured and covered the basics and then do a more relaxed science and social studies.

[TyraTooters]

FWIW, nearly anything recommended in WTM will be age appropriate and fine for boys.  SWB herself had boys first.   :)

 

First Language Lessons is short and sweet at this level.  

 

Spelling Workout can be short and sweet.  We use All About Spelling which is a lot more phonics-based.  If you've got a natural speller (I have one), SWO would be just fine.

 

Writing With Ease lessons at this level does not take more than 10 minutes.

 

For math, Math Mammoth is pretty incremental.  For a perfectionist, the step-by-step, hold-my-hand approach is very welcome.  We also liked Miquon at the beginning math level.

 

So, for first grade with grammar, spelling, writing, and math, you could be done in an hour for sure.  

Thanks for the suggestions. I've been looking at all of them. Math Mammoth looks nice and easy. Might be a good choice to use for our first year of hs. Question though...does it teach mastery? Like how Math U See and Singapore teach the facts to essentially KNOW that you KNOW or is it more of a 'add this apple to that apple and you get two apples' type of thing where he's always needing things to help him add. Did that many any sense? I'm having a hard time writing out what I'm trying to ask. 

 

Looked at the Writing With Ease...I'm not sure he is quite ready for that just yet but it looks very interesting. 

 

And I agree with you on First Language Lessons. I like short and sweet. I found some pirntables on TPT for grammar and I could use those activities (or free ones from Pinterest) to reinforce the lessons if need be. 

 

I see that you use All About Spelling...I'm tempted to purchase it just to be sure there aren't any gaps in his knowledge of phonics. The kid can read at a second grade level. The spelling list he takes a pretest on are ones they learned in kinder so then he is given a challenge list, I wonder if I could correctly assume that they are the first grade level. Challenge list this week is working on the 'short O rule' with words like stop, clock, drop, plot. He's not confident enough to spell them correctly then he gets upset and it's all downhill from there. This system might help. 

 

And one last thing...I LOVE your blog. Thanks for sharing everything you guys do! I look forward to keep up with your schooling. 

 

For phonics, work through blend phonics in the manner I describe on my how to tutor page in the links at the end.

 

Use the quick version, quoted from my webpage here:

 

For a quick version of the above, use the above links but use the following Webster's Speller Excerpts and the checklist below. Read and spell a few words of each type for things your student knows well. Read all and spell a few more for word types your student does not know well. Use the phonics concentration game as needed to curb guessing habits.

 

http://www.thephonicspage.org/On%20Reading/howtotutor.html

 

Again, the links you need are at the end of the page. It adds in spelling rules and is mastery based, so it is easy to do just a bit for areas that are well known but the whole section for an area that needs work. The concentration game is fun for that age, and a good way to practice phonics because it includes nonsense words.

I was a little confused when I first went to your website but after reading it a few times I finally found the concentration game. It looks great and I think we might try it out this weekend if I can talk the six year old into playing along. I didn't check out the Webster's Spellers yet...going to find that part next! Thanks for the freebies!!

[boscopup]

The stuff in my sig for my first grader takes us only about an hour.

 

You may need to deschool before you start homeschooling. My oldest didn't need it, but your son may need it some.

[TyraTooters]

The stuff in my sig for my first grader takes us only about an hour.

 

You may need to deschool before you start homeschooling. My oldest didn't need it, but your son may need it some

 

 

For sure! We plan to deschool just a little.

[blondeviolin]

Thanks for the suggestions. I've been looking at all of them. Math Mammoth looks nice and easy. Might be a good choice to use for our first year of hs. Question though...does it teach mastery? Like how Math U See and Singapore teach the facts to essentially KNOW that you KNOW or is it more of a 'add this apple to that apple and you get two apples' type of thing where he's always needing things to help him add. Did that many any sense? I'm having a hard time writing out what I'm trying to ask. 

 

Looked at the Writing With Ease...I'm not sure he is quite ready for that just yet but it looks very interesting. 

 

And I agree with you on First Language Lessons. I like short and sweet. I found some pirntables on TPT for grammar and I could use those activities (or free ones from Pinterest) to reinforce the lessons if need be. 

 

I see that you use All About Spelling...I'm tempted to purchase it just to be sure there aren't any gaps in his knowledge of phonics. The kid can read at a second grade level. The spelling list he takes a pretest on are ones they learned in kinder so then he is given a challenge list, I wonder if I could correctly assume that they are the first grade level. Challenge list this week is working on the 'short O rule' with words like stop, clock, drop, plot. He's not confident enough to spell them correctly then he gets upset and it's all downhill from there. This system might help. 

 

And one last thing...I LOVE your blog. Thanks for sharing everything you guys do! I look forward to keep up with your schooling. 

 

I was a little confused when I first went to your website but after reading it a few times I finally found the concentration game. It looks great and I think we might try it out this weekend if I can talk the six year old into playing along. I didn't check out the Webster's Spellers yet...going to find that part next! Thanks for the freebies!!

 

Math Mammoth is mastery-based.  Using manipulatives is GOOD at this age.  It's not until a child adds 3+3 a billion times do they remember and UNDERSTAND why it is 6.  Singapore Math is also a good choice, IME.  My 5yo is doing SM for learning and reviewing/fact practice with Math Mammoth.  That's a bit much for him, but he likes it.   :)

 

All About Spelling will fill in phonics gaps for sure.  I started both of my older kids on AAS when they were finally reading at a 2nd grade level.  This way spelling acts as a bit of a review.  But encoding and decoding are two different skills.   :)

 

Don't be fooled by WWE.  If you're considering journaling, consider WWE.  You might want to google Susan Wise Bauer and/or Peace Hill Press and their Youtube videos and audio lectures.  Good stuff!  

 

And if you want to see what we're doing this year on our blog, keep an eye out.  I have a post about what we're doing and how it's going that I've started and will probably finish in the next few hours while my kids do school.  

 

ETA: Thanks for the kind words about our blog.  I keep it so I can clearly see progress.  Sometimes the progress is so small and incremental it's hard to see in the moment.  :)