Anyone here delaying academics until the 1st grade?

[dtb1999]

I'm just wondering if we are the only ones? We aren't really doing any curriculum yet, and my oldest just turned 6. Everything I try to do with him is met with much resistance. I would like to try and follow his lead, but I am becoming nervous that he's going to get more "set in his ways" of not doing schoolwork and fall very behind where he should be. I have even contemplated unschooling. There are some unschoolers in our HSing group, and their kids seem to be doing quite well. I just don't know that my oldest would fit with unschooling. He just seems so resistant to anything "school", though. :confused: I really don't want to push him or force things on him before he is ready, but I have a dh who thinks we aren't doing enough, and having ds tell him we didn't "do anything today" isn't helping. :glare:

I guess I am just wondering if anyone else out there is delaying formal instruction, and if so, when and how do you get your kid motivated to want to do schoolwork?

[Kristen in NC]

I essentially did with my son who's in 1st grade now. I tried to do some reading with him last year but he just couldn't get it. We did a little bit of handwriting. Frankly, even this year we've just been having school consistently every day since Christmas. He is really blossoming now. His reading is coming along, and he's doing basic addition and subtraction. He even says that some of his schoolwork is "easy".:D

[Caroline4kids]

We are very, very low key until the kids turn about 6. I didn't start phonics with my littlest boy until he was 6 and a half. He is reading fluently now. I like to start K materials about 6.

 

We read out loud a lot. If they show an interest in something I will assist them, but I don't force lessons. My daughter is 4 and wants to learn how to read her name, so I helped her with that. She also loves the Queen's book--although she wishes the whole thing were picture study!

[Caroline4kids]

I'm just wondering if we are the only ones? We aren't really doing any curriculum yet, and my oldest just turned 6. Everything I try to do with him is met with much resistance. I would like to try and follow his lead, but I am becoming nervous that he's going to get more "set in his ways" of not doing schoolwork and fall very behind where he should be. I have even contemplated unschooling. There are some unschoolers in our HSing group, and their kids seem to be doing quite well. I just don't know that my oldest would fit with unschooling. He just seems so resistant to anything "school", though. :confused: I really don't want to push him or force things on him before he is ready, but I have a dh who thinks we aren't doing enough, and having ds tell him we didn't "do anything today" isn't helping. :glare:

I guess I am just wondering if anyone else out there is delaying formal instruction, and if so, when and how do you get your kid motivated to want to do schoolwork?

 

You should look into the Charlotte Mason method. Your children would probably love the low key, nature-centered aspects of her ideas for children 9 and under.

 

She focused a lot on children gaining a keen sense of perception. Watching an ant hill, or drawing wild flowers, listening to music and observing great art were ways to help them be more observant.

 

You can start by reading fun picture books and have him tell the story back to you (narration). Type it out as he talks, if he doesn't mind, and then you have something to show for his efforts.

 

At the end of the day you would have a laundry list of things that he did academically and he probably wouldn't even be aware he did "school". DH would be happier too, maybe.

[dtb1999]

You should look into the Charlotte Mason method. Your children would probably love the low key, nature-centered aspects of her ideas for children 9 and under.

 

 

 

I do like the CM method. I was thinking about starting Ambleside Online next year. I also like alot of the classical method. I would like to find a way to incorporate both without a rigid structure or schedule. Is that even possible?

[Ellie]

I have to laugh.:D I don't often hear anyone talking about delaying academics until the *first* grade. Most people I know don't even think about doing anything academic until at least first grade, and talk about delaying academics until the dc are 9 or 10.

 

My younger dd wasn't reading at her age level until she was 9½. Funny thing...she was on the dean's list in college, so I guess it didn't make much difference.:D

 

Read this: The Moore Formula

 

And this: The Story of an Experiment

[Hillary in KS]

So, your ds is in K, right? He won't be in first grade until next year?

 

When my oldest was in kindergarten, I was so excited to start homeschooling. He was a bright child, and I was eager to start the homeschooling adventure. We jumped in and did reading, math, and handwriting. We did science experiments. When he got to such-and-such a milestone, we started Spelling Workout and English for the Thoughtful Child and kept going. By the time first grade started, he was way ahead of where a first grader should start, and so we zoomed on. Plowing into second grade material.

 

When my second child started kindergarten, it dawned on me how small 5 year olds really are. My approach with him was much more gentle. We worked on letters. We practiced writing letters. We counted things. but we snuggled on the couch and read LOTS of books. We played. We took field trips. And then we began "schoolwork" when he was in first grade.

 

Ds 2 is right where ds 1 was academically at that age. Racing ahead with ds 1 (now 13) did not gain any ground at that age. Holding back with ds2 (now 8) in kindergarten didn't slow him down.

 

Ds 3 is now 5. We snuggle. We play. We practice writing letters and reading them. We read lots of stories. He listens to his big brother's lessons. He will be just fine when he starts "real schoolwork" in 1st grade.

 

I worry about some moms who post about how much they're doing with their very small children. 3.5 year olds doing formal curriculum? "Oh, but he's very bright!" "Oh, but she loves it! She cries when we don't do it!" is the reassurance they usually give to others when they're asked. It worries me.:confused:

 

I think it's natural to want to start homeschooling. It's an exciting journey, and you want to just get started already! :001_smile: But I wish some young moms would listen to moms with older children who tell them to slow down. Don't be in such a hurry. Your children are only small for a short time. Their school career will last for 12 years. They're only preschoolers for 2 or 3. Hang on to that time.

 

When your dh was in kindergarten, it likely wasn't too academic. It sure wasn't when I was in school. We went for only a half day. We played for most of it. We had nap time. And we learned letters (That bothered me. I was already reading chapter books. I didn't like sitting through the alphabet lessons.) But most of the day was learning through play. Your dh is fine. He wasn't behind after kindergarten, or at a disadvantage in first grade. Remind him of that (gently). Your ds will also be fine.

 

Snuggle. read. Play. Go places and explore things. Have fun. Save the books for next year.

[woolybear]

I do like the CM method. I was thinking about starting Ambleside Online next year. I also like alot of the classical method. I would like to find a way to incorporate both without a rigid structure or schedule. Is that even possible?

 

 

Look into http://www.tanglewoodeducation.com They explain their curriculum as a CM/Classical blend. Although their website is basically just a book list now( they don't sell much except a few downloadable items) it is definitely something you could follow, loosely or not. If you do look into this, click on the book lists section and then look at both the newer and older book lists. This may all be too schooly for your ds right now, but I think if you do read alouds, nature walks, some crafty or hand work (sewing, wood working,etc.) you'd be fine for now.

 

Good luck.

[Colleen in NS]

I'm just wondering if we are the only ones? We aren't really doing any curriculum yet, and my oldest just turned 6. Everything I try to do with him is met with much resistance. I would like to try and follow his lead, but I am becoming nervous that he's going to get more "set in his ways" of not doing schoolwork and fall very behind where he should be. I have even contemplated unschooling. There are some unschoolers in our HSing group, and their kids seem to be doing quite well. I just don't know that my oldest would fit with unschooling. He just seems so resistant to anything "school", though. :confused: I really don't want to push him or force things on him before he is ready, but I have a dh who thinks we aren't doing enough, and having ds tell him we didn't "do anything today" isn't helping. :glare:

I guess I am just wondering if anyone else out there is delaying formal instruction, and if so, when and how do you get your kid motivated to want to do schoolwork?

 

I had the unschooling mentality all through the toddler, preschool, and kindergarten years. I didn't even think about curriculums then, even as friends were asking me when I was going to enroll ds in preschool - I had no idea preschool was such a big cultural thing!! The only thing I did was casually teach ds phonogram sounds - but he took off with that on his own and was reading before he turned 5. So he read and played.

 

The summer before 1st grade (he was 6 1/2), I decided it was time for a scheduled school program. So I bought WTM and started trying to implement some things from it (we moved that fall, and had a severe illness in the family, so things didn't go perfectly that year - OK, well, it never goes perfectly, LOL!). My key was, that *I* decided what we were going to do each day. I gradually implemented math, spelling, writing, and by 2nd grade, I was convinced to buy FLL and start grammar. I guess it took me a year or so to be convinced of doing more formal schoolwork, but by the time dd got to grade 1, I had a more solid plan for things like math, grammar, spelling, and writing. It didn't take much time, but we did do school each week. But the kindergarten years were play/learn to read years.

 

My son still says sometimes, "I wish we didn't have to do school, like when I was in kindergarten!" So, I'm glad I started implementing a schedule when he was 6, or it would have gotten harder for us as he got older.

[SilverMoon]

I may not be the best one to ask. I've *tried* to delay school until first grade four times now! :lol: My kids all had different ideas, in spite of my attempts. All of them have insisted on their own workbooks and reading lessons around 3-4 years old. Well, the baby hasn't obviously. I'm not holding out much hope for her either. She already tries taking her sibs' clipboards and will scribble all over any page they leave down with a pencil.

 

In your shoes I'd leave plenty of educational opportunities around for him and not worry about it. http://www.starfall.com is a fun place for littles to absorb phonics while they play. An abacus or pile of blocks, some random kindy workbooks tossed around like coloring books, trips to the children's museum. Kids are sponges at this age and you couldn't stop them from learning if you tried. :)

[TengoFive]

I have learned to follow the kid's lead. My oldest 2 would have flourished with waiting, but I pushed them. My next 2 have flourished with early academics at their insistence. My youngest I don't know about yet.

 

I would pursue learning activities outside of formal academics. You could set up a "learning center" with a lot of different fun learning activities and set aside a time that he has to do some of those, but he can choose which. This could include math activities, learning dvds, legos, playdough, an abacus, really all sorts of different stuff. He would be learning, making some choices of his own, and maybe it would satisfy your dh.

[Closeacademy]

I did. We took K real slow and just had fun playing with letters and numbers and learning how to print. We read a lot of great picture books curled up together as well. She has access to the outdoors and has butterfly nets, bug boxes, magnifying glasses and field guides to explore with.

 

During 1st grade, we concentrated on just phonics and math (penmanship was included in these subjects). She is well on her way to learning to read and by the end of second grade will probably read as well as her sister.

 

Good luck.:001_smile:

[Amber in AUS]

I guess you need to look at what you are doing. Does he watch TV all day? Does he build lego a lot? Does he play outside a lot? Do you read to him? What I am getting at is that some play is natural learning and some things you do he is learning even though you are not using any formal curricula. On the other hand if he is parked in front of the TV or electronic games I would question educational value in that.

 

With my kiddos who are little I make their environment interesting and let them ask questions and lead the way. We have a map on the wall. Both DD and DS will routinely point to a country on the map and ask about it which leads to research, discussion and reading on the country. Nothing formal and full on just enough to wet their appetite and leave them wanting a little more the next time they ask.

 

My DD is reading VERY well. I taught her to read when she kept on pestering me to 'help ME read the book'. She didn't want me to read it, but wanted me to help her learn to read it herself.