Help from homeschooling parents!!!

[gabbysmom04]

My DD is almost three and in preschool 3 days a week (full day) She loves it for the social part, but I think she is bored with what they are learning. She is very smart and has already mastered most of what they are teaching in preschool. I would like to start working with her at home also. I have looked at sonlight and calvert. Are there other sites for a pre planned curriculum? I need something that will challange her!

 

[Elaine R]

A Beka has some very nice materials and I know that Angelicum Academy also has programs that start at preschool. If you don't mind a little planning (but not alot) I like Five in a Row for my preschooler. They have several activities planned and you get to choose which ones you want to do. We are using it for our "summer camp" this summer with a 3 and 5 year old. (My kids like structure and with less that a two week break they ask to go back to school.) Five in a Row is geared for ages 4-7, so you can make things harder or easier.

What kind of things has she already mastered? Knowing that I might be able to better reccomend some resources.

Good luck!

 

[Tink561]

I love the looks of the Calvert preschool. Everything in one package. I also have Before Five in a Row. I'm trying to decide which one I will use when it is time.

Sonlight is good but I've never used their pre-k. I have heard good things.

 

[GreatLakes5]

I just spent some time this afternoon with a family who will begin Sonlight Pre-K this fall. They were very impressed with what they found.

I'd also suggest reading the book "The Well-Trained Mind" by Susan Wise Bauer. She deals well with children who are bored in school - and she does mention that her ideas (in the book) could be implemented by parents who decide to keep their children in traditional schools but need to supplement.

Keep challenging your child to read, read, read....help her advance in her reading abilities then give her books that challenge her....she will learn so much if she becomes a voracious reader!

 

[gillenkl]

Lisa Welchel (Blair on Facts of Life) has written a book called "So You're thinking About Homeschooling" - it's about 15 different families and how each uses a different method of homeschooling. It's easy reading and informative. She also has a website lisawelchel.com that has a list of different curriculums.

Personally I use Abeka.

 

[Tink561]

I just spent some time this afternoon with a family who will begin Sonlight Pre-K this fall. They were very impressed with what they found.

What age child are they going to use SL pre-K with?

 

[mamaloya]

I use My Father's World. It is similar to Sonlight, but IMO easier to follow and more flexible. The K program sounds like what your daughter would like. You can go as fast or as slow as you like. It covers 1 letter a week, you write it, hear it, feel it, and then do a "study" of a word or topic about it. Like S and M are one week and the next and cover the sun and moon so you can study the solar system with it for 2 weeks. C, G, and H are together for cow, goat and horse and you study the farm. You are given lists of books that you can borrow or buy for each topic. Each list also has different levels to choose from. My kids love it. It is the only curriculum that I have ever finished and I have been hsing a while. The website for My Father's World is www.mfwbooks.com .

I use Abeka for math, but may try singapore and have heard good things about Math U See.

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

Do we have a homeschooling thing on here? We should!!

I have used A Beka and FIAR, loved them both. My dd who is 4 remembers stories I did with ds back when she was 2 1/2!!! They really get your attention.This year she did the 3 yo ABeka and really enjoyed it. She is very smart also, and always wanted to do more school. I think you may just have to get a book or two from a couple, if you can't decide and do trial and error.

Also, that Lisa Welchel book is amazing- I love it!

 

[gabbysmom04]

thank you for all the help! I have been online lost in all the homeschooling information. I think I am going to order the kindergarden program from sonlight.

The more I look at the pre k programs I see that they will not work for us. She already knows numbers, letters, colors and shapes. She is now starting to read words that have three or less letters!

There is just so much to choose from!!!

 

[TinkerbellMama]

Lisa Welchel (Blair on Facts of Life) has written a book called "So You're thinking About Homeschooling" - it's about 15 different families and how each uses a different method of homeschooling. It's easy reading and informative. She also has a website lisawelchel.com that has a list of different curriculums.

Personally I use Abeka.

There is another one I read years ago called A Patchwork of Days...very similar book. I loved it! Glimpses into the days of all kinds of different homeschooling families.

ETA: Friends of ours use Five in a Row or Before Five in a Row for little ones.

 

[GreatLakes5]

What age child are they going to use SL pre-K with?

When they begin I believe he will either be an older 4 or very young 5.

Just as an FYI I never did a formal program with my kids for preschool....the best reading program ever was the very basic (& I realize it looks dull) "Teach Your Child To Read in 100 Easy Lessons"....but it worked well for each of them. Then it was books, books & more books!