I am going to start homeschooling in July my 4.5 daughter. I am beginning her at the kindergarten level. Does anyone have any curriculum suggestions? Do you come up with your own or purchase it? Which ones do you like and not like and why? Any more pointers would be great!!
Thanks!
She has been in Pre-k for 2 years so far and they seem to continue to move her up with the older kids. We have done a couple IQ tests (she was showing a mental age of 7 and a half earlier this year at 4 yrs old) and even a kinder ready test and she was ready before she turned 4 for kinder but because of her bday she wouldn't be kinder until the 2012-2013 school year. She would rather work in a workbook than play with dolls and asks for us to teach her all the time. So I figure this will give her the opportunity to learn without the restraints of being in another year of Pre-k while they work on learning the stuff that she has mastered most of.
I will add in a Christian perspective to the curriculum, but it doesn't have to have it already, but I would be open to it.
Since she is so young I don't know what the focus will be besides making sure that she knows the basics fully and we can build on that.
Thanks for any help that you all can offer!
Are you looking for religious or secular curriculum? Classical, eclectic, Waldorf/Mason, child-led, or "school at home" curriculum? Does your daughter already know her basics (letters, numbers, etc.) or is she starting from scratch? What subjects/areas do you want to be your main focus?
The amount of material out there is limitless. You'll need to be much more specific about your goals before narrowing down your options.
Sonlight Curriculum is very popular with Christian homeschoolers. They cover all the bases, year by year, and of course, you can always add in your own extras as your child begins to show particular areas of interest.
But as others have suggested, consider what style (or hybrid style) of homeschooling would suit your family best. You can find lots of information on "homeschooling styles" on google.
I also strongly suggest joining a homeschool support group in your area. They trade practical suggestions, individual experiences, set up social gatherings, and sometime organize curriculum fairs. All helpful stuff!
I used to love this book: "100 Top Picks for Homeschool Curriculum" by Cathy Duffy (geared towards younger grades if I remember correctly).
I agree with Carrie that you will need to get more specific. The good news is that you have plenty of time.
We also liked www.time4learning.com. This is an online program which is relatively inexpensive.
Good luck and have a great time. Kudos to you!
We have used Christian Liberty Press for almost 10 years now and are pleased with each grade level. They have good prices and you can cater to her needs with different choices of books. Look at their website and you can also request a catalog. christianlibertypress.com
