Does anyone have a link that I can use that can tell me what a child needs to be able to do in order to "pass" Kindergarten? Or what they have to be able to do in order to begin 1st grade things? I want to put my DS in a "grade" by his abilities and so far the pages I have found aren't really what I'm looking for, they mainly go by ages. My DS is so silly. We watch alot of Sprout TV (I don't know how many of you watch it or have it, it's like an All Kids tv channel 24/7) and they ALWAYS have the "Your Baby Can Read" commercial on it and my DS flips whe he sees it! He says HE wants it so HE can read, and I'm like, "No way...not that! You can learn w/ something else." lol. We've tried Reading Eggs, but he doesn't seem to retain the knowledge or be interested in it very much. He did good for awhile, but it got boring I guess.
I have consulted a the scope and sequence of Abeka's programs to get an idea before. If you go to their site, you can see a whole listing. I am sure there are other scope and sequences to consult...even your local school's list. You can look through the K scope and sequence and get an idea of whether he has mastered those skills. You can also get the book, "What Every Kindergartner Should Know." It's a whole series of books. Reading is a skill that is mastered through consistency and at a child's own pace. Don't worry about it...it will come. Hooked on Phonics is a good program and so is Abeka. Just continually read to him...even if it's street signs or labels as you shop. This way he sees a world is opened up through the written word and that may inspire him to want to read. Kids often don't see the value in reading when they are so young. My five year old..began to read a bit...and lost complete interest! lol. I will try again as she begins K this fall. According to my other two kids' progress, she is a bit behind in reading but on track elsewhere.
I use this site: http://homeschooling.about.com/cs/learning/p/coursek.htm She gets her listing from an encyclopedia website of what should be covered by each grade. ((I use the lists for each grade to send in with my notice of intent each year for what I'm going to teach)).
Every state is different, here are your state standards http://dese.mo.gov/divimprove/curriculum/GLE/ There are easier to read general standards http://www.worldbook.com/typical_course_of_study.html or check your local library for http://www.amazon.com/What-Your-Kindergartner-Needs-Know/dp/0385318413 they are nice books (there's one fore each grade) The big thing for my son last year (PS K in GA) was he had to memorize all 75 sight words, write his name in perfect D'Nealian handwriting, touch count to 30 (though they focused on 1-100--the requirement to pass was only 30), write numbers 1-20, and be able to write and identify all 26 letters and sounds (short vowels sounds only). Those were the biggies to pass. They also were expected to know shapes, colors, and positions (above, in, beside, ect)
Meg, we watch a lot of Sprout and also NickJr when dgs is around! Also, if you can find it, Qubo for just entertainment (cartoons I can tolerate!). He's 3, right? so just tell him he's in PreK-3. Or 4, if that suits better.
