I just read the thread about Abeka Kindergarten curriculum. I am looking for input on other programs too. Any opinions about LifePac KIndergarten Math + Language Arts, Horizons Math + Phonics, Bob Jones Kindergarten curriculum, Seton books, etc?? What is/was your favorite/worst phonics + math curriculum for Kindergarten?
Our curriculum for K is life. I also get tons of free stuff online from places like learningpage.com and starfall.com. Really, though, we don't do anything in particular other than what he wants to learn and we're ahead of the ps system in most areas.
I'm using Horizons K Math with my soon to be 5 yr old. To me it seems a little advanced, I don't know if it really is or if it's just ahead of my expectations for K. He likes it, and I like the spiral approach for K. It mixes it up enough that he doesn't get burnt out doing the same thing. And if there's a portion he doesn't want to do, it's fine to skip it because I know we'll be covering it again later. We're also using Rod and Staff's K workbooks. He loooves these. I'm not sure why he's so crazy about them, but that's what he always asks to do! Lisa
For Kindergarden I used Abeka and various fun things online. I was not too strict or serious. I focused on phonics, reading, beginning math and fun! My kids learned a ton in Kindergarden. Most of it through "fun" methods like educational games, educational computer games, flash cards, puzzles, and things like that. I used Abeka as a starting point.
My youngest will be in K soon. I am going to use Math U See and maybe Abeka for phonics. I plan on taking her to various places like the police station and fire station. That is pretty much it!
So far I love A Beka, but don't have anything to compare it to. I like the way it all flows together, and incorporates repetitiveness without redundancy.
That is how I felt until about 3rd grade A Beka. lol. However, it totally rocks for reading and phonics in preschool thru 3rd. Some love it all the way through.
We used Calvert. K was a bit too easy for ds1 but...has been a challenge for ds2 ROFL Unless you are just SET on having something laid out I would just pull some McGraw Hill workbooks that the general subjects for K level and then add whatever you feel is lacking. Throw in a bunch of craft/art time and vola! K! I highly recommend Calvert 1st grade. I started branching out after that but...have the teacher manuals all the way to 4th grade. It is a real good program.
I did Lifepac K for my son...he hated it. I ended up scraping it halfway thru the year! If your child is a sit still workbook learner, it would be PERFECT! If not...not so much! My eldest, I didn't do anything formal...I did a bunch of things. I decided to give K a try with curriculum with him...big mistake for his learning style. Have you figured out how your child learns best? K and even 1st are so easy to do without a curriculum, I think...if you have a guideline of some things they should know by the end of it!
I used Bob Jones K5. The curriculum was colorful and fun to look at. The phonics pages were pretty repetitive in nature, which I actually liked and worked well with my kids. I liked the way they built up the reading and how their little books incorporated places for the parent to read and for the child to read. The math was good but very, very repetitive. I admit I got sick of doing the upper digit numbers--- oh my gosh, that was so boring. I'd honestly recommend Saxon over the Bob Jones math. The K5 for Bob Jones is set up for a classroom, though; I don't know why the K5 is that way because the 1st grade isn't.
I have Little Hearts For His Glory for my son. He's 4 and I am using Little Hands to Heaven with him right now. I like the easy layout since the first book is going well I bought the next level up. It's for K/1st grade level. It suggests Singapore Math but not sure what I will use with him. I am using Horizon math right now with my oldest.
thank you Thank you everyone! This helps. I realize that I can come up with enough stuff online and at the library to make up a "curriculum" but since I am also doing 8th grade with my ds, I need some sort of structure so that I don't leave my dd out! I have been trying to plan activities the night before, but finding meaningful and fun things is very time consuming!! Not that she's not worth it! But, I think if I have some sort of framework/curriculum, life will be more enjoyable for all of us! Thanks everyone for your input. I appreciate it!
We're doing K this year. We did Abeka K-5 Phonics last year, so he's a great reader ; this year, we are reading through the Abeka Handbook for Reading and making phonics lapbooks...and just reading! He likes Little Bear, Henry & Mudge, etc. We use HWOT for handwriting (Letters & Numbers for me); we have 2 pages left and then we will move on to the next book. We use Rightstart for Math. I LOVE this program, but I think I may be the only one on this board who uses it. It just makes sense and focuses on understanding instead of rote memory. If you have a chance to go to a homeschool convention, please check out Rightstart. As a side, there are nine families in my homeschooling co-op. Last year, the math line-up looked like this Family #1 Abeka (used for 4 years!) Family #2 Bob Jones & Horizons (homeschooling for 4 years and had also used Saxon) Family #3 Horizons Family #4 too young for math Family #5 Saxon (used for 4 years!) Family #6 Saxon Family #7 Making Math Meaningful Family #8 Singapore Family #9 (us) Getting ready to use Righstart This year Family #1 Rightstart Family #2 Rightstart Family #3 Rightstart Family #4 too young for math Family #5 Rightstart Family #6 Horizons & CLP Family #7 Rightstart Family #8 Rightstart Family #9 (us) Getting ready to use Righstart AND, everyone LOVES it. That is a big deal in my book! For everything else we use unit studies from Five in a Row and the free ones from Homeschool Share coupled with the free lapbooks there (and a few pre-purchased ones). We :love: unit studies! We don't plan on changing anything next year! We're just going to add in Draw Write Now.
I am so glad you posted this topic. I have everything pretty much laid out for Samantha's 7th grade next year but it is Grace I keep going back and forth with. Like I said earlier I am pretty well set with a math curriculum and i really believe play and imagination and just being a kid and living life is the best. We also travel a lot and I think that is great for kids too. Where I am getting stuck is teaching reading. This is a huge issue for me. I never had to teach anyone to read before and I am a little unsure of myself. What is out there besides Abeka? I know Abeka is good and that is an option but I want more choices. I have heard of Explode the Code but is that even what I am looking for??? What else is there?
For reading we use Teach your child to read in 100 easy lessons. It is great for me as a first time teacher. It goes step by step what you say and do, and what the kid does and says. It teaches phonics and some sight words. They say when the kid is done with the lessons they will be reading at a 2nd grade level. At the end of the book there is a list of books to introduce your kid to reading out of normal books. My 3 yo is on lesson 50 and it was going great and simple. Each lesson is suppose to take less then 30 minutes. My boy decided to stop learning so we backed off, but it doesn't have anything to do with the 100 EL. I got it off amazon for like 14 and that is all that you need. It also works on writing the letters. And since you don't write in the book you can use it for other kids without buying a new one.
The only thing I ordered for K last year was math from Singapore and Miquon. We pulled dd mid year. Everything else I found free online. www.letteroftheweek.com learningpages enchantedlearning google free kindergarten lesson plans and you'll find a ton of stuff. Only reason I ordered a math curriculum is because I couldn't find enough online for dd or the type of thing she enjoyed. I had to find something tactile and visual.
Okay we are doing letter of the week now. We are on letter O. So where do I go from there? I mean she isn't reading yet but is learning all her sounds now. We will be done with that in 12 more weeks. She has great handwriting though. She writes like a 1st grader. I've heard about 100 EZ Lessons. I guess my problem is not knowing what is going to work for us. Do I get Abeka, Explode the Code, 100 lessons? There are just so many options that it is overwhelming.
Well i guess its How much can you spend? Abeka will the most costly. 100 easy lessons, you can get the book for about $20.00 and ETC books are very cheap.
100 easy lessons are in a lot of librarys. You can check it out that way. I think they might have it at Barnes too. They teach each letter sound and such so you can start right now. Some think it is easier if you don't teach sounds before you start. But it didn't seem to do anything either way with ds.
