Homeschooling Mom

Our 5 year old has begun kindergarten at home this year. We are just finishing our third full week of school. For a kindergartener, that seems like a long time. For her Mom, it seems like we haven't even begun. Our schedule is relaxed but with a definite pattern.

Follow up:

Schedule:

• Monday: 2 hours; 4 topics
• Tuesday: 2 hours; 4 topics
• Wednesday: Field Trip or play with homeschool friends
• Thursday: 2 hours; 4 topics
• Friday: 2 hours; 4 topics

Topics:

Alphabet

letter recognition, naming, sounding, writing

Numbers

number recognition, counting, number sequences, counting patterns

Reading

phonics, sight words, Spalding Method, Custom Primers

Handwriting

Going for perfect printing here. On the blackboard, on dashed line practice papers, in her Journal, anywhere she can write.

Math

adding, subtracting, telling time, counting money

Science

Art

Music

singing songs, playing piano, playing rhythms, learning Ukelele, and the Tin Whistle

Dance

ballet, jazz dance, tap dance

Language

ASL, American Sign Language, Spanish, Allemannisch, Swiss-German

This list of topics (subjects) sounds impressive, but I must chuckle at the the reality. For instance, in our Dance time, which we do once a week, we take 20 minutes to practice steps to a DVD in one form of dance. And in Music, which we do twice a week, lesson and practice time is combined to learn just one new thing in 10 minutes, whether we are working on an instrument or rhythm or singing; and then the girls play freely for 10 to 15 minutes.