New Homeschooler Q & A: Part 2

Here is question #2 in our series of responses to an inquiry from a new potential homeschooler.  Link to question # 1 here.

What is the best way to start preparing a 4 year old for homeschool?

Having started 2 off (which compared to some home schooling families is quite a pitiful reproductive rate) I would suggest you make no big deal at all about it, they are already schooling themselves (didn't they just teach themselves to walk, talk, turn the television on, and hide the keys?). You are just going to guide them in the direction of learning other things.

No matter if you make a big deal or just slide into it, I would strongly suggest once you have your schoolwork chosen, that you introduce only a little at a time.  TAKE YOUR TIME to work towards the whole gamut of what you want them doing.  So this would mean, the first week you start, you can focus on just the task of learning the (short) letter sounds.  See how this goes, you may need another two or three weeks with just this as your "school", or they may be eating all this new stuff up and things might move quicker.  KEEP IT FUN.  LOTS of games at that age.  I spy (letter sounds). 

If you use the Montessori sandpaper letters to teach the short letter sounds then this doubles up as teaching them to write as well.  SHOW them how to hold a pencil correctly, then gently remind them of this as many times as possible - it is a nightmare trying to change pencil grips later on. If you want a good set of work books for teaching writing AND letter sounds try Get Ready for the Code - Book a, Get Set for the Code - Book B and Go for The Code-Book C.

Once things are comfortable doing the language arts, introduce some math - either manipulatives (in the Montessori style) or a workbook.  From my experience the Montessori method for maths was a revelation for me in simplicity and understanding.  Perfect for the way young kids learn.  However, we also had a very good experience using the Singapore Earlybird Kindergarden Math 1A,1B, 2A, 2C books (kids loved them, simple, cheap, very high quality learning). See my previous review about it here.

Once you have your reading, writing and math going, I suggest you buy no further workbooks (unless you see a big desire from the kid) and plan out doing time.  Kids learn WAY more by DOING

Art - provide the resources, let them go!  OBSERVATIONAL COMMENTS ONLY, don't turn them into praise junkies.

Social Science/Geography - map puzzles, buy a compass , buy a globe, show them where on earth they are, eat different foods, look at books from the library of different cultures....

Science - plant a garden (flowers, veges), start a terrarium, buy a bonsai, get a lizzard, lay on your back and look at clouds, put out bird seeds, look at nature books, watch a sunset, stargaze....

Practical life skills - have a look at the Montessori method for this, they have wonderful activities to help strengthen the writing fingers.  Any time spent helping you with the household chores are wonderful learning opportunities, it may take more time now, but it will make helpers out of the kids later on.

The best investment we made for the kids was a $50 dump truck load of sand for a big sandpit (sandbox).  HOURS and HOURS of sensorial learning time was spent out there - learning to love the outdoors and watching simple things like sand running through your hands.  The other thing they would play with for hours on end was two buckets of water, a hose, and as many cups as available (a wonderful summer activity).  According to Montessori - these periods of UNINTERUPTED time allow the child to develop focus, concentration, and the ability to work on something for a long period of time...

Many research reports I have read concluded that the SINGLE most important SINGLE you can do to help your child academically is to read to them for at least 20 minutes a day (everyday!).  Make this your most important goal - there are lots of lists of age appropriate books that you can get from websites or libraries.  Go once a week and get out at least 7 kids books each time, or leave with a big stack!  But don't be afraid to read the same book over and over,  young kids like repetition until they have internalized the activity, then it's on to something new!

If you are a newbie starting out with a kid that can already read you might like to try this post.

And remember to relax and smile - you kid will mirror your emotions very accuratly.  Good Luck with your exciting new adventure!

Aussie Kim

Well, that sounds very good. It would have worked beautifully with my older two. In fact, it is very much what we did with a few minor variations (I personally love Bob Books, Set 1: Beginning Readers). However, with a child who is developmentally not ready, and who is showing absolutely NO interest in academic activities AT ALL (like child #3), I would make the following alterations to Kim's plan.

Cut out the pre-academics (letters & sounds), grab a good book to read to the child, and leave him or her in the sandbox for another year or two, or three, or four...

Four years old is very young for some children. If you find yourself looking for a brick wall to bang you head against, opt out of more structured activities for a while.

LA Sue

We would love to hear other recommendations or comments, especially if you disagree with us. Don't worry about offending. We're mothers. We have thick skins!

Comments

[christine]

BINGO, ladies!! While my first child was sitting at the computer, typing her name before she was three ... my youngest is four and has no interest in letters. Well, I take that back. She enjoys saying and singing them very nonsensically and spelling everything with "ious" on the end as she giggles.

And Mom said, "It is good."

I'm glad she's my last and not my first. I would be banging my head against said brick wall!!

[LA Sue]

Cute kid, Aussie Kim. Where did you find him?

[Marie]

He does know all his letters and numbers (thanks to LeapFrog, hahaha), and we've started using the Hooked on Phonics set. But I can only work with him for one or two minutes before he gets bored or starts messing around. I need to figure out how to adjust him (and me!) to "learning time."

[LA Sue]

Hi Marie,
Just a couple of things I thought of when I read your comment. First, if he's already learned some letters, etc. then you are already teaching him. Second, every time is learning time. Sitting down with a work book is probably the least productive of "learning times." There will be plenty of time yet for work books. My advice is this. Make everything a game. Buy Scrabble for kids. Go to Wal-Mart and get letter refrigerator magnets. Buy sidewalk chalk and a chalk board or a dry erase board and let him write on it (to practice is name, letters, numbers). Buy kid's clay and let him work on his dexterity by making clay animals. Get some for kids safety scissors and have him cut out snowflakes. Spell EVERY sign you see as you are driving down the road, "Stop, S-T-O-P, Stop." My kids would laugh over this one. That was the first word they learned to spell. Go on nature walks, read every book together in the library. (My kids get to stay up an extra half hour IF they are reading. That really works! Call it Big Boy Time. He'll at least pretend to read!)

It really sounds like you are on the right path. I would just caution you not to try to get him to do activities that he is not developmentally ready to do. Follow his lead and try to stay one level above where he is. This allows him to have some success and yet still be challenged.

[Summer]

Keeping it fun is the BEST advice for a 4 yar old. If they're laughing then they're learning. Sure not always what you want them to learn, but they're learning something. :)

BTW, I was looking at the books you have on the side and I squeeled. Anyone who lists Alfie Kohn is awesome in my book. LOL