Jessica- and others who have Horizons Pre-K

[SandraDumas]

My dd will be an older preschooler (5 in November) but she will not be really ready for K. Her verbal abilities are very high and she learned like most younger kids do- by osmosis. She knows all her letters (but not perfectly) and counts to 15 or so, etc. But her motor skills still need work to be able to write well.

She's on Book 3 Developing the Early Learner and really flying through that.

I need something open-and-go. TO be honest I wont' even take the time to open the manual and highlight things to do or talk about. I'm just not really up to that. The most I will do is open the manual to find out the directions for the worksheets, and to tell me the Bible passage for Mondays- that's about it. I'm not about to go on Nature walks, get out crafts, prepare lessons.

I really just want a little simple discussion, maybe a song, and a worksheet.

Do you think it would fit this description.

[one l michele]

I am enjoying Horizons Pre-K, but I have yes and no answers to your question.

Open and go - IMO not really, because there are 6 pages to each lesson. If I would do no prep and scan the entire lesson while ds is sitting there anxiously waiting for me to start, he would be frustrated with me. I sit in the evening while dh watches tv (then we chat during commercials - LOL) and highlight the activities I want to do with him, there are really so many suggestions, you could have 5 people share how they did lesson 1 with you and get 5 different answers.

As far as content I do think it's a good fit for a variety of levels K-4 or K-5, because there are so many options as to what you pull out of each lesson, but again that is something you would have to do instead of just doing it as is. I use the Horizon's TM simply as a guide, sometimes I use their suggestions, sometimes I tweak or expand on things, and there are parts I skip.

May I ask if you know what materials you'll likely go into the following year? For K-5 my last, sniff, will learn the SWR phonograms then go into Sonlight's Fun Tales, fine tune HWOT uppercase (in 1st we learn Calvert Script lowercase), Horizon K math, SL Core C (history & read alouds only) if he's ready, and Lollipop Logic.

Also, do you have a decent library close to you? We are going through these lists:
http://simplycharlottemason.com/planning/eyguide/eyreadalouds/
http://www.fiveinarow.com/FIAR/FIARBL.html
We read a lot!

If you don't have a decent library or use it perhaps Calvert K (which now includes the stories) or Sonlight would be a better fit? I have used Calvert Pre-K through 2nd. I think Calvert Pre-K would be to easy for your dd. The only thing I didn't like about Calvert is their whole word approach to reading. SWR is a much better fit for us, but there is a big learning curve to it.

Does your dd like worksheets? My guys all did. Calvert & Horizons are worksheet based. If you go with Sonlight read alouds & history, you would need to add something like HWOT and math (I used the Earlybirds 1A-2A then move into Horizons K with my 2nd).

Speaking of writing, I really don't think I'll need HWOT in K this time, I like how Horizon is teaching it and ds loves the alphabet puzzles (unlike the wood HWOT where he just made catapults out of them - LOL).

For fine motor, pick up a couple of the Kumon Scissor Books, I'd probably start with the My First Series (they have a cutting and "more" cutting, then there is a regular cutting book. Pearler beads are great for fine motor skills, they have a "mega" size you could start your dd with, Klutz even has a kit. I'd look for tracing books Kumon has one, or if she'll trace other things, buy a pack of tracing paper (my middle was really into this). Will she lace chunky foam beads, pasta, cheerios, etc. to make necklaces? Basic dot to dot puzzles. Playdoh?

Other things we've enjoyed Visual Perceptual Skill Builders, Mighty or Super Mind, Equilibro, Lauri Fit a Shape Puzzles, alphabet bingo, counters and a primary balance, and Curious George I Spy game.

I would prepare a basket of the above stuff set aside an hour at the start of each school day and have her pick something out to do with you.

HTH

[SandraDumas]

and I'm still up in the air after reading it. LOL.

We have some of the fine motor skill things you mentioned, but not all. I liked those suggestions. I don't have a basket for her to do with me, but by herself. I'm sure she'd get a lot more use out of that stuff if I interacted with her on it!

We have all the SL pre-K and K books and she's been there and done that with big bro. We read lots too. We'll re-read them many times I'm sure, but

Yes she likes workbooks. She wants to do school! Opposite of my son who showed more of the readiness signs but lacked the interest. She is showing some readiness I guess...but you know you're never in such a rush as you are with your first child!

Calvert K would be a great idea but it's too expensive for us. I need to keep her in the hundred dollar range for the next two years. And boy oh boy they really changed the program! It seems much longer and more complicated.

Well I guess I'll just keep musing and praying over what to do with dd next year!

[one l michele]

You don't "need" a program for K-4/5. I would start with 30 minutes of "play" with her each morning, working up to 60 using what you have and keep an eye for consumables that cover skills she could use more work, edutoys that you can sneak learning in through play like the Laure Fit a Shape, and basic arts/craft supplies (play doh, crayolas coloring book pencils are a hit here, etc.). She'll be fine. You've been through this before, just put it on your schedule to interact daily, my ds does best if he goes first - LOL. My ds learned to count from us counting together everytime we went up stairs for nap time.

[Trivium Academy]

It was and it is why I didn't respond- there wasn't anything to add. :)