Kindergarten schedule okay?

[Melmc]

Newbie here, wondering if this looks okay for my youngest. It looks like we're going to be doing this! I figured kindergarten would be the easiest to figure out so I'd start with her first.

Math: Saxon 1 (she's currently doing Saxon K in her preschool class)
Phonics: Sound Beginnings
Penmenship: Writing Can Help A/B
Religion: Catholic Mosaic and Atrium (Montessori-inspired faith formation)
Literature: FIAR and selections from Ambleside Year 0 reading list
Poetry: Poetry memorization and journal
PE: Crossfit kids class 2x week and Irish dance class 1x week
Piano: Lesson once a week (she currently does this)

She'll also hang out during science and history with her siblings.

[Sue G in PA]

if not too much (IMNSHO :)). If I could only get my 1st grader to do HALF that much I'd be happy! I currently do MFW K with my ds5 and it takes us maybe an hour (split up) in the am and possibly an hour in the pm before nap (I read to him and we might do a simple science experiment or art project to go along w/ the curriculum). He does phonics (letter recognition/sounds right now), a bit of math (no formal curriculum yet...he'll start Saxon 1 next year), handwriting (letter practice...no copywork yet) is read to (he doesn't read yet), is NOT interested in participating in History or Science w/ my older dc and really just likes to play! My thoughts: Take it SLOW! Do the important stuff first (math, phonics, hw, reading, religion). Add poetry mem. and journal gradually. Obviously she already has piano and the PE. Other than that...looks like you have all your bases covered! Good luck.:)

[Melmc]

Thanks Sue. She would be going to an all day K program if we kept her at the same school so it's hard for me to know what's too much for that grade level. Both my other two went to all day K programs, too.

The other day she saw her sister's K poetry journal (did that afterschooling) and she's keen to start that right away. That wasn't in my original plans but I added it since I've done it before and it only takes a few minutes a day. But I'll ask my older one to hide hers and maybe my youngest will forget about it for awhile.

I was actually going to hold off on the penmenship until we got the schedule down since there is writing in Sound Beginnings. I don't want to overwhelm her or me. The literature is just read alouds and snuggle time, something we already do now. As is her PE classes and Piano. I figure I can add some of the FIAR activities as needed or not since Catholic Mosaic is also picture book based and has activities, too!

Good to know she may not be interested in Science and History. She just wants to be like her older siblings so badly I figured she'd happily be a part of it. I hadn't considered her not wanting to!

[Sue G in PA]

Don't get me wrong...if she wants to do all that, let her. Don't quelch her natural love for learning by any means. BUT, if she resists in any way over the "fluff" then don't push her, KWIM? If my ds5 or 6 wanted to participate in Hist or Science or whatever I'd be jumping for joy! Mine are just more content to play. Girls are different, too (for the most part...not always!). Most are ready for more seatwork in K while most boys are not. There are exceptions. Just remember that you will accomplish so much more at home in so much less time than what is accomplished at a public/private school. IMNSHO...an hour or 2 for K is plenty!

[Laurie in VA]

I think this sounds good as long as you go at her pace. We did FIAR for K and it was such a huge hit! Have fun, and just remember that it's OK to slow down (or even stop for a bit) while they are this young.

[Cadam]

If she resists you may want to take it down a notch and just not do every subject every day.

I will be totally honest here. In our house K was optional. If A didn't want to do it, we didn't. Here is the honest part. Now that we are doing first grade we really only do school work about 3 times a week, I dropped spelling entirely until next year (not at all because it's to hard, it was just a choice I made). So when we do school work it consists of First language lessons, Handwriting without tears, a lesson in OPG and a math lesson. So now that you know how lax I am I will tell you she is at least a grade ahead in every subject, except handwriting and she is in therapy for fine motor problems.

She loves to learn. Really really loves to learn! For me, that is the point. Over time we will have to get more structured but for now she is learning and loving it so we are happy.:)

[Narrow Gate Academy]

K for us is just phonics, math, writing, and some read-alouds. If your youngest is interested in the rest, then by all means do it. If you need to cut back it's easy to cut out one or two things or change something from daily to 2 or 3 times a week. Not counting piano and PE, one hour a day is plenty for K.

[melissel]

Ah, this is just the thread I needed to read today. Thank you all! :o

[Melmc]

Thanks so much!!!! Really appreciate all of your posts. Now to work on the other two grades!