Friend wants ideas on afterschooling a GS

[kalanamak]

Grandson is 7. She says he is "bright, reads 2 grades above his age, and loves computers". It is a step grandchild she has been very involved with.

I was thinking of suggesting doing read alouds to stretch his mind, a field trip a month (we have plenty of things to do in the area) and then some fun and games with a subject that he is less nimble in, or that the school doesn't do very well: math games, or at age books on history (or history field trips), or science experiments or art time together. Picking one and doing it regularly, rather than jumping about.

What do you think? My friend is energetic and bright, and has three bio GC who are preschoolers. Her daughters are fairly young, and I could picture my friend stepping up to the plate to help the other GC in afterschooling as well, or, if there is a real problem, even homeschooling one of them.

[Cadam]

I would want to be careful not to offend the parents frankly, but since she is grandma and really can't do something systematic like Latin, books, books, and more books, would be my suggestion.

[kalanamak]

I would want to be careful not to offend the parents frankly, but since she is grandma and really can't do something systematic like Latin, books, books, and more books, would be my suggestion.

She won't offend. All four parents work and rely on this educated, beloved and younger-than-me GM to help out with her 3 bio and one step GC.

She's asking for something more systematic. I don't know what is realistic for afterschooling a 7 year old...their stamina, I mean.

[Cadam]

She won't offend. All four parents work and rely on this educated, beloved and younger-than-me GM to help out with her 3 bio and one step GC.

She's asking for something more systematic. I don't know what is realistic for afterschooling a 7 year old...their stamina, I mean.

I guess it would depend on what is missing from his schooling. Often history gets barely mentioned. If this is the case, SOTW makes for fun after-school reading.

If it is good literature he needs then she can use book lists from WTM or Honey for a Child's Heart.

In another year (Or starting now very slowly) she could use Lively Latin (what I have chosen to use with my 8yo, just for full disclosure). I choose it because it is a very simple to use Latin program, but it also includes history, vocabulary/ word study and English grammar at about a 3rd grade level. There is even a little art study. It is basically the humanities in a book.

If Math is lacking then I would suggest Singapore with the HIG because it is excellent but not time consuming.

If she happens to have an Apple computer she should look into Apple Camp for him during the Summer. He might have to wait until he is 9 yo but their programs are fun and excellent. My son has been to 3 or 4 of the classes and had a blast.

[EKS]

RightStart games, Science in a Nutshell kits or Real Science 4 Kids, SOTW with supplemental reading and activities.

[Sara R]

For math, I'd suggest Singapore Primary Math, perhaps combined with Kumon workbooks (available at Barnes and Noble), if the kid doesn't mind workbooks. Singapore is supposed to be challenging, but Kumon is supposed to be easy, to build speed, accuracy, and confidence. Together they are a powerful combination.

Choose Kumon workbooks at a much easier level, perhaps a grade or two below grade level. The question isn't whether or not they already know how to do the work, but can they do it consistently accurately and quickly. My kids are working in 5th grade level Singapore, but they need to practice borrowing so they can do it quickly and accurately. So they are working in the Grade 2 Subtraction Kumon book.

I'm using Kumon workbooks with the neighbor girl I'm tutoring who is struggling with math. She's zooming through those workbooks; she thinks it's fun. Just a month ago she was telling her mom she was stupid at math. Amazing.

[lgm]

What a lovely grandma! Your suggestions are spot on. I would add spelling and penmanship if the school is lacking as these are quick to afterschool and valuable skills to have down the road. If she could introduce him to keeping a diary/journal or making field trip reports, it would helpful to.

For math at this grade level, I'd recommend a combo of Sunshine Math, Singapore Primary Math Challenging Word Problems, and Ed Zacarro's Primary Grade Challenge Math if the school is doing it's basic job. These three resources will challenge him to develop his problem solving abilities. Toothpick, coin, and matchstick puzzles are also fun at this age.
Sunshine Math is here:http://www.stmarknet.com/sunshine_math.htm

Another thing to consider is picking up the Wolf Cub Scout handbook or some 4H materials. They are all inexpensive and don't feel like formal school, but get a lot of learning across by doing.

[LibraryLover]

I would start with an interest of his. If he likes mummies, do a field trip to a museum, read some books, go to the library, do a couple of crafts. If there are zoos or aquariums , or a science museum in your area, I'd get a membership or two and go a lot. Almost all museums etc have enrichment programs for young children that includes their adults.

As far as stamina, he will mostly likely have homework, so I'd focus more on playing chess or checkers or boggle, going on interesting field trips, reading books, attending plays or concerts etc together rather than have him write etc.

[mich311e]

For math, I'd suggest Singapore Primary Math, perhaps combined with Kumon workbooks (available at Barnes and Noble), if the kid doesn't mind workbooks. Singapore is supposed to be challenging, but Kumon is supposed to be easy, to build speed, accuracy, and confidence. Together they are a powerful combination.

Choose Kumon workbooks at a much easier level, perhaps a grade or two below grade level. The question isn't whether or not they already know how to do the work, but can they do it consistently accurately and quickly. My kids are working in 5th grade level Singapore, but they need to practice borrowing so they can do it quickly and accurately. So they are working in the Grade 2 Subtraction Kumon book.

I'm using Kumon workbooks with the neighbor girl I'm tutoring who is struggling with math. She's zooming through those workbooks; she thinks it's fun. Just a month ago she was telling her mom she was stupid at math. Amazing.

Thank you Sara R for this. I've been afterschooling with Singapore Essential Math with my son. But I was thinking of trying something like Kumon (my best friends kid goes to Kumon, she says it makes a big difference for her kid's learning) but wasn't sure I wanted to pay for going to the center.

I picked up one Kumon math workbook on clearance at Target. I think I'll get more! :-)

[Sara R]

Check out this thread too: Is there a curriculum to mimic the Kumon method? (http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?t=137676&)

I've never used real Kumon; there isn't any in our area, and we couldn't afford it anyway.

[RanchGirl]

If the child is behind in school in a subject, I would start with that. But otherwise, I would do as a previous poster mentioned and ask the kid what he or she wants to learn about and then go crazy on that with books, field trips, art projects, cooking, lapbooking/notebooking, making a video, etc. Kids learn so much more when they are interested in the topic and it might help the child find a passion --- animals, music, an era in history, another culture, a language, cooking, etc. Personally, I would avoid adding a workbook type program for a child already in school many hours per day, unless the child asked for it. Reading a lot and pursuing more "fun" stuff would be my preference.