Is there anything like this for K?

[Another Lynn]

I have a 5yo dd. She's doing well with phonics, math, and copywork. Many times she sits in on her older brother's FLL1/2. She has also memorized some poetry. She has definitely made progress in all these areas and is doing acceptably well. Sometimes I read specifically to her and sometimes I read something to everyone at the same time (possibly over her head). I don't really need a whole Kindergarten program, but I feel like I need something to force me to read to her more and to interact with her more and help her comprehension/ word meaning/ listening/ skills - really all language skills. She just seems lacking in these areas and while there is some opportunity to work on them in the course of everyday life, it doesn't seem like enough.

So.... FIAR comes to mind, but I used to have Before FIAR and it seemed very contrived. Any other ideas or suggestions? I also toyed with the idea of WP's Journey of Imagination, although it seems silly in a way to buy when I already have books I could use... but maybe it would give me structure and discipline I lack on my own....

Thanks!

[one l michele]

I'm using ETC, Developing the Early Learner, and Sonlight/Honey for a Child's Heart books with my K-4'er (he's finished the Horizon Pre-K stuff and I'm holding off on writing/taking a break from math to do DEL).

It's not that it's difficult to teach K, but I too needed some more structure then winging it each day. I also have a flow chart for school and each day I have my little guy in there so he doesn't get squeezed out or made less of a priority than my older two.

[KJB]

This year I have a 12 yo dd, 9 yo ds, and 5 yo ds doing school work. (I also have two little girls ages 3 and 4 mos, fwiw.)

Every day, in addition to his math and handwriting, ds and I sit on the comfy couch and do Phonics Pathways followed by reading a page of history from the Usborne First History Encyclopedia and a page from the Usborne First Science Encyclopedia. Then he picks a couple picture books for me to read to him and a reader for him to read to me.

Anyway, the Usborne First books have been a terrific springboard to many topics of discussion. He's been very briefly introduced to world history and many science concepts. Just reading non-fiction to him has had a great impact on his vocabulary and knowledge base. I usually have him narrate back to me what we've read informally. I don't call it "narration" nor do I pressure him about it; I just let him tell me what he learned and we talk about it.

[angela in ohio]

I have two suggestions. One is Ruth Beechick's Language and Thinking for Young Children. It will give you some great ideas in this area. The other is Veritas Press' First Favorites - beginner comprehension guides for some really great books.

[mom31257]

I have picked up extra readers here and there, especially at our thrift store. I think there must be Christian school parents and other homeschool moms who donate things. I have him read out of those every day. I got some Abeka Kindergarten and first grade readers really cheap.

When we go to the library, about once each week, he always gets to pick books. I also pick some, along with finding non-fiction to read to him. I try to find non-fiction that will be short enough for him to enjoy and fitting into a topic of current study. I put reading on the couch on his school list so I'll remember to do it. I like to check off lists, so that helps me.

[Amber in AUS]

If you already have great books on your shelf you could look at the lists on Homeschool Share and see if any are there. You could then use a FIAR style approach to those books without spending money on the FIAR manual as the activities are all listed.

In our house we are using B4FIAR for DS who is almost 3. We are using FIAR for DD 4.5. We don't row every week and we don't row day after day we do our own thing with the info they give in the manual it helps me with what to focus on for that reading. We also throw in cutting and pasting for motor skills and other pretty normal K age stuff but link it to the book of the moment.

KJB thanks for the tip on the Usborne First books i must read more non-fiction to my kiddos.

[laughing lioness]

Have you looked at IEW's Language Aquisition Through Poetry Memorization? There is a book and CD. My 5 yo LOVES it! (as do the rest of us :))

[LadyAberlin]

What about Peak with Books or Picture book preschool? I also used just the reading and comprehension questions in Hewitt homeschooling Preschool Plus.

[Calming Tea]

1. For precisely what you are asking for, Ruth Beechick's Language and Thinking for YOung Children would be perfect. At first glance it may seem unnecessary or silly, but it's a wonderful way to really advance the exact skills the title mentions- and it's exactly what you are looking for.

2. But if for some reason you really can't get into the idea of it, then you may want to give Five in a Row another try. I liked b4fiar, but I too found it contrived a bit. However I did not feel at all that way about FIAR.

Your dd may enjoy FIAR more than Language and Thinking, but FIAR will be a lot more work for you to get the library books, pull them together, do a craft here and there, and keep a notebook. It would help a lot with discussion and observation, and learning literary terms, and a LOT of vocabulary.

But Ruth Beechick's book takes less time and helps with safety, vocabulary, memorizing name, phone number, address, how to tell directions to others, and listen to directions carefully, how to read books and observe very specific things, and a whole lot more. It does require some amount of work from mom, but less than FIAR.

They're both great- they're just very different.

[Veritaserum]

I'm doing FLL 1/2 with my 4-yo (skipping writing sections that are too hard for her). She's enjoying memorizing and answering questions about little stories. :) I'm going to start working through the Core Knowledge PreK with her as well.

[Another Lynn]

Thank you all so much for some great ideas! I will take a look at First Favorites and at Beechek's Language and Thinking and give FIAR another look (thanks, Calming Tea, for the great comparison!) and Peak with Books.

We are already doing IEW's Poetry Memorization - I agree it's great. She's loves to do it too.

Michele - thanks for reminding me of the loop concept - it doesn't work quite the way it should here, but I think it would help if I put her first thing in the morning. Also, we're doing the pre-code books and she's doing well.

Thanks, KJB, for the ideas about Usborne and nonfiction reads.

I really appreciate all the input!

[Emilylou]

Not sure if you are looking for a Christian based program
Check out Little Hearts for His Glory~ Hearts of Dakota.
Great read aloud's, and you just incorporate the math, phonics you are doing.
We love it and it helps me keep focused to do age appropriate things with my son. The activities are quick, simple and require very little prep or anything outside your average household items.
HTH

[laurad1125]

I have two suggestions. One is Ruth Beechick's Language and Thinking for Young Children. It will give you some great ideas in this area. The other is Veritas Press' First Favorites - beginner comprehension guides for some really great books.
:iagree: