Our 2016-2017 Kindergarten Curriculum Choices

This year, Kaleb will be finally joining our homeschool adventure. He went to Pre K last year and now he is ready to begin kindergarten. I thought long and hard about what to choose for him because of the type of learner he is, as well as the fact that he is a boy! All boy! Also, we have an important family change coming up and I was looking for something relatively easy - open and go. I am already finding that open and go doesn't really exist for me but it was worth a try:) Here is what we are working through for kindergarten.

Because of our recent trip to close our apartment overseas, I had access to my several programs that I worked with J when she was younger.  I truly wanted to chose Sonlight K for Kaleb this year but I was concerned about the intense reading schedule. I wasn't sure he could sit so long with the chapter books. So, I decided to use the Winter Promise Pre K/K program - I'm Ready to Learn and Journeys of Imagination together. Journeys has four thematic units - farm, pond, garden, and zoo. I am still upgrading the program with a ton of library books and activities. I was truly hoping to open and go but it just isn't in my make-up.

For Math, I chose a hands-on program Primer and Alpha by Math-U-See. For this program, Kaleb has the math blocks and the videos to complete the set. I decided to start with the Primer to ensure that Kaleb with have a strong background in math.

For Reading, had planned on starting with All About Reading Level I but after a week, it didn't seem like he was "getting" it. So, I decided to go to All About Reading Primer level. Kaleb truly knows all of his letters and sounds but he just isn't putting them together to form words. Rather than have him get frustrated, I would rather reinforce the letter sounds and such.

For handwriting, Kaleb will be working through Letters and Numbers for Me by Handwriting without Tears. I also have the mini chalkboard and the wooden letter pieces.

He is also working through Get Ready for the Code books A, B, and C. These are a great addition to his reading program as well as adding handwriting.

I also purchased the set of Developing the Early Learner books, just in case he finishes Get Ready for the Code. Not sure if he will get to this but I have it on hand. We will also be using a ton of books from the library for every unit. Already, I have reserved over 50 farm books...I couldn't help myself!

Lastly, I am hoping to work in a unit on Nursery Rhymes using Literature Pockets. I feel nursery rhymes are important for a variety of reasons. I hope that we will be able to get to it. Science and Social Studies will come from our studies with each Winter Promise Unit.

So, we will see how it goes. I stressed all summer over these choices for Kaleb. I worried about the program from Winter Promise - if it was too easy for him. But I truly wanted a program to open and go. I will definitely go back to Sonlight K - probably next year because I love Sonlight and their book choices. J and I have loved all of their literature and I know Kaleb will too. See you soon.