Comments on: Using The Well Trained Mind

By: Dominica

Dominica — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 19:50:56 +0000

Every student is different. One of the problems with the public school system, is that teachers have to pretty much treat students the same. I think the “professional” term for this is called leveling. I would offer this one last bit of information that you might find useful. Hand I motor skills do not develop at the same time as a child’s mental ability. It is not unusual for a very bright child below the age of seven to have difficulty with writing. Plug away at it, but don’t frustrate him. It will come.

By: Chrissy

Chrissy — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 18:51:28 +0000

Thank you! I guess sometimes we need a reminder that our kids are different than public school kids and in the long run it’ll be better. Hunter is a great math student but struggles so much with writing, I work on that the most with him everyday.

By: Dominica

Dominica — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 05:53:27 +0000

Chrissy,
Katherine is now in 3rd grade. Sarah is in kindergarten, but does some work at the first grade level (the advantages of being in the room listening to her older sister being schooled). I would encourage you to move at his pace without worrying to much about what the public school kids are doing. On the surface, public school kids know more about American history than Katherine. However, it’s not a fair comparison. I started teaching history with the ancients and moved in chronological order. Public school kids study American history immediately. If you can’t help but worry and you want to know if he has caught up, I might suggest buying one of the “what your child should know” by 1st grade books. Or you could have him work through one of the big comprehensive 1st grade workbooks. It may also help to know that kindergarten and 1st grade repeat much of the same information.
Finally, every child is different. Boys are very different from girls. If you can play up his strengths, and work on his weaknesses, he’ll do fine. Katherine is a much better reader than math student. I’ve let her move at her own pace in reading (she’s reading around the 6th grade level) while helping her to improve in math (she has to work hard to stay at the 3rd grade level). I want to help my kids develop into loving, well rounded, people. School is only one portion of the goal. I am posting a previous comment. Perhaps it will also help.

By: Chrissy

Chrissy — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 18:22:53 +0000

How old is your daughter Katherine? What grade level is she in? My son is in 1st grade but I don’t necessarily follow the school year…He did not do well in public school kindergarten so I’ve had to reteach him a lot of the basics. I’m just wondering how far behind or if he is caught up at all with other 1st graders. Thanks!

By: Dominica

Dominica — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 03:22:39 +0000

The Well Trained Mind doesn’t provide a real curriculum (she suggested the book Slow and Steady Get Me Ready) for pre-k to K. Many first time home-schoolers want to start with Kindergarten and not first grade. I was no different. I started our first daughter at 4.5 with pre-k. At 3 years old I had taught her to recognize one letter a week. By 4 she knew the sounds of the letters. At 4.5 I was ready to teach her to read……..she wasn’t ready! It was a struggle. There were tears and frustration. I followed the advise of more experienced home-schoolers and put it away for a while. I tried again at 5, and she flew right threw it (and hasn’t put down a book since). So when daughter #2 turned 3 and started asking for pre-school. I said NO…she kept asking until I agreed to start when she was 4. When she turned 4, she asked again, but I was busy and would do a little then put her off. I was determined to start at 5. One day Sarah (still a new 4) brought me a Bob book (highly recommended) and told me that she had read it. I hadn’t really worked much with Sarah on her letters, and I thought she was just prattling. She sat down and read the book to me. I was stunned. She taught herself to read a simple book, because I was waiting to long. She had been in the room while I taught Katherine, and she picked up more than I thought. I tell this long story in order to illustrate the importance of watching your child’s signals. It will be different from child to child even in the same family.

Now to really answer YOUR question. I really began formal schooling with both Katherine and Sarah with Kindergarten (4 days a week no more than 2 hours total). They were both ready at 5 (I think girls are ready a little faster than boys…but I only have girls so I may be wrong). For Kindergarten I focused on reading, writing, and math for Katherine. In addition, I had her work through one of the giant comprehensive Kindergarten workbooks that you can buy at Sams or Costco. For Sarah I am doing the same (reading, writing, math, workbook), but adding Orthodoxy (our religion) and “Electives”. I added Orthodoxy, because kids love stories. Bible stories and lives of the saints work for religious instruction for this age. I added electives because developing gross and fine motor skills are important at this age. I chose the word “electives”, because I didn’t want to commit to teaching some artsy crafty project each day. I’m not really artsy. Instead I can teach cooking, gardening, science, history, music, art, safety, gymnastics, etc.
Here are some other useful things I’ve learned (on poor Katherine!) about teaching Kindergarten. It should be fun and not stressful for the child…or parent. Don’t expect them to focus more than 15 minutes at a time on a subject. Leave them wanting more! Do not set a goal of finishing this lesson or page….it probably will end in tears. If the child starts getting frustrated, just tell them the answer. You need to end in success. This is the time when we are filling their brains. We may have to put the answer into their brains several times, before it comes back out. Tomorrow they may forget everything and, we might have to do it again. Put something physical between “subjects”. If we sit and read for 15 minutes, we might do 10 jumping jacks, then play piano. It might be school, but I want it to look like fun. Not everything has to be fun, but overall learning shouldn’t be torment.
Finally, each kid is different. Each kid is different. Each kid is different. Sarah just completed her kindergarten workbook, she can write, she can read, she can do kindergarten math. She has had the advantage of being the younger sister and listening to school. I am cautiously moving her forward with her reading, writing, and math. However, she is in kindergarten regardless of the fact that she is doing some first grade work. She will not do the history or science that begins in first grade. First grade is when we really do begin the Well Trained Mind Curriculum. Until then, we just focus on the basics.

By: Sana

Sana — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 22:03:30 +0000

Hi, could you please tell me what your routine is with your 5 year old and what you teach her, including any books that you use (apart from the ones you have mentioned already. At what age did you start to teach your daughter using a ‘proper’ curriculum?
Thank you, your site is great!