This post is in response to a question I received. “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?”

I wrote such a long reply, that I just decided to publish it as a post. -Dominica

The Well Trained Mind doesn’t provide a real kindergarten curriculum (the book Slow and Steady Get Me Ready was suggested) 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 with facts. 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. Don’t forget to add some time for socialization….moms need it just as much (if not more) than the kids.

Addendum: Materials I’m using for Kindergarten:

Comprehensive Big Kindergarten workbook

Writing tablet and scrap paper (for penmanship): I like for the kids to copy short verses, poems, or prayers. (They can decorate it if they like). We keep the back sides of used paper for scrap paper.

Children’s Bible (If you’re Orthodox, I like the Children’s Bible Reader,and A Sacred History)

Child’s Paradise of Saints (Orthodox child friendly lives of the saints)

Law of God (Orthodox basic catechism)

Singapore Math 1 (I skip the Kindergarten version and just go slow through first grade ….it repeats)

Reading: With my oldest, I started with 3 to 4 boxes of Bob Books then I start Phonics Pathways and level 1 readers (any brand of readers). Phonics pathways is boring but it works. I used it two to three times a week for Kindergarten. Sarah followed this pattern, but has moved faster.