I appreciate all these tips! I'd like to add that for kids who have ADHD, getting distracted is not a choice, and starting with hard subjects can make it very hard to get started. With my 2e ADHD kiddo, we start with his favorite subject (history) and alternate easy/hard/movement break until we get done! But of course, every child is different. :)
Yes, starting with challenging subject works for many who have more brain energy early in the day, but alternating subjects is also a great motivational strategy and one I employ as well. We often have to experiment with routines to find what works effectively with a specific student and family rhythm--I've always been the type who wants to get the hard work done early so I can have easier afternoons, ha! With ADHD, perhaps getting distracted in the first place isn't a choice, but what you DO with that distraction is still a choice--ADHD doesn't take away a person's agency and ability to choose, though will make some life management skills tougher to learn but as important as ever. We also have ADHD and "quirky" brain-wiring in our family, but I always support skill-building when it comes to learning to work with our brain's natural quirks of wiring. Just a week or two ago, a 7 year old friend of my son's explained her ADHD by saying, "I have a disease that makes me not listen to the teacher." --I lean towards thinking that that's not the most helpful understanding of ADHD for kids to have, but more of an understand that with a brain that works differently, they will need to work hard, build skills, and find different strategies that will help them thrive WITH their unique brains.
I love what you said about instilling good habits in our children from the very beginning. This is so important. I do believe setting expectations, even with our youngest learners, is very wise and helps curb so many negative behaviors down the line. My kids don't complain much at all about school because it is something that has been ingrained in them from very young. My youngest is 2nd grade (although my special needs son is at the K level) but I have loved and used many of the resources you mentioned in this video for Kindergarten, including AAR, Explode the Code & Math U See. As a mom who has taught Kinder four times, you can't beat the phonics, math & handwriting curriculum of your choice plus Curious Kinder. I am still trying to figure out the "content subjects" for my little guys this year and I am leaning heavily towards just doing Curious Kinder with them and holding off on the other stuff I was planning to do with them. The more I look at Curious Kinder the more I want to just do it in full with them. Since they are older, I think I might be able to do it in two days per week and also throw in the Adventures in Creation from Masterbooks with them the other two days. I don't know...I am still contemplating what I want to do. :) But if I had a Kinder student, there is no doubt it would be AAR (or Logic of English, depending on the student)/Explode the Code, Math U See Primer, Handwriting without Tears K and Curious Kinder!!!
Your Kinder line up pretty much exactly describes my plans for my next Kindergarten student--with Math with Confidence thrown in for extra math fun (I think the oldest's love of numbers is starting to rub off on #2 although he doesn't quite match #1's enthusiasm at this point). And yes--beginning early with expectations and habits that school is simply not something we complain about and is something we bring our best effort to helps a lot--it's something I've already seen the fruit of and I'm glad I started early.
I prefer skill subjects at this age and teach a lot of other stuff thru play!!! We do knowledge of the world around them thru play and life!!! We teach German from pre school and we do bible!!! My kids can’t do math or reading for an hour at this age!!! My older kids said they did at this age at public school and hated it!!! I have teenagers who sometimes get out their math blocks but they don’t use them as often as they used to!!! I didn’t record as much as I do now I have to!!!
Great video as always! I really appreciate the focus you put on things like clear expectations, self-discipline, good attitudes and habits, and hard work. They are not always as exciting to think about as what new curriculum we get to use, but are probably some of the most important things we can teach our kids!
I mean, I get as excited as the next girl about fun new curriculum--but truly, the hard work put into laying the foundation of a worldview that values others, that values self-discipline, speaks respectfully, handles disagreements skillfully....this is where the rubber meets the road. We might think we're teaching phonics or addition and subtraction but in the midst of all that we actually have many opportunities to teach these crucially important life skills.
I appreciate all these tips! I'd like to add that for kids who have ADHD, getting distracted is not a choice, and starting with hard subjects can make it very hard to get started. With my 2e ADHD kiddo, we start with his favorite subject (history) and alternate easy/hard/movement break until we get done! But of course, every child is different. :)
Yes, starting with challenging subject works for many who have more brain energy early in the day, but alternating subjects is also a great motivational strategy and one I employ as well. We often have to experiment with routines to find what works effectively with a specific student and family rhythm--I've always been the type who wants to get the hard work done early so I can have easier afternoons, ha!
With ADHD, perhaps getting distracted in the first place isn't a choice, but what you DO with that distraction is still a choice--ADHD doesn't take away a person's agency and ability to choose, though will make some life management skills tougher to learn but as important as ever. We also have ADHD and "quirky" brain-wiring in our family, but I always support skill-building when it comes to learning to work with our brain's natural quirks of wiring. Just a week or two ago, a 7 year old friend of my son's explained her ADHD by saying, "I have a disease that makes me not listen to the teacher." --I lean towards thinking that that's not the most helpful understanding of ADHD for kids to have, but more of an understand that with a brain that works differently, they will need to work hard, build skills, and find different strategies that will help them thrive WITH their unique brains.
I love what you said about instilling good habits in our children from the very beginning. This is so important. I do believe setting expectations, even with our youngest learners, is very wise and helps curb so many negative behaviors down the line. My kids don't complain much at all about school because it is something that has been ingrained in them from very young.
My youngest is 2nd grade (although my special needs son is at the K level) but I have loved and used many of the resources you mentioned in this video for Kindergarten, including AAR, Explode the Code & Math U See. As a mom who has taught Kinder four times, you can't beat the phonics, math & handwriting curriculum of your choice plus Curious Kinder. I am still trying to figure out the "content subjects" for my little guys this year and I am leaning heavily towards just doing Curious Kinder with them and holding off on the other stuff I was planning to do with them. The more I look at Curious Kinder the more I want to just do it in full with them. Since they are older, I think I might be able to do it in two days per week and also throw in the Adventures in Creation from Masterbooks with them the other two days. I don't know...I am still contemplating what I want to do. :) But if I had a Kinder student, there is no doubt it would be AAR (or Logic of English, depending on the student)/Explode the Code, Math U See Primer, Handwriting without Tears K and Curious Kinder!!!
Your Kinder line up pretty much exactly describes my plans for my next Kindergarten student--with Math with Confidence thrown in for extra math fun (I think the oldest's love of numbers is starting to rub off on #2 although he doesn't quite match #1's enthusiasm at this point).
And yes--beginning early with expectations and habits that school is simply not something we complain about and is something we bring our best effort to helps a lot--it's something I've already seen the fruit of and I'm glad I started early.
Thank you!! This is the most realistic and helpful video I’ve found as a first time homeschooler.
Oh I'm so glad! That's exactly my goal!
I prefer skill subjects at this age and teach a lot of other stuff thru play!!! We do knowledge of the world around them thru play and life!!! We teach German from pre school and we do bible!!! My kids can’t do math or reading for an hour at this age!!! My older kids said they did at this age at public school and hated it!!! I have teenagers who sometimes get out their math blocks but they don’t use them as often as they used to!!! I didn’t record as much as I do now I have to!!!
Yes--hour-long lessons are definitely not needed--it's amazing what can be accomplished through short, daily, consistent lessons.
Great video, I love how encouraging it is.
I'm so glad--encouraging is definitely my aim!
Great video as always! I really appreciate the focus you put on things like clear expectations, self-discipline, good attitudes and habits, and hard work. They are not always as exciting to think about as what new curriculum we get to use, but are probably some of the most important things we can teach our kids!
I mean, I get as excited as the next girl about fun new curriculum--but truly, the hard work put into laying the foundation of a worldview that values others, that values self-discipline, speaks respectfully, handles disagreements skillfully....this is where the rubber meets the road. We might think we're teaching phonics or addition and subtraction but in the midst of all that we actually have many opportunities to teach these crucially important life skills.