(If you are new here, scroll down to 'Let's Get Started'  to start at the beginning.  Begin on the state your child is at)



Your child is reading now,

YEAH!!

Reading on their own, with little help from you, is a great start.

But we can still do more...

Why put your child through the work of sounding out each new word they come upon.  Sure, sounding out words is something you need to do in just about every subject, but some words, lets face it, they're sight words!  Why not give sight words a stack in the games?

You can find many lists online, but if you want to just go by list, I have made a list of the most common words:

Note, the words I have here are from kindergarten lists.  These are what students are learning in kindergarten, so do not stress on how difficult some are, whether they learn them or not they will be more than ready to start K. (whether you're doing it at home or public/private school)

Start with two or three words at  a time.  As they learn them, add a few more.  Throwing this many new cards will overwhelm your child.  Gradually introduce the words, and watch their little minds absorb!  I have started off with some easier ones first.  After they learn that list,  move on to the next list and gradually work in words from that list.  I have separated the lists into categories.  Once they are done with one list, move onto the next list.  Although  they are not separated so much by difficulty, I did try to include the easier ones first.  Just make sure to keep the easier words in the stack until you are sure they know the words. 
Review is the key here.

a   an   am   all   any   play   at  and   are   can   do   for   go  has   have   he   in   I   will   I  is   it  no   so  the   to  up  we  on   me   be   you  was   of    or   when    off   air  by   out  well   now   our  

 
 

here   there   their  like   look   my      said   see    with      she   that      yes  good   tall   her   they   want  must     into     what   went that   too   who   hour  could   would  call  small   should   found   new   say   way  eat  than  were  part   down   sound   which

little   under       saw   soon     this   ate        they   four   black   ride   there   brown   white   which   been   first    such   great   about   people   even   long   used   same  only   very   much      one  two  three over     old  young  girl   boy  add   food   

  


things   came   from   other   many   most   also   where   were   into   time     made   make   water   say   help   line   right   mean       small   large   went    try   kind   hand  
before   use  work   back  take   show   farm    house   point    still   learn     




through   because      year   came   know   another   around   work   back  take   place   sentence   think   follow   land   different   home   move   picture   again   change  away   animal  page   letter   mother   answer      study  America   world   high   every   near   between   own   below   country   school   father   keep  

 tree   never   start   city   earth   eye   light   thought   head   under   story   left   don't   few   while   along   might   close   something   seem   next   hard   open   example   begin   life   always   those   both   paper   together   group   often   important   until   children   side   feet   car   mile   night   walk   mile  night  

sea   began  grow   took   river   carry   state   once   book   hear   stop   without   second   miss   idea  enough   watch   far   Indian   above   girl   mountain   soon   song   leave   family   afternoon   pretty


Worried about math?
I wouldn't worry about writing problems out just yet, but reviewing story problems can be fun.  Just remember to keep reviewing the addition and subtraction facts in board games.   

Below is a textbook, available online, from the late 1800's.  It begins with story problems, and writing is not necessary.  These will give you ideas as well, story problems you can use while in line at the grocery store, or even on long car rides.
An example:
I have 2 cheeseburgers,  I eat one, how many are left?

Your child will not even know they are doing math!
It really is that easy.
https://archive.org/stream/raysnewprimarya00raygoog#page/n10/mode/2up

Start on lesson 7. 
Remember to move at your child's pace.  This book moves very quickly so there is no need to rush.  Do not worry about writing problems out just yet.

I will leave you with this.  Work on the story sight words and begin to work with the story problems for math.  The math can be used anywhere, which will make it fun.  An idea for sight words, and to incorporate spelling, is, "h-a-t, what word is that?"  It's a fun game, and they will learn to spell with out even knowing it!  Both are great for long car rides.

Happy Homeschooling!

Stage 3: Now that you are reading...

Your child is reading now, congratulations!  It is time to move onto the next step.  If your child has not quite grasped sounding out words, do not feel a need to rush.  This will come with time.  There is no need to move on.

In this next step you have a series of options open to you.

You can use the library.

There are plenty of phonic level readers there that will be perfect for your child's interest.

Bob books, (purchase/library)

These phonics, level reader books are also perfect and very reasonably priced.

We are going to use Mcduffey Readers.  These are older books, free online.  The reason I am using these books is because of how they work.  Let me explain.

Years ago, our educational system was not 'dumbed down'.  Things were not 'simple' to keep up with the rest of the class.  You simply learned the material, struggled through it, and got it.  Books were not boring, they were challenging.  They progressed quickly.

I will use this example:

This is from book 5 in the 'Bob' series.  They are working on long vowels.

Here is an example from McGuffey, lesson 25, of the primer.

LESSON XXV.--REVIEW.
Come, boys, and feed the cows. The sun has set, and they are at the barn.
Sue has a bell on the neck of her pet cat.
One hot day Ann and Nell sat on the grass in the shade of a big tree. They like to rock their dolls, and sing to them.
The brave men in our boat are on their way to the ship. They will save the men in the ship, if they can. They will not let them drown.
What bird has big eyes? The owl. Can an owl see at night? Yes, an owl can see best at night.

 The first one is from book 5 in a series.  Bob books were not meant to go through... in one month!  This is lesson 25.  This means that is the students second (or so) month of school.  Already they are at this point, not learning one simple sound at a time, but multiple sounds, all at once.

My point, there is no need to dumb down your child's education.  Start where they are, slow down when you need to, but welcome the challenges.  You'll be surprised how fast they go!

Now, I ask you to go to this site and download the pdf for primer.

http://www.learn-to-read-prince-george.com/McGuffey-readers.html

Start with lesson one and move on.  Pay attention to the sight words listed.  You can also use these as vocabulary words and if there are any your child finds challenging, put them on the index cards. 

This is also a good time to start making phonics cards.  Write down anything you can find.  They do not necessarily have to be a phonics term, just anything your child may need review on.  Here are a few:

ar   er   ew  sh  ch  st   th  ow  ph  oa ee  ing   oo  ice  y at the end says ee
when there is an e at the end, the vowel says its name
one consonant, vowel is long, two, short (example timing, vs. timming)
ir  ur   aught   ough   ace

These are just to name a few.  Put in as many as you can come  up with. 

You have a choice here.  You are going to begin accumulating a lot of cards, many of which will be different subjects.  There are several options.

Shuffle them

It is always fun to see what subject you will get

If you land on red, you  choose from the math pile, yellow sight words, etc.

If you have older children, make cards for them and play Monopoly.  Each color represents a stack to draw from.  If you get it right you have the option of buying a house for that space.  A house is the same price as the same amount as on the space.  (rent is the same, however)  When they get 4 houses, they automatically get upgraded to a hotel.  (There just aren't enough houses!  ha!)

Another reminder, try not to tell your child the words, have them sound it out.  Of course you don't want to have them sound out every word.  But start with certain sounds.

An example would be lesson 7

Your child is introduced to 'ee' in see, and 'fr' frog.

You have two choices here:
1. Tell them the word, after all it is a small word.  For the most part, a sight word.
2. 'ee' says eeee, sound it out.   'fr' says fr, sound it out.

The second one teaches independence.  When you are not there they know they will need to sound out words, and not rely on you so much.  I, personally, would go with the latter.


Now I know many are saying, "what about writing?"  Writing will come eventually, and will be taught when your child has the coordination to hold a pen or pencil more easily.  At around age 7, your child's coordination will be better.  That letter 'B' you spent countless hours on at age 5, by 7 he or she will probably be writing it by him or herself with little help from you.
It doesn't hurt to wait.

Leaning on the classical, I take advantage of this age of curiosity!  Fill them up with information while their little minds soak it in.  Give them a good grasp on reading and math.  If they want to, feel free to let them write.  But writing will come more naturally when your child is older.  Why waste so many hours?

For math, continue with the math games.  Also start to introduce them to the idea of   1+1=2   Introduce them a  little at a time, but continue the story problem questions you present to them. 

Do not have child write them out. 

There is a different plan for this.  First I want them to get a good grasp on addition.  If you would like to introduce your child to subtraction at the same time, go for it!  Just make it exciting and fun and watch as their little minds soak it up.

I leave you with this.  By now you should be set to start your reading adventure!!
Just remember, there is no need to rush.  If your child is running into issues with more than one word, perhaps it may be a good idea to review those words and read the same story the following day.  If the story is too overwhelming or long for your child, break it into paragraphs.  Read one paragraph the first day.  The next day you can read the first and second, the next day tack on the third and so on..

Don't forget to continue to read to your child. 

Join me again, and I will lead you through the next stage of math.
Happy Homeschooling!


*************If your child is not yet reading, scroll further down to 'older posts' and click there.  It will go all the way to learning letters, and make your way up.  Sorry about this!  When I wrote this, I had no idea it would be this long, LOL*****************








Stage 2: Does your child already know ther phonics?

Do not worry about the numbers so much.  Just keep reviewing.  If your child has already learned them, I will give you a few ideas later in this stage.  The goal is not to overwhelm.  If your child isn't ready, they are not ready.  Even if they think they are.

I will tell you another story.  I started the ABC board when my oldest was 4...it may had been 3 going on 4.  She really wanted to read.  I told her she was too young, but she wanted to read now!  So I studied classical learning and found children's minds are like sponges.  She quickly picked it up.   She learned all her phonics, every letter- by all standards she was ready to move to the next step...

Proud mommy!

We sounded out, just like you see in all the models c-a-t.
She responded c-a-t.   She did not respond cat.  The letters did no connect at all!  It was very frustrating, for her and me.  She wasn't ready.  She was only 4, and although she wanted to learn to read, she just wasn't ready!  She became frustrated, I became frustrated, until one day I just put my foot down.  I refused to teach her.  She was furious!!  I bought her the educational toys, but they didn't work for her.  Than I came upon the 'Leap Frog' DVD's.  And it clicked!

Now, even if your child picks up sounding out, these DVD's will definitely be a good investment.

I believe the cover may have changed recently, but the DVD should be the same.  After a few weeks of watching this this DVD, which was one of her favorites, it just clicked!  She was ready!:)

I am leaving you here with reading.  If your child catches on, that is great!  Practice sounding out simple words.  If not, allow them to pick up at their own pace.  When they are ready, it will come. 

For those that are going to kindergarten, practice the board regularly. morning, nap/break, and bedtime.  Make it fun, no pressure.  They will pick it up and be excited as they move on.

Remember, you are homeschooling.  Your child CAN NOT  be behind.  They are where they should be.  In Finland, they don't start school till age 7.  Yet, their education far exceeds ours.  There are unschoolers that don't learn to read till age 11, and I'm not saying you should wait that long, but in one year they catch up to their peers.  Read to them, encourage them, it will come.  Best of all, studies show that kids that aren't rushed into reading enjoy  it more.

Have Fun!

Now... about the numbers.

If your child has still not finished the number board, that is okay.  They can still participate in this.  After all, the point here is to absorb.  They can understand it later.

When my children were younger we had a wagon, a stroller with my oldest.  I would walk to a local college campus.  We had all the sprinkler systems memorized! ;)  Long story short, I would quiz them along the way.  1+1= __   When they got the answer right I would take off running, pop a wheelie in the stroller.  They loved it!!  They were just having fun.   Without knowing it, they were learning.  Review is the key here. 

Pull out some yogurt covered raisins, m n m's , and count.  Take a few away, how many now?

When they get an answer right, they win the candy/fruit. 

Teaching right or left.

Hokey Pokey

Aerobics

Yes, surprisingly, kids love to copy their parents, and aerobics is no different.  Kick to the left, kick to the right. 

I see (in the car)

I see a something green on my right....

They will learn with out knowing it.

And that is where I will leave you.  Remember to always to put their newly learned concepts on index cards.  These will be excellent cards to review during board games.  Grandparents will love playing and seeing what the children are learning as well ;)  .  Also, put the letters and phonics letters on index cards as well.  Review is very important and if you do not continue to review, because they are not using them right now, they will forget.

Another story.

My second child wasn't all that motivated to read.  That may have been the reason why she wasn't picking up the phonics very fast.  I went through the chart.  I did everything!  She didn't get it.  I decided not to review letters, I would just relax.  In a few months, she'll get it.

She forgot nearly everything!!

Six months later, we had to start, nearly from scratch! 

Review

Review

Review

Just make it fun.  It is always fun to have a few easy questions in board games.  If your child gets tired of board games, change boards, start using dice.  They will need to count the dots and inadvertently learn to add.  You can throw in a jelly bean or peanut for each answer they get correct. 

If they get it wrong, encourage them not to worry.  Put that card at the top of the pile so the next time they can answer that one again.  Continue this till they get it right.  Then, place the card under a few more cards so they can continue it till they get it right.  They always have that second chance.

Alright, I'm leaving you with that. 

Remember to have fun!!

Let's Get Started!

There is no starting age to begin teaching.  The children do not even have to have a desire to learn to read or do math.  Make it fun and they will absorb the information!  Understanding will come later.

Unless you're in a state that has trouble minding their own business, I suggest you wait till kids are around 7 or so to teach writing.  At this age, they have pretty much already taught themselves and it will be much less of a headache for you and them both.  Get the reading and math portion started, the rest will be easy!  If you plan on enrolling them into kindergarten, however, just be patient.  At that age they do not have the fine motor skills to be writing, so it can be a very frustrating experience.


Step 1:
Purchase 2 poster boards, white.
Purchase markers, all same colors, that you can write with.  This is important, they must be the same colors!  Otherwise they will associate the colors, not the letters.

On the first one, write the entire alphabet   Aa  Bb  Cc  Dd.... and so on.  Line them up neatly, and hang on the wall in childs bedroom.

For the number one do 1  2  3  4 ....  all the way to 100.

Practice counting throughout the day.  When your child wakes up, takes a nap and goes to bed, excitedly say you're going to do your letters and numbers.  At first, you may only be doing the first few letters.  Always start off with "A .. B....C..."  say it with them, and when you can see they're saying it with you, move on to more.

Never, and I mean NEVER sing the song.  The song means nothing, and will only confuse them.  They are not reading, they are singing a silly song that means nothing until they start alphabetizing.  They need to learn to read.

Do the same with numbers.

When you get to Z, have them say the letters alone, with no help from you.  Get excited, and have fun!:)  Each step is a graduation.  When they finish this, say together, "Big A, little a (or capital),  Big B, little b..."  pointing them out.  This may be obvious, but will probably confuse them at first.  Once they finish this step, work on phonics.  " A says, 'a', b says 'b'....   until they can do it on their own.  Every child learns at their own pace so never worry.  They are homeschooled, they can not be behind.  Where they are is where they should be. 


For numbers, once they get to 100, have them count backwards!  We used to get louder as they got to the end, and our voices lowered when we counted backward.

This is how I taught my two older daughters to read and count.

Of course it is always important to read together.  Find something they're interested in.  Cooking with kids is also fun.  Accidental learning is the quickest way kids learn.

What is accidental learning, you ask?

Accidental learning is when kids learn on their own, or just by accident.  You may be baking with them and you say, now half a cup of sugar.  The child will see the half and just learn the concept.  This concept can also work with thirds or basic vocabulary.  Educational television feeds on that concept.

Other ideas are board games.  Take a Candy Land board, or anything similar, Chutes and Ladders board,  and start playing.  A Candy Land spinner teaches them colors.  A Chute's and Ladders Spinner teaches them numbers.  You can make it even more educational by putting letters on a stack of index cards.  If they spin, and get the letter right, they get to go again! Once they progress, you can do the same with phonics.

I will leave you with that.  This should take at least half the year, but don't be surprised if it takes longer.  There is no need to rush.  Make it fun!! 

Happy Homeschooling!

There are a bunch of misconceptions about homeschooling.  One of the biggest is you need to have a degree, or a teacher's license.  Why would you need that?  You know your child best!

I will start off with a story that will state just how crazy that idea sounds.  True story.  There was a 5 year old in kindergarten.  She couldn't sit still through the long lessons, the school said she had ADHD, they wanted her medicated.  The mom, a high school drop out, said there was nothing wrong with her child.  She removed her immediately and began to homeschool.

She had no money for curriculum.

She was a high school drop out.

She took her daughter to the library and did the best she could.

Grade 1 came around, she took her daughter to school to have her tested.  It was a miracle!  Her daughter was now an honors student.
Did she have a degree?  No.  She didn't even graduate from high school.  A little common sense, however, and she taught her daughter far better than her own school.

The truth is, when you're one on one it is so much easier.  You are the parent, you know what your child needs.  It only takes 2 or 3 hours a day of homeschooling to keep up with public school.  Truth is, however, many unschoolers,  most of which do far less than that, still enter public school just fine.  It really isn't possible to fail.
What about gaps?

This is a question many parents ask, as well as teachers.  The truth here is even if you attend a very elite private school and then transfer to a public school, there will still be gaps. 

An example is this:
This is a very good curriculum.  Most private schools use this curriculum, and just by saying they use it their tuition can go up.  It is a spiral curriculum.  This means they teach a bunch of different concepts at once.  My 8 year old tried it this year.  By midyear she still hadn't learned (according to textbook) higher number addition (I am referring to 7's here), but had a good grasp on fractions.  The same rang true with subtraction.  She also had a good grasp on basic geometry.  She was about to learn multiplication, again, still not knowing all the addition.  Would there be a gap? Yes!  Is this a bad curriculum?  It's a college prep curriculum, and a very good one at that!  Even if your child transfers schools, there will be a gap.

T

So with that I welcome you to, Stone Age Fun.   This site will start off in Preschool and give you ideas to stimulate your imagination so you can go out on your own.  Or, feel free to follow mine.  I use a combination of unschooling, but also add fun educational games to make it fun.  I call it 'Accidental Learning', they won't even know it's school!  When the time comes to start kindergarten they will be more than ready if you choose to place them in school.