Hi. I'm new to this forum. Nice to meet everyone! I am looking for a good kindergarten homeschool curriculum for my five year old daughter. I really would like for her to use a good Christian curriculum but it seems like most or all of them are too much for my budget right now. I really would like to know if there is a really good free or inexpensive Christian curriculum that I could use. Or is there a good curriculum that I could put together? I know some people put their curricula together. I'm also hoping for something that's already put together on a schedule. There is so much information and suggestions out there that I kind of got overwhelmed. Does it really matter if kids in kindergarten or elementary don't go to an accredited school? Does the work done in elementary effect the child's ability to go to college? Thank you.

Hi! And Welcome : )

Reading your post from here, it sounds like you're a little panicked. Sometimes things don't come through as you mean them - but if you are panicked, don't be : )

I put my own curriculum together, and I find it's super-easy to do, but if you don't want to, there are great free things out there like this http://allinonehomeschool.com/
and http://www.amblesideonline.org/

For a schedule, all you really need is a list of the subjects you'll do each day - and do them in order. For us it's Bible, Reading, Phonics, Writing, Math, Greek (we study Greek because we're Greek Orthodox, not because all little kids need a classic language ; ), Other (Religion/Science/Social Studies - depending on what we're doing that week) Then, you can check it off a list each day.

In Kindergarten, for religion/Christianity, you can just use a Children's Bible like the Beginner's Bible or the Beginner's Bible for Toddlers. When my little one began reading - it was one of our first reading texts : )

Don't think you need all your ducks in a row by the first day of class! Your little one will take several weeks to adjust to "schooling" and starting off slow can be a plus.

Also, if you're on here long, you'll hear me recommend "Why Johnny Can't Read" for adults to read to learn how to teach reading - it's been such a huge help to me: )

Welcome again - gotta go - it's bedtime!

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http://stuffedveggies.blogspot.com/

Hi Anna1111

Thanks for the welcome! The funny thing is I actually homeschooled my daughter for preschool and even prior to that and I also put together a curriculum. She has learned ABC's, reading, writing, phonics, math, etc. She is doing very well and was already doing kindergarten and some first grade work. As for the Bible, we didn't use a Children's Bible, but the actual Bible. I started from the beginning and we would go over a chapter a day and discuss what it was about. The thing is, since she is getting older and as she starts to advance to higher grade levels I just want to make sure she is learning and developing in all the necessary areas. I just want to be completely sure the curriculum she uses now and in the future offers her the appropriate education and doesn't hinder her future. I did browse through the allinonehomeschool.com curriculum a little but I guess I'll give it another look. Thank you again!

Welcome...take a look at one of our other links.... http://www.homeschoolchristian.com/curricula/index.php

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Prayer should be your first response.
Not your last resort.

Sounds like you're doing great, and don't need any packages - you're already years ahead of the curve!

This site might help you be sure there are no "gaps" if you want to follow a typical school model:
http://www.worldbook.com/typical-course ... Itemid=216
If there's a topic you need that you haven't hit on, you can just get it from the library.

If you're reading the Bible every day, and teaching your faith one-to-one, what more could a package do for you?

As for accreditation, let me tell you my story:

When I was in Junior high, my high school sister & I went to a non-accredited Christian school that used homeschool curriculum. I found it easy to do more than one year's work in a year - but I was very worried about "keeping up" with public school. So, I decided to go to public school for 8th grade (Mom allowed us to choose- we were also very poor and I was old enough to understand that Mom needed the financial relief)- and my sister decided to transfer to public high school. We went to register at public school, and the Principal made a big deal out of us coming from a non-accredited school. Maybe we'd have to be put back to our "real" grade level, he threatened. We would have to take a standardized placement test, and then he'd decide where to put us.

A month passed - and no test had taken place. Mom called the Principal to see when we would be tested. He replied, "Oh! They're both at the top of their classes! We're not going to bother!"

Then, about a month later, the whole school was given a standardized test. I tested "Post High School" (this was 8th Grade) in all categories. Now I know why they didn't want to put me at grade level - they'd have lost all that tax money!

Your kid - from what you say - is MILES ahead of the public schools. Relax! Keep doing what you're doing : ) (of course, comply with the laws of your state -whatever those are - now that your child is reaching compulsory age) Enjoy!

And - once again - welcome! : )

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http://stuffedveggies.blogspot.com/

YES! Keep doing what you're doing! Sounds like you have a knack for it! Any scope and sequence for the grade level can help you see "what to cover" in any particular grade, or see if your library has "What Your 1st Grader Needs to Know" and expand from that. You don't really need a "Christian" math curriculum but it IS nice to keep the Christian perspective in mind for history, social studies, science and literature.

I haven't seen any homeschoolers have problems getting into public schools.

Yes - I have trouble imagining how a devout Christian Mother could *not* have a Christian curriculum. Personally, when I read a story about Ancient Egypt, I will just naturally say, "Who in the Bible lived in Ancient Egypt?" "Do you think he wore clothes that looked like the people in this book?" and other such things.

I DO think a Christian text has great value for a couple of things - If you are a young Christian, or have huge gaps in your Biblical knowledge, you may need some help. Or, if you are teaching some topic that is riddled with anti-Christian propaganda - such as the origins of the Earth - then I think you *must* get a book that is written from a Christian perspective so that you don't have to fight against the text on every page.

And, scope and sequences are only a guide. I picked up one popular one, and it said "Little Red Riding Hood" was "literature" and a "must know" for little ones. Really? My kid needs to know about a kid eaten by a wolf she thought was her grandmother? But doesn't need to know Noah's Ark? So, a scope & sequence is a helpful starting point, but it's only that : )

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http://stuffedveggies.blogspot.com/

Thanks to you all for all your helpful and reassuring advice! Sorry if my reply is late.
Some relatives and others I know are skeptical of how beneficial homeschooling can be and that doesn't surprise me and I'm positive all of you who have already been homeschooling for some time have experienced it at some point. That is another reason I wanted to make sure I continue to take the right steps. I really believe homeschooling can be very beneficial especially for those of use who are believers in Christ and are concerned about some of the influences our children will encounter while in the public school system. Thanks again for your time and help!!

Keep visiting & hanging out with us! It's nice to have you here : )

Our relatives were very concerned when we first decided to homeschool - many of our family live in a place where homeschooling is both illegal & unheard of - and where the public schools are Christian, so the need isn't what it is here. They were nice about it, but noticeably worried.

Now, a couple of years in, they seem to be mostly positive. They've gotten used to the idea. They've heard about other homeschoolers. They've seen news reports of violence in US schools. And - probably most importantly - they can see that dd is socially well-adjusted, and is learning very well.

For the most part, if you let the "proof be in the pudding" responses will improve in time.

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http://stuffedveggies.blogspot.com/

It depends on what state you are from on what you would teach your child.
To me kindergarteners do not need a lot.
I would get "teach your child to read in 100 easy lessons", for learning to read.
Flash cards for letters, numbers, colors, shapes.
The lined paper for writing that they have on sale now for school.
colors, pencils, scissors, glue. construction paper.
Get reading books from library.
Counting from 1 to 50 and then the last half of the year 51-100.
we did not spend a lot of money on, english, history,
we did get some age appropriate science labs. DD loved them.
There is a science curriculum , cheap , site you can order from but I do not remember what it was.
I guess what I am saying is do not spend a lot of money on kindergarten stuff.
Walmart and target have workbooks for that age and grade. use them.
I would not over load the child at this age.

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