Keeping a 5 year olds attention

[Teresa]

This being my first year I am so worried about working with my 5 year old and keeping his attention. He has come into our "school room" with me a few times this week while I have been doing some things trying to prepare myself for the new endeavor. While there he wants to do something but his attention does not last or very long. Am I worrying about something I shouldn't?

I want this to work so much I am afraid I'm going to push him too hard and we are going to end up with me getting angry and him upset.

The school gave me a notice of the states requirements for education and it says that kids should be schooled for 5 six hour days or something around 1050 hours, even kindergartners? We have been doing little things already, spelling words, sounding them out and even a little adding (math). Do kindergartners really have to go for 6 hours a day? Seems pretty extreme to me.

Anyone with kindergarten homeschooling experience got ideas for me?

[Charity]

Have no fear Teresa. :-)
First and foremost, try to relax and enjoy the experience.

Here is the info you need for your state:
Summary



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Below is brief summary of the homeschooling law in Kentucky. For a detailed analysis of homeschooling in Kentucky, see:

Kentucky—A Legal Analysis
(Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader)
Compulsory School Age
"has reached 6th birthday and has not passed 16th birthday"

Kentucky Legal Home Schooling Options: 1


Option: 1

Legal Option:
Qualify a home school as a private school

Attendance:
185 days

Subjects:
Reading, writing, spelling, grammar, history, mathematics, and civics

Qualifications:
None

Notice:
Notify the local board of education of those students in attendance within two weeks of start of school year

Recordkeeping:
Maintain an attendance register and scholarship reports

Testing:
None




© 2005, HSLDA
hslda.org/laws/default.asp?State=KY

It looks like you do not have to go the six hours if your chid is only 5.

[Charity]

Kentucky is a good state for homeschooling.

[momof6]

Hi Theresa,

I too am very anxious about homeschooling my kindergartener. He too has a very short attention span and bounces off the walls. I have learned through my other children and 7 yrs of experience homeschooling that children learn while they play. We "play" games during our school day. We alternate "book learning" with fun games that teach. Good luck and enjoy this experience with your son.

[Teresa]

Thanks everyone. I have felt so unsure about myself this past few weeks.

I sent our intent to homeschool form back to the school board Monday, with siggy required and should get that back soon to be put into my book with a copy of the requirements the school gave me as well as our daily attendance record.

They had ask for my school year calendar, but I haven't found anywhere in the legal requirements that it says I have to do that so I didn't send it. If they call me and ask for it I'll decide then what to do.

I haven't gotten signed up with HSLDA yet, I plan to.

The only thing I could find in anything about qualifying as a private school was to have a designated "class room" which we have done and to name the school, which we have done. You know this can get a little overwhelming to a person just starting out.


My strategy: Goal is to know all letters and their sounds by the end of the year, spelling simple words. (By the way, he taught himself with his Leap Pad to spell Scooby-Doo..) Also to be able to count as high as he can, goal is 50. Simple adding and subtracting as well.

I figured reading, writing, spelling and grammar were all in one and am planning on doing one letter every week. I met and talked to a really nice kindergarten teacher at the school supply store and she suggested I not begin with A ("never begin with A", were her words), she said begin with the problem letters like M, and also suggested doing his name letters in the next weeks. Since his name is Michael we're gonna do them in that order. She also said "read, read, read..read to him, every day!" Both good ideas, though I had planned on reading every day. (As well as having him a journal to either draw or, when he can, write about the story every day.)

I have planned to do one day a week (Friday) as field trips, first week (public school begins on Thursday August 11 here, so I plan to as well) we will go to the library to get his first library card, as well as pick up some books I will need for school. I have also planned to say the pledge of allegiance every day (He actually knows it!), a few exercises (though Monday evening will be tap classes), also I have a weather "clock" we will do every day.

I plan on doing some simple science things, like working with magnets and making macaroni and cheese. As well as Manners and feelings, and some geography (daddy travels and I figured that would be nice). Also hubby has a nice telescope, I thought it would be nice to introduce Michael to the stars.

Also I will be planning some Bible studies for each letter.

What do you all think, is it too much?

[Charity]

Teresa,
one thing I would suggest is that you find a local support group in your area. have you already found one yet? Here is a statewide group for your state:
www.chek.org/

If you look here:
www.chek.org/support-grps.html

You can find one close to you. You will be surprised at how much they can help you, with this being your first year and all. One thing I learned a long time ago, is that if you want to know about homeschooling, ask a homeschooler. With no disrespect intended to public school, homeschooling is a whole other world.
Let me know what county you are in and I will try to find a good HS group for you in your area. It will be a most valuable asset in your schooling. The fellowship alone with other HS moms is priceless, and they can tell you all the up to the minute goings on in your state. Then of course a good group will offer co-ops, field trips, shared classes and so much more.

[Charity]

I have tried to list at least one statewide HS support organization here:
freedomtoschool.proboards29.com/index.cgi?board=support&page=1

for each state.

[Charity]

Frequently Asked Questions
By Kentucky Home Educators
www.chek.org/faq.html

[Teresa]

Charity, I completely forgot to post that I have joined a local support group (we're in Greenup County), CHEF (Christian Home Educators Fellowship) has a group in the area and I joined them last week, I haven't been able to get to any meetings yet, they are having a picnic in August for members to meet and kids to meet each other as well.