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Choosing kindergarten homeschool curriculum is so exciting! I’ve been waiting for this moment. My son has reached the age when he can “start school.”
I’ve spent hours and hours searching for the best kindergarten resources, fighting an inner battle. Do I buy curriculum and make a schedule or just let learning happen naturally using what we have around the house? It’s the foundational question we all face when choosing to homeschool. What is my homeschool philosophy?
If you are new to homeschooling and don’t have a preferred homeschool approach yet, that’s okay. I’m rather eclectic in my approach. I use some classical resources, but I don’t follow the trivium like true classical educators. I like to follow my child’s lead, especially in reading and writing, and I’m not always good at sticking with curriculum schedules.
Do you remember what kindergarten was like when you were a child? I remember the “letter people,” playing with Tinkertoys and big wooden blocks, and eating snacks from my metal lunchbox around the table with classmates. Academics were not pushed in kindergarten like they are today. And I definitely headed home after a half a day of school.
Kindergarteners love learning, but they also need lots of time to play. So, whatever you or I choose, we must remember that play is the priority. There are plenty of years ahead for book learning.
Things to Consider Before Planning Your Kindergarten Homeschool Curriculum
What is your homeschool philosophy?
What are your thoughts about kindergarten? Do you use a schedule for structure, start academic learning, or keep it casual with play as the focus?
What goals do you have for your kindergartener? Do you want him to love books, learn how to observe nature, or develop social skills by playing with others?
By carefully thinking about these questions you’ll have an easier time deciding what kind of kindergarten homeschool curriculum you really need.
Kindergarten Homeschool Curriculum by Subject
When my daughter was in kindergarten, I didn’t buy any curriculum, and she’s turned out to be a well-rounded, intelligent middle schooler. So, I know that I really don’t need to buy anything for my son either. For me it’s about adding structure to our day. I’m not terribly clever at thinking on my feet, and when my son gets bored, no one is happy.
My son has also been “doing school” right along with his sister by participating in her science experiments and listening to me read to her. My hope is that by adding some “school” to our day that is unique to him, he’ll feel special and big, like his sister.
Read Aloud
Read aloud is the most important thing you can do in kindergarten. It teaches your child pre-reading skills and builds their knowledge of the world without you even trying hard.
Kindergarteners are ready for chapter books, but keep reading picture books too. The first chapter book I ever read to my son was My Father’s Dragon (affiliate link) by Ruth Garnett. It’s a winner!
I’m always gathering titles of great books for read aloud. Maybe that’s why I’ve never posted a list of recommendations by grade. I’m always changing my lists! What I read to my son for kindergarten will be different from what I read to my daughter. Part of it is personality, part of it is interest. I like to use as many classics as possible. Sometimes you have to try out a book and if it flops, just move onto another.
Reading
Reading Eggs is an online phonics based reading program that utilizes games and activities. It’s a very popular program with good reviews. We started Reading Eggs with a free trial and then bought a year subscription when it went on sale. My rationale in getting the subscription is that it will keep my son engaged independently while I’m teaching my daughter 8th grade math.
Using Reading Eggs on a laptop is difficult for five year olds who don’t have the hand coordination to use the mouse properly. I recommend using Reading Eggs on an iPad because kids only have to touch the screen with their fingers. Luckily my daughter has an iPad, so we’ll switch to that to ease my son’s frustration.
R.E.A.D. Notebook Curriculum by The Crafty Classroom
I’m super excited to use the R.E.A.D. Notebook Curriculum as part of our kindergarten homeschool curriculum. Structured over a four-day schedule, my son will learn sight words, word families, beginning blends, grammar, and writing skills. I know he will enjoy using play dough, paint, and other materials to make letters and words. And all of his hard work can be glued into a notebook for a keepsake.
Beginner Readers
Being careful not to push, I’m going to suggest some beginner readers to my son. “Want to read this book?” is a much better approach than telling him he has to learn to read. Again, kindergarten is a sensitive time. Providing opportunities is one thing, forcing a child before he’s ready can be detrimental.
- Bob Books (affiliate link) are phonics based readers.
- Brand New Readers (affiliate link) are not phonics based, but text is predictable and relies on picture cues.
Writing
Writer’s Workshop will continue to be a part of our homeschool. We started making books in preschool and I just love the workshop approach to teaching writing. It’s open-ended and full of surprises.
Handwriting Without Tears is a curriculum I’ve been on the fence about. I used their workbook and “wet, dry, try” method for teaching letter formation when my daughter was in first grade, but she already knew how to write her letters. My son is convinced he already knows how to write his letters, but he does it “his” way. I might buy the curriculum, so it’s not mom who’s telling him what to do. (Think it will work?) Using the wooden letter pieces to build the letters first weren’t necessary for my daughter, but they’d be perfect for my son’s hands-on learning style.
Math
Dimensions Math is a new program by Singapore Math, Inc. that I used with my daughter for seventh grade this past year. I was impressed with the rigor of the program. I like to try new things, so instead of using Primary Mathematics by Singapore Math that I used for my daughter in grades 1-6, I’m going to give this new curriculum a shot from the start.
Math games will be part of our week as well to make sure we don’t lean too heavily on paper and pencil tasks, keeping math learning natural and low-key.
Science
My son loves science. I often catch him in the kitchen making concoctions with salt, pepper, food coloring, and various liquids. He claims he’s doing “science experiments.”
I’m not going to purchase a science curriculum, because I’m not sure I can commit to a curriculum plan. Instead, I’m going to take a “strewing” approach and pull out different projects and materials throughout the year. I know it will take energy and effort on my part to get materials together each week, and I risk giving science the backseat if I can’t keep up, but I’m sure my child will keep me accountable. I’ll use some lessons from Building Foundations of Scientific Understanding (affiliate link), my collection of Janice VanCleave’s books, and the internet for ideas.
However, if I were to choose a kindergarten science curriculum, I’d try Intro to Science by Elemental Science.
This curriculum gently introduces children to the different disciplines in science, helping them hone their observation skills. Using demonstrations from the book Mudpie to Magnets (affiliate link), each week focuses on one main idea. There are book lists for related read alouds, coordinating activities, and a student journal sheets for recording what they learn.
Computer Skills
Keyboarding Without Tears is a wonderful program for teaching children keyboarding skills and digital citizenship. Because of my experience with using Reading Eggs, I know that starting this program in kindergarten is practical. In our day and age, our kids need to learn computer skills to function in a highly digital society. To learn more about why I love this program, read this post.
Art
We will experiment with different art mediums using art projects I find online. Deep Space Sparkle has some great free lessons. I’m also going to order some books, like Ed Emberley’s Drawing Book (affiliate link) to help my son during writer’s workshop.
Music
Music is something we all appreciate and value in our house, but in terms of kindergarten music curriculum, we don’t really have one. My son uses rhythm instruments and likes to make up songs. He’s always loved drums, but we’re in no hurry for formal lessons.
For exposure to classical music, he’ll attend local KinderKonzerts and his sister’s youth orchestra. He’ll probably listen to our collection of Music Together albums in the car, too. For kids’ music that the whole family will enjoy, Music Together is the best!
Conclusion
Kindergarten is an exciting time in your child’s life. Kids at this age are eager to learn and soak up knowledge. Choosing kindergarten homeschool curriculum can be tricky because it’s tempting to do too much. As long as you are reading aloud on a daily basis and making time for play, everything else on your list is extra. Have fun exploring what’s out there, and don’t be afraid to stop using a curriculum if you and/or your child gets overwhelmed. Ease into academics in kindergarten, because kids need freedom to explore and play in the younger years.
Your Turn
What kindergarten homeschool curriculum do you like using?
