Would you believe it?

We are registering E for kindergarten tomorrow! Only yesterday, he was that little fussy baby that refused to sleep no matter what our minds contrived to try and do and NOW, he's about to get on a school bus and venture into a school! He will be registered at this school as this is our home school

but I am looking to see if he can be transferred to this school below which is accessed through a lottery system. It's a magnet school that will allow for E to work at a different grade level as he's an accelerated learner.

The first school is some of the best in our city but it will not allow E to work at a higher level if need be. The second school is much older and only half airconditioned but provides greater educational opportunities for E. Hence, the decision. We'll see what happens. Either way, he wins.

If I had it my way, E would be homeschooled BUT there's always the social aspect which is very lacking in his life as we do not know or have friends with little ones like ours close by. The local homeschooling group seem cliquish and very much the hippy, mother earth type which I am not. :-(

So, in order for E to not miss out on great learning opportunities, I had with my sweet husband help and together we revamped our play/learning room to accommodate homeschooling materials in there. When I mention homeschooling, it's not that I have not been doing so. I have - the Montessori leaning way since E was born but now am adding the classical way as well. So, E will have the best of all worlds!

He's rowing fast and furiously on with his homeschooling right now and our curriculum looks like this plus all the Montessori as well. Even when he goes to kindy, we will continue by afterschooling. It may perhaps slow down but on we row nevertheless. :-)

READING/PHONICS

Eventhough E can read really well, I have, nevertheless. chosen to use the following book to ensure that we cover everything.

I have made my own modification to it to ensure that E learns every possible term existent for a variety of things in the book. All in all, it is a superb book.

We also use this

and will be using the entire series as review material as well as handwriting practice.

E also loves this free, funfilled website of funny reading stories http://www.progressivephonics.com/

besides http://www.starfall.com/ when he was younger.

HANDWRITING

We do have a lot of writing going on here but this is added in just for variety. Variety is key in my educational approach to keep E from getting bored.

We also use this to generate a variety of sheets in various styles

SPELLING

A fantastic program - we love it!

Picture is blur but it's called All About Spelling.

Of course, we have the movable alphabets and reading rods for variety and games.

MATHEMATICS

Once again, we are using two programs

  RightStart Mathematics

and

Singapore Math or Primary Mathematics

I find that one being sensorial and the other being from the top math nation in the world fits nicely with my plans here for E and then baby M who will inherit all these materials in time. :-)

VOCABULARY

We have found a most wonderful program once again.

Wordly Wise 3000 2nd Edition

HISTORY

Story of the World

and

History Odyssey

SCIENCE

and lots of supplements like

We have the ones for Inventions, Electricity, Energy, Chemistry and Light. Neat kits with all materials included except some household items.

ART

Artistic Pursuits

and

Harmony Fine Arts

WRITING

Writing With Ease

GRAMMAR

First Language Lessons Level 1 & 2

MUSIC

K12

RIGHT BRAIN

Wink

All encompassing:

Loads of books

FIAR

All kinds of resources for all subjects I've collected over time.

Montessori - Math, Botany, Zoology, Geography, History, Practical Life, Language Arts, Sensorial

That's generally it and though it may seem like a HUGE amount for a 4.5yo, it really isn't as each lesson is bite sized and loads of F U N! E loves them but not so much in the handwriting practice dept. though he prints well. :-)