Homeschooling kindergarten
Homeschooling kindergarten children is a great way for you and your child to learn about science, math, reading and other subjects.
As a parent who homeschooled my own son in kindergarten, while also looking after a baby and a preschooler, and as a qualified teacher, I have a few words of advice.
Take time to familiarize yourself with the basic skills kindergarten children should learn. You will find them in easy to read lists on this site. Then be aware that there are many different ways to teach these skills.
For example, when homeschooling kindergarten children, two math skills they should practice are creating patterns at various difficulty levels (red, yellow, red, yellow, repeat... or red, red, yellow, red, red, yellow) and copying patterns that others have made.
There are many kindergarten type workbooks available where kids can color patterns in the book ...ho hum, not too interesting ... OR... you could go for a walk on a warm autumn morning and kick some colored leaves and practice the same skills. 
Gather the leaves and place them in rows - yellow leaf, yellow leaf, red leaf, yellow leaf, yellow leaf, red leaf. Play games with your child.. "I'll make a leaf pattern and you copy mine and you make a leaf pattern and I'll copy yours.
Parents homeschooling their kindergarten children have the advantage of going on field trips everyday, even if it is just to the backyard or park, and using everyday objects to teach math, science and reading skills. Use games, puzzles, toys or math and science equipment to teach basic skills.
Playing games such as Scholastic's ABC Match and Learn Game, motivates many children to pay attention to letters.
Other ideas when homeschooling kindergarten children:
- Go to a park and count the bars on the monkey bars
- Write numbers and letters in the sandbox with a stick
- Create letters with twigs
- Cook! So much math and science in this activity, ask what did you notice? why do you think the dough formed bubbles? Fill the cup to the 100 grams.
- Go for a "letter walk" down a neighborhood street...look at signs, mailboxes, and house numbers. Can you find some Rs? the number 4?
Use worksheets and pencil and paper type activities to reinforce skills already practiced with hands on activities and for short periods of time only. Read to find out how to teach children to record their observations and discoveries. Invest money in science, math and art and craft equipment rather than thick workbooks.
Scholastic has a great series of books to help parents teach math -
Math at The Store
Math in The Car
Math in The Kitchen
Math on The Playground
Math in The Neighborhood
Scholastic News: Math in The Backyard
When homeschooling kindergarten, you can integrate the outdoors to create a vibrant learning environment, teach skills with real objects that the children can touch and discover and encourage problem solving and creative thought processes as the children have more time to explore their surroundings.
Visit more pages on www.kindergarten-lessons.com to find out:
- what skills your children need to learn
- ideas for teaching the skills listed
- ideas to encourage kids to observe, collect and record information
Have fun, relax and play with your children as they learn.
