Not challenging my K?

[amysue277]

Hi all,
This is our first year Hsing and using HOD. It is my sons Kindergarten year, he will be 6 in Dec. I chose LHFHG for him and are using the K options. Here is my concern...

He breezes through his schoolwork so quickly! I sometimes feel I am doing him a disservice by homeschooling because he honestly never seems challenged. His reading is right where he needs to be (AAR 2), but math is particularly easy. We are using Singapore K with the activities in the book. Most days they take 5-10 minutes, and my 4 year old has been doing most everything right along with us with no problem. I just feel like our day is SO short and nothing is challenging for him.

Now, having said that, I totally do not want to pressure a 5 year old, as I think there is ample time for intense academics in the future. BUT- I can't shake the feeling that I am not challenging him, or even meeting him where he is. The Do it Carefully book is also way too easy. Most of the concepts in it we covered in preschool.

I cannot do the 1st grade options because I do not own the Beyond manual and it's not in the budget to buy. What should I do? Relax and enjoy the easy pace of K....or try harder to challenge him?

Thanks,
Amy

[lissiejo]

I found the same to be true for my daughter. I opted to allow her to do as many pages as she wanted in her math book and then moved into 1st grade math. We opted for a different math from Singapore, but you could do the same. I also chose to do the 1st grade Thinking Skills and added in the G,H, and I books that continue on from Rod and Staff from the D and F books. She really really likes them. I also have her read as much as she can because she loves to read. I also started having a letter of the week and she finds words with that letter that she then writes on a word wall. It's a pre-story writing activity and she really loves this.

Do enjoy the lighter pace. Even with all I added I never spend more than an hour on Kindergarten work with her. It's nice that she gets to enjoy herself and the light load, but as you say I don't want her to be board or not challenged.

I hope this has helped you some!

[my3sons]

Honestly, there is challenge aplenty coming soon enough. I am learning to savor my time this third time around in LHFHG with my third ds. We do it all up to the fullest, and it is such a joy. Kindergarten is not meant to be overly challenging. It is a child's first impression of school in general, and the feelings of "I can do this! I am good at this! This is fun!" are really good feelings to have and to enjoy!

That being said, I don't see any reason why you can't do "Do It Carefully" (and then Finding the Answers) daily instead of every other day, and then mid-year when you are finished with them, do "Grade 1 Thinking Skills" daily. With math, you can do 2 Earlybird lessons each day - making sure to do all the hands-on lessons as they are part of the laying the foundation for mental math success later - and then mid-year, start 1A, getting the Beyond manual at that time for the hands-on activities if possible. My ds is midway in LHFHG and just started the Emerging Reader's Set. He is doing well with that! The great thing is, HOD can easily be customized in LA/Math as needed, while still retaining appropriate levels (maturity and content-wise) for grade levels. Hope this helps somehow!

In Christ,
Julie

[pjdobro]

Honestly, there is challenge aplenty coming soon enough. I am learning to savor my time this third time around in LHFHG with my third ds. We do it all up to the fullest, and it is such a joy. Kindergarten is not meant to be overly challenging. It is a child's first impression of school in general, and the feelings of "I can do this! I am good at this! This is fun!" are really good feelings to have and to enjoy!

I just wanted to agree with Julie here. The challenge and longer days come soon enough. One of the things I love about HOD is how developmentally appropriate it as all stages along the way. It really is the right thing not to overburden a 5 year old with hours of academics. Having time to play and explore are so important at this age. Enjoy the time thoroughly and really get into the activities. There have been some great ideas shared already of how you can pick up the pace up a bit if you want, but more than anything I say just enjoy this time together. Have fun playing with legos, building things, playing games, exploring, reading some other books just for fun. For us this was a fun age to attend some of the storytime and other activities at our local library, take nature walks, etc. All of those things are learning activities not just what you are doing in "school" everyday. Rest assured that he is getting a solid education even if it seems short and easy at this point and enjoy the journey.