DD very young for her grade level, not interested in 'school

[Mumkins]

My youngest DD wont be 6 til Dec. Where we live, she should be first grade this fall. She can write her name and knows the sounds of most letters but can't blend at all and totally shuts down when I try to get her to. She can count into the teens, but really resists doing math in her workbook.

I'm struggling with where she 'should' be.

My oldest two are paired together for HOD and she wants to be with her little brother. Trouble is, he's only 3. Waiting for him means LHFHG in grade 3, Beyond in grade 4,but once we get to Bigger, she can use extensions and all will be well. But with her so young, is that really that big of a deal? Although she'd be 3rd grade, she'd still be 7 for the first few months of LHFHG. We could add a time line and I have Beyond and Bigger for spelling lists. We could also do R&S if she's ready then.

I think I'm just going to have her do the K Singapore books this year, focus on getting her phonics and have some fun with LHTH. But I feel guilty because she 'should' be doing 1st grade.

Any tips or advice is welcome.

[raceNzanesmom]

I think I'm just going to have her do the K Singapore books this year, focus on getting her phonics and have some fun with LHTH. But I feel guilty because she 'should' be doing 1st grade.

This is what I would do. And I'd consider her a K'er. That is so, so young to be considered 1st grade! Don't you feel a bit of guilt.

ETA: The little boy I care for in the summer turned 7 in June- and he'll be in 1st grade come August 15th. Silly states. Don't feel bad at all. Work where she's at. If, by chance, she jumps up and you need to speed her along you can do that then. For now, enjoy kindergarten.

[eachlee]

My DD is in the same situation (only one year behind). She's 4 and won't be 5 until January but is considered a kindergartener this year. I'll be watching to see what you decide to do!

This year I am going to have her join in with her older brother in LHFHG (he's 6 and in first grade). That said, if she has trouble I'll slow her down and combine her with her younger brother in a few years (he is 2 almost 3 right now).

[countrymom]

I wouldn't worry about where she "should" be. In our state the cut off for 1st is December also, but very few parents actually place their child in 1st grade with that late of a birthday. I would choose the appropriate guide for where she is really at and let her enjoy it.

[Mommamo]

Totally just go with where she actually fits. Like the pp said, she is SOOO young to be considered 1st. And at 7, wouldn't she still be in the age range for LHFHG? I think you're fine to just wait. Go with her skills and her readiness, I think you'll be much happier that way.

FWIW, my little guy is waiting to start LHFHG until his little sis is ready, and I think it's the right thing for him. He is only 1 month younger than your dd and he is by no means ready for Kinder (in my opinion), I can't even imagine trying to consider him 1st grade! Just do things at you're little girl's level, enjoy the time of her being little and just having fun and enjoying learning, and forget about grade levels for now. This is coming from someone whose state doesn't require homeschoolers to report, however, so please take this suggestion with your own state's homeshool laws in mind.

[netpea]

Interesting, in MI, kids can start kindergarten at 4 if they turn 5 by December but they don't go straight into K, they go to "young fives" for a year then "K" for a year. Why not just wait till they are 5 turning 6 and put them in K? If it were me I would do LHTH with her this year just as special mommy and her time, and snuggle and read. Next year I would do LHFHG with her.

[MomtoJGJE]

I'd also not stress a bit about keeping her "back" I have a dd who will be 7 in Dec and she would just be 1st grade this year. I have a dd who will be 5 in Oct and she wouldn't even start K until next year. So if I had a 5yo who would be considered 1st grade I wouldn't even hesitate in the slightest bit to keep her as K, especially if she wasn't interested.

[VAmomto4]

Is schooling at that age mandatory in Ontario? Do you have mandatory testing or portfolio review? If so, I would be more inclined to do LHFHG at least half speed. Otherwise, your plan sounds good! I would caution against planning her HOD levels based on your younger ds. You don't know where he is going to be in terms of ability when he starts. Just go at her speed and see where you end up

[annaz]

Just a plug for putting her where she is as opposed to where others want her.

My dd is just 11 in late June and going into 5th this year. She had zero desire to sit at a desk and zero desire to write or do anything school even though my K-teacher friend kept telling me, "I have my kids write letters to.....". Why? So what. She wanted to play. And still does. The reason I homeschool is so kids can be kids while they're kids and she's doing a great job of this! She couldn't blend letters to read to save her life when she was 6, but when she was ready, she was off and running. She just turned 11 and just finished reading the entire set of Lord of the Rings. And yet she still wants to play with her cars in the dirt.

I know it's hard to go against what everyone else deems to be the right age. But frankly I think they keep moving the age limit younger and younger to endoctrinate kids earlier.

Put her where she is and know that every 3-6 months changes drastically. Let it happen. It'll be much less frustrating and you'll cover things the first time instead of visiting them over and over and over and over again.

(( ))

[Mumkins]

Thank you everyone. Ontario has no requirements. It really is just me fretting. I'm going to go through LHTH and see where we are when it's done.

[tnahid]

In Kentucky where we used to live, they were not legally required to go to Kindergarten until they were 6. In Washington state, they don't have to go to school until they are 8! Both of my sons are late starters. I was advised by a retired teacher of many years and much professional experience to start them later. She started both of her sons later and they are both VERY successful and smart people. So, just let it go completely. Your daughter is not behind! Bless you!

[twoxcell]

Where do you live? Around here kids start K the year they turn 5 by Sept. 1st, so she would be in K this fall.

[Mumkins]

I'm in Ontario. They do it by full year, so all kids born in 2005 are in first this year.