amitymamaThe Attachment Parenting Community

TurtleMa · 07-10-2004, 02:20 PM

I'll preface this by saying that as of now my kids will not be home schooled but more like "after" schooled.

Ds will be five soon a but will not be starting school for another year. He has a late birthday and I feel he is just not emotionally ready for all day kindergarten(which is all our district offers). He will be going to preschool for a second year this fall, MWF 1/2 days (it is mostly for social interaction and very much play and craft based). I have been pretty lax about working with him on writing because we focused on his speech since he was speech delayed and has only caught up within the past 6 months. It was really frustrating for him so there was no way we could have made any headway with writing. He has only recently showed and iinterestin writing though he has had sight recognition for numbers and many letters for a long time. He have tried working with him usinga big chieflike tablet and tracing then copying letters but it's not going well. At all. He gets frustrated and looses interest very quickly and I'm not known for my vast quantities of patients. Also he is very interested on numbers and is starting to grasp the concept of addition. I thought maybe I could find some kind of fun curriculum to guide me.

I have seen HWT mention several times recently and looked at the web site. It seem interesting but $$ if you get all the stuff which it looks like you need. LOL He is definatly a hands on type learner.

Has anyone used the new preK stuff? It looks like something that he might like but it also looks like there is not much aactualwriting and I'm not sure how long it would hold his iinterest He actually is very comfortable with pencil/crayons and paper since he is a pretty talented little artist.

if it's not all that great, what other things are out there? He is just not that crazy about work sheets at this point, not that I blame him they bored me to tears too when I was a kid.

Debra · 07-10-2004, 02:43 PM

Hi Michelle. I hope you get an answer to this because I was wondering the same thing. And was looking at the HWT last night for DD who is also speech delayed but younger than your DS.

3boysnagrl · 07-10-2004, 03:13 PM

We love HWT.

I plan on getting a preK workbook from them for Adam and Lauren - but making our own modelling dough and making cards on our own for them to follow with the dough.

The workbooks are inexpensive - and you can make your own other materials.

IBelieveInFae · 07-10-2004, 05:22 PM

I have been thinking a lot about hand writing of late. Annabelle wants to learn how to do it, but doesn't have the fine motor skills. I am really think I am going to follow the suggestions in the Ruth Beechick book (the three R's series).

Basically she said to give kids unlined paper and let them have at it. I'll draw one first, so she can see how it's done. Much less pressure on her to stay in the lines.

Dear Gods, I think I'm becoming an Unschooler!

amamasluv · 07-11-2004, 12:04 AM

HI, I have the Handwriting Without Tears Pre-K curr and LOVE it. I love it b/c my ds does.

If you wanted to buy the min. I would suggest the workbook and teacher's book. There are templates in the teacher's book to make the lines and curves.

My perception is that he Pre-K program is very fine motor skill oriented which is what my ds needs. He does not like coloring etc and this program helps refine those skill without alot of pencil holding. But that is included too.

If your son is already a little artist maybe the K curr would be better. I have the K guide too I will take a look at it tomorrow.

If you have any specific questions I would be glad to answer them.