Dear Parent,

Thank you for your more detailed question. I don't usually get feedback from the parents, so this is a real treat!

You have probably already done this, but I would look through the pre-school/kindergarten lesson plans, because they will give you an overview of what is taught throughout the year. This will be helpful in pinpointing where you think you should start.

It's important to go with your instincts. If you feel that he hasn't quite learned something, or that he knows something well, then you should slow down, or go forward accordingly. This is part of the role you have as his teacher. Assessing how well he is learning, what he is and is not learning, is so very important. It's also important in all this to pace yourself. You don't want to go too quickly through the materials, because he needs time to absorb what he is learning. You also want to move on when he has learned something, so that he doesn't become bored. Over time, you will figure out what you need to do as his teacher. With all that one-on-one time you can give him, he will certainly thrive and grow.

The core materials used in the pre-school and kindergarten program are Little Folks Number Practice, Little Folks Letter Practice and Little Stories for Little Folks. I would definitely start in the beginning with these materials. You can of course use the other recommended resources for the non-core subjects, but if nothing else, I would focus on those three books. The nice thing about these lesson plans, is that pre-school and kindergarten are interlinked in a way to make it easier for the parents. If you end up combining the two grades into one year, that is great. If you teach them in two separate years, that is also a great idea. The lesson plans are designed to flow with your schedule and your family's needs. If you find that he already knows some of the materials covered in the books, you can use the time for review and or go through the materials at a faster pace.

You have the freedom to decide when to begin your school year. However, in light of the fact that he has been pulled out of the public preschool program, I would give him a little time before you officially start homeschooling. I think he might need some time to adjust to learning at home, and get used to the idea that you will be his teacher. If he appears to be enthusiastic about school, then I can also see a reason for starting him in March. If you start him now, I think you will find that you will probably speed through the first parts of the books, and gradually slow down as you reach material that he doesn't know. As I have mentioned before, as the teacher you can decide when to begin the school year based on his readiness.

If you decide to wait a little while, maybe you can really use this time to help foster his love for school. You can spend time snuggling on the couch with a good book, teach him little chores to help around the house, and help him grow spiritually, emotionally and physically. So much of the actual learning can take place outside the classroom, particularly in the younger grades.

Please let me know if you have any other questions.

God bless you and your family!

Laura Nicholson