Handwriting Without Tears

[redhookmom]

I have used this curr for about the last 2 years with my DS. He started when he was a late 3 and he just turned 5.

The PreK curr is not about handwriting. It is about straight lines - long and short, diagnal lines, curved lines. It is about finding your body parts, learning colors, playing with dough. There is a set of sticks that you use to make letters. It is basically a lot of fun. (There is even a dog that barks the ABCs - my DS fav)

The K curr teaches how to write letters in a fun and easy way. You still use the sticks, dough, stamps.

I am so grateful that I knew about this curr and just thought I would share in case anyone is starting to think about this stuff.

http://hwtears.com/

I thought I would add: I am not an advocate for pushing kids to early! We went to kindergarten screening a couple of months ago and there was an expectation that these little kids know there letters, numbers... I couldn't believe it. The principal actually said to me that my DS would find the work challenging b/c he did not go to a 5day preschool! :o :o

So, I am trying to find fun, interesting ways to do some academics so that my children don't struggle. I want Kgarten to be fun...

[egoldber]

Have you looked at "The Well Trained Mind"? Its both a homeschooling curriculum and resource book. I think the curriculum is a bit over the top myself, although I really like the idea of it. But the list of resources in the book is just astounding. (I know they like HWT.) The book is for pre-K to high school. I got it from my local library.

HTH,

[redhookmom]

Thanks for reminding me about that book. I borrowed it from the library a long time ago. My kids were to little to think about school stuff yet. I will borrow it again.

[lukkykatt]

Thanks for the link - I will have to check it out! DS has been reluctant to write - not sure if it is because he is a leftie or not. But I am always struggling to find fun ways to get him interested. Because of his late birthday, he will be back in a 4 yo preschool class this year, so I have one more year before K for him.

[Jeanmick]

My friend is a resource specialist (special ed teacher). She works with learning disabled school-aged children and uses this program to teach her students writing. It's been a successful program for her. An occupational therapist turned her on to it.

[Melanie]

Thanks for the tip, but frankly I am shocked at:

"I thought I would add: I am not an advocate for pushing kids to early! We went to kindergarten screening a couple of months ago and there was an expectation that these little kids know there letters, numbers... I couldn't believe it. The principal actually said to me that my DS would find the work challenging b/c he did not go to a 5day preschool!"

Criminy...I need to win the lotto so Ds can go to a Waldorf school and get to play in kindergarten. I just heard on the radio that LA schools are switching to an all-day school for kindy, now, too. I have a local friend who's child goes to a short-day kindy, but then he has HOMEWORK! Hello, are we going to let these kids be kids?

[redhookmom]

My thoughts exactly! I actually considered going back to work so that I could send my DS to the local Waldorf school. ($10,000 a year)

Finally I decided to buy into the system. :( I am trying to keep a positive attitude about it all. My DS actually tested into a pre-K program b/c he couldn't write his letters. Long story short we decided to "sign-off" on the pre-K and put him the kindergarten. I therefore feel the need to work on this stuff with him. :-) (positive attitude?!)

All this from a Mom who truly believes all I should be doing is reading to him and exploring his areas of interest.

[threerugratz]

Thanks for the link. I've not had a chance to check it out yet but plan to. I have a 5 yr old that will start school this year (I have 2 already in school). I too am shocked at what they expect the kids to already know. I thought kindergarten was where they were supposed to teach kids letters, numbers etc, I didn't think they were supposed to know it all already. My daughter was starting to learn to read in kindergarten. I personally think it's too much for their young minds to retain even if they do learn alot, I just think it's too much for them to absorb and keep.

I worked until my second child was born and was so thrilled to get to be home and not need to send my children to daycare anymore. I thought I was going to enjoy having so much time with them as well as save the expense of daycare. Now at times I wonder if I was wrong not to have sent them to daycare, preschool to develop skills these other kids have. I worry I've made my kids lag behind because I wanted to be home with them.

My little girl was adding 3 digit numbers in 2nd grade. It's been a long time since I was in 2nd grade so maybe I've forgotten, but I don't recall doing these types of problems in 2nd grade (carrying and borrowing with 3 digit numbers). My grades in school were quite good, but I think by the time my children are in 5th-6th grade, they'll have me feeling stupid!

[hjdong]

What's a Waldorf school?

[redhookmom]

It was through this book that I became interested in Waldorf education: Natural Childhood: A Practical Guide to the First Seven Years by John Thomson

Even if you are not keen on Waldorf I think this book it an amazing recource. Check it out at the library!


"Founded in Europe in 1919, Waldorf education now includes schools on every continent and a rapidly growing home schooling movement. It has grown to become the world's largest independent, non-denominational educational system that goes through all of the grades.

Waldorf's time tested pedagogy is designed to address the whole child: Head, Heart and Hands. It nurtures healthy emotional development by conveying knowledge experientially as well as academically. It works with the hands throughout every day, both in primary academic subjects and in a broad range of artistic handwork and craft activities.

Waldorf Method of Education strives to awaken and ennoble capabilities, rather than to merely impose intellectual content on the child. Learning becomes much more than the acquisition of quantities of information... learning becomes an engaging voyage of discovery of the world, and of oneself.

Steiner maintained that the materialism underlying modern life was disastrous. He urged his followers to awaken to the spiritual origin of nature and destiny of the human being.

Waldorf schools emphasize the arts, Olsen says ``because imagination is the moral being of the human being.''

A Waldorf Education is meant to be the beginning of a life long love of learning."

http://www.waldorfhomeschoolers.com/waldorfhs.htm