Early Years: Where to go from where I am at

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  • March 17, 2016 at 2:51 pm
    Leslie
    Participant

    I have been doing Memoria Press K with my 5 year old (he is a young five year old, technically if he went to public school he would start K this fall because he has an October birthday – I was just zealous about homeschooling and preschool materials had become very boring for him, so we moved forward). We are about 2/3 of the way through the program and it has been extremely easy for him. We suspect him to be “gifted” based on several things we have read about and observed in him.  I know we could have him tested, but it seemed unnecessary; I’m not sure what we’d do with the label since he isn’t in school, and it takes a several hours (and I assume expense). I have recently spent a lot of time learning more about CM and I now feel guilty that we are doing this program at all, since he really should not be receiving formal schooling.

    I am reading through the Early Years book and I skipped to the section about Gifted Children, but I am still lost as to how to proceed. Do I finish K and move him into grade 1 material, do I just stop completely (I know he would ask about schoolwork)? I have started adjusting the materials we use and how we use them to make them more CM friendly. I do know that we are going to continue to call him a Kindergartner next year, regardless of what material he is using, because my husband and I do not want him to head to college at 17.

    Thank you for any help!

    March 17, 2016 at 2:59 pm
    mama_nickles
    Participant

    My understanding of the early years is that it’s OK to do academics with him as long as he is interested, and as long as it doesn’t replace the formation of good habits. I would also say to give him materials for whatever level he is at. I have a k’er this year (turned 6 last December) and she is reading very well (6-7 grade level) but isn’t very interested in math right now. So she reads to me daily, and does drawing daily, does copywork and “writes stories” once or twice a week, and yet we don’t do much math right now. She does hear lots of great read alouds, and participates in picture study, nature study, hymn study, memory work along with lots of playing outside. My plan for next year (when she will be in 1st) is to try to “meet math” every day, generally through games and activities and everyday life.

    March 17, 2016 at 4:07 pm
    2Corin57
    Participant

    I’m honestly not sure what CM’s recommendations are.  For myself, I would still want him tested, and here’s the reason why: if he is actually truly gifted, it can be useful to have the testing done, because at the same time they can/will screen for co-morbid issues. A large percentage of children who are truly gifted (and it increases with the IQ level), have and/or are at risk for having,  learning disorders, behavioral disorder such as ODD, neurological disorders such as ADHD, SPD, ASD, or emotional disorders such as anxiety, OCD. These issues can actually be overlooked, and the earlier you know about them and can start dealing with them, the better, even if they’re minor.

    Also, the psycho-ed evaluation will break down your children’s areas of intelligences, and show their strengths and weaknesses, which is going to give you, their teacher, a much better idea of how to approach teaching them.

    For me, the evaluation has nothing to do with the “label”, and everything to do with being able to best serve my child. (This is coming from a mother of a 2E child, and another child with special needs).

    March 18, 2016 at 3:36 pm
    jenni33
    Participant

    Well I would certainly not feel guilty if I were you. You did what you thought was best, and what worked for the season of life you were in at that time. Homeschooling is wonderful because we have the freedom to do what works for our kids! I would say, if he’s only 5, and very young, go ahead and finish out what you are doing with him now, continuing to adjust as you are and then just move into a more CM method.
    Keep it simple, and follow the free curriculum guide here on the website. Here’s a link: https://simplycharlottemason.com/planning/curriculum-guide/

    Also, check Ambleside Online for some more resources to gather and use as you are ready. The have a year by year guide for CM’ers.
    I would give you one bit of advice- If you are really sold on CM, try to stay away from “grade level” texts for learning and just move your child up as he is ready. For his own sake, and for the sake of everyone else, you might want to “know what grade” he is in, but don’t let that be your guide. Just continue moving forward as he is able, incorporating plenty of nature study and oral narrations if he is able, and lots of play. If he is excelling, let him continue at what he is doing well with and move forward with it. But if you see room for change, give it a try and see how it goes. If he is gifted, he may be completely self-propelled in some aspects, but maybe not in others. The only way you will find out is to try.

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