My daughter did not seem ready for Kindergarten
Question
I have probably done things wrong. I got your Kindergarten materials last year. I only completed half of it because my daughter just did not seem ready. We got to week 18 and just did not seem to be going forward so we took some time off and tried again but she is still not ready.
She just turned 6 this year. However, now looking things over, she seems more than ready. We need to finish the Little Stories for Little Folks. So if we start at week 18 and continue to the end we will be done in 12 weeks. What do I do then? Order all 1st grade and be off a half a year or see how it goes? Your material follows the school years so will it be too hard to do in the middle? Am I making this harder than it is?
Dear Mom,
Thank you so much for your question because it brings us to something that is at the heart of CHC. When we approach our teaching using our childrenâs strengths as our guide, our teaching looks beyond the “rules” of where we should be and instead sees what has been accomplished.
From your careful observation, it is obvious that you have discerned the level of understanding that your little girl has reached. Certainly we do not want to complicate her learning with unnecessary repetition, however, each grade has much to offer with regards to foundational information in all the subjectsâespecially catechesis (faith formation).
It would be my suggestion that you complete the kindergarten studies with as much fun and enthusiasm as you would the beginning of a new school year. Let your little girl feel the great sense of accomplishment that comes from mastery of skills. In a short amount of time, she will be very confident and eager to start in with 1st grade work.
This is the beauty of CHC. You are the principal player in your childâs education. You decide when it is time to move ahead. Having the bones of the curriculum to guide you, you are in a wonderful situation of being able to advance your child as she is ready.
Certainly there is the matter of cost effectiveness. I do not believe that we should waste money with regards to curriculum purchases; and where possible and doable, we should complete studies. Again, remember that we are building a “foundation” for more advanced studies. It is important that this foundation be worked with care and patience so it will support the rigors of study and the joy of learning.
Sending out a prayer,
Rita Munn
About Rita Munn
Rita Munn is a veteran homeschool mother of ten. For many years she was a popular speaker at Catholic homeschooling conferences. Writing has been a passion of hers for as long as she can remember, and she loves to use her writing skills to share her homeschooling experience with other parents. Her “family journal” reflections are featured in CHC’s Educating for Eternity e-newsletter.
