HOMESCHOOLING FOR THE EARLY GRADES

By Angela Collins



Understanding the Foundation Phase

Would you not agree with me that the pressure young children (and parents) are under in schools is at an all time high? A time when children should be out playing in the afternoons has now become a routine of extra lessons and copious amount of homework! Why?! If you have a young child, here's something to consider regarding the foundation phase of schooling (Grade R-3):

So what are foundations? If you think about the building process: foundations are well mapped out, the ground tested to determine what building strategies/methods are required, deep trenches are dug out and then filled with strong concrete that will have to support the rest of the building.

From the experts:
“Building a good foundation requires a lot more than digging a hole and pouring some concrete into forms. It must be tailored to its site like a custom suit, taking into account soil conditions, water tables, even the quality of the backfill.” Extract from This Sold House by Max Alexander.


From a schooling perspective: laying good foundations isn’t about piling on a heap of work so that it looks like progress has taken place!

Foundations are something “underground" and hidden, many times not measurable. It needs time to SETTLE & BECOME solid. It is not about building up high at all. It isn’t very impressive looking, and would later become completely covered when built upon.

The foundation phase is about what is happening on the inside: confidence building, getting to grips with NEWLY introduced concepts. It is taking time to let concepts settle and allowing your child to become sure and confident these concepts. There are also a whole lot of other aspects of development that takes place during this phase that is just delightful to experience with your child!

Quantity ('the muchness" of content) doesn’t equal good foundations. Careful laying does, after taking every unique aspect of the “building site” into account....and then giving TIME to let it settle in.


Are you having difficulty laying the foundations of your child’s schooling? Take a moment to consider what you are trying to achieve and see if it fits into the right “phase” of building.

Every child is different and develops different strengths at different times. There is no need to compare yourself or your child. The laying of foundations for your child will be different to someone else’s. It is a delightful season with your child, one to be enjoyed together.

Are you considering homeschooling your child? Perhaps you have already started but still feel overwhelmed. I have designed this Homeschool Planner with careful consideration to make it user-friendly for those new to homeschooling.



Now available!! Get your printed copy of My Homeschool Planner. Ideal for those new to homeschooling or following an eclectic approach. 


Features:

A4 full colour interior

Guided Goal Setting & Vision Casting

Graded Milestones for grade R-3

Tips on balance, self care and homeschooling structure

Undated 12 x monthly planners

Weekly planners: includes space for sensory learning, craft time, experiments & readers

Time for reflection and ideas for looking forward after the year


Click below for a sneak peek inside.




The purpose of this planner is for it to be a helpful companion for the new and eclectic homeschooling parent.

When following the eclectic approach, one has to create your own academic plan, reflect on your own homeschooling vision and follow your own children's interests.

This process can be quite daunting for some, especially when starting out, so I have created this planner to help you on your unique eclectic journey. I give guidance on vision casting, goal setting, academic milestones and general weekly planning.

ORDER NOW! Take the unease away and ensure a good start to the new year.



Looking for more information about HOW TO START HOMESCHOOLING? Watch my video series about HOMESCHOOLING FOR BEGINNERS.

If you do have questions or are feeling anxious about how to lay your child's foundations, feel free to contact me. You can book a consultation.

Would you like to know more about homeschooling? Get my BEST homeschooling updates & special deals delivered to your inbox. Subscribe here.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular Posts

Update 2023: ONLINE HOMESCHOOLING OPTIONS: CAPS & INTERNATIONAL BRITISH CURRICULUM

By Angela Collins
Image
EDIT: June 2023 GOOD NEWS for CAPS Users 1. No more uncertainty about what the price is in Rands  2. No more worrying about whether the exchange rate will worsen and cause the monthly fees to increase 3. Now people know exactly what their debit order will be each month if they want to pay monthly Hybrid Homeschooling Options with  CambriLearn Let's face it, not all of us feel comfortable scrolling through multiple teaching options and putting it all together to make a tailor-made learning experience for our child. If this is you, and you feel more comfortable having an "open up & go" curriculum all set out for you -  knowing that it covers all required subjects and you'll receive a report to account for work done - then you'll appreciate the lengths to which CambriLearn has gone to make it possible to still have an eclectic yet structured homeschooling experience. For parents looking for a hybrid homeschooling platform , where you have the option to choose bet
Read more

Before you start homeschooling - DO YOU KNOW YOUR CHILD'S LEARNING STYLE?!

By Angela Collins
Image
Homeschooling and Different Learning Styles This is such an interesting topic and with homeschooling, we can help our children more effectively (and avoid unnecessary conflict) if we take into account our child's preferred learning style. You don't need to be an educational expert on different learning styles to be able to help your child...all it really takes is to be watchful and mindful of how your child reacts to general things and learning content. In fact, if you can remember how your child was when they were still very young, there would also be indications as to what they gravitate to naturally...long before having to learn to read and write.   In really simplistic terms, you can think of 3 categories of learning styles: a child who learns best by looking (visual); the child who learns best by hearing (auditory); and the child who learns best by doing (kinesthetic). For a general explanation, especially applicable for younger children, you can try the LEARNING STYLE QUI
Read more

ONLINE APPS FOR READING & LEARNING 2023

By Angela Collins
Image
ABCmouse Early Learning Academy ABCmouse is SUCH fun!! We subscribed for more than a year when my eldest son was younger. He LOVED it and it was such a great way to introduce learning elements in a fun way. We started in his grade R year but they cater for children aged 2-8 years. ABCmouse.com is a global education initiative of Age of Learning, Inc. Their focus is to build a strong foundation for future academic success by providing a comprehensive and engaging online curriculum to assist early learners. ABCmouse.com is subscription-based, with no advertising, pop-up ads, or links to other sites. Children can learn and explore with their parents, or on their own (depending on age and ability), in a safe and secure online educational environment.   A BCmouse.com’s award-winning curriculum has been created in close collaboration with early childhood education experts. Watch HERE for an overview. Try it for FREE for 30 days! If you are struggling to find graded readers for your child
Read more

READING AND LEARNING PROGRAMMES FOR AGES 2-13 YEARS

By Angela Collins
Image
  READING AND LEARNING PROGRAMMES  FOR JUST $45 PER YEAR!!  Offer valid for a limited time only ABCmouse.com - Get 1 Year for $45! Try it for free for up to 30 days,  you can cancel anytime. Be sure though to use the $45 DEAL to get up to 8 months FREE on your annual subscription.  AdventureAcademy.com - Get 1 Year for $45! Try it for free  for up to 30 days,  you can cancel anytime. Be sure though to use the  $45 DEAL  to get up to 8 months FREE on your annual subscription.  Read more about these award winning programmes in a previous post. Hurry to get your annual subscription, this deal will be over soon! D isclaimer: this page includes affiliate links - I do get a small commission when you subscribe but at no extra cost to you. Thank you! Would you like to know more about homeschooling? Get my BEST homeschooling updates & special deals delivered to your inbox. Subscribe  here .
Read more

AMAZING FREE HOMESCHOOL CURRICULA...AND MORE!!

By Angela Collins
Image
  It's HERE! It took a lot "digging around" to bring you just the best   FREE Homeschooling Resources  and today I'm excited to tell you all about it!! I know that many have asked about what curricula to use, so I've also included some pairing suggestions, which will ensure a wholesome education for your child. There is such an extensive list of FREE resources that it should definitely cover you for all the primary school years!! At Homeschooling in Rest we focus mainly on the foundation phase, so I've also included a guide on how to teach your child to read. I know that for many, this seems like a daunting task but I want to encourage you that you AND your child  CAN  do it! I look into the different approaches to learning to read as well as tips for parents to make this process stress free and fun for both you and your child. You can get it  HERE . As a BONUS, I am also including the HOMESCHOOL TRACKER for free! This is a digital record keeping tool BUT also
Read more

UNIT STUDIES HOMESCHOOLING APPROACH

By Angela Collins
Image
 If you have a good think about life and everything around us, it will be quite evident that what we see and experience is not in isolation at all. We experience life with many influences that are constantly around us.  The idea of individual school subjects may be easier to manage in some schooling situations but it isn't really a true reflection of the "real world", where  everything is connected. It is this thought of connectivity that the homeschooling approach, UNIT STUDIES, fully embraces. When we present a learning experience to our children that is interest based, you've already bypassed many other obstacles that may otherwise be there to overcome e.g. irrelevance, lack of interest, too abstract, no evident practical application etc.  So how do you use UNIT STUDIES effectively? Firstly, one has to shake off conventional schooling ideas. Think one topic...with ENDLESS possibilities! In a unit study, a topic is explored which involves the various application of
Read more