Finding the right curriculum and materials to interest them is all it takes to stroke a love of learning. Learning to read is the best example. All three of my kids have learned to read in kindergarten, using different methods and materials, just by focusing on what interests them.
Learning to Read in Kindergarten
*Part of being an ambassador for BookShark is sharing our experiences in using it. I’m 100% honest in what I share, and how we feel about using it. This post also contains affiliate links, see my disclosure for more information.* Engaging kindergartners in reading is crucial for their educational journey.
Kindergarten has been my favorite grade to homeschool, which makes me sad that it is also going to be our last year with kindergarten. I love how kindergartners want to learn and how fast they can learn once they are interested. That’s when they start to enjoy reading at this early stage.
This is the first year we have used BookShark Kindergarten Language Arts. Gauge just turned five in November but he is so eager to learn that we are on Week 18 in the schedule, as I’ve been letting him move at his own faster pace. His progress highlights how effective our approach to learning reading in kindergarten can be.
My girls learned to read a little differently than he did. They learned their letter sounds from watching a LeapFrog video on vacation one year. As we traveled, they used their DVD player in the backseat to watch LeapFrog DVDs. Gauge has no interest in watching them; instead, he wants copywork and books to read. It shows how flexible teaching strategies can support kindergartners in reading.
BookShark Kindergarten Language Arts Curriculum
The curriculum includes phonics, spelling, copywork, and a complete creative expression/pre-writing program. While the copywork is working on writing and spelling skills, our favorite part has been the creative expression where your child explains to you what they think is happening in a picture provided in the curriculum. This interaction fosters learning to read skills right from their first school year.
As with the other levels word for word, instruction scripts are included in the 36-week, 4-day Instructor’s Guide, making it easy to teach your child at the right speed and with ease. This simplification aids in successfully learning reading skills during kindergarten.
Learning to Read with Fun Books
With our Language Arts curriculum, we also have the Fun Tales books which are perfect for learning to read and practicing literacy skills in small bites. The books are short, with just a few words per page with fun, helpful pictures.
Watching your child read one of these books on their own is just one of the greatest joys in homeschooling. From the moment we unboxed our BookShark curriculum this year Gauge was drawn to the Fun Tales box of books. Using engaging books to promote reading is especially effective in kindergarten settings.
Fun Learning to Read Games
The Kindergarten curriculum also includes BookShark’s Go A to Z! which is their alphabet version of the Go Fish card game. This game is a great way to first learn the letters and sounds they make. Such play-based approaches are ideal for kindergartners to grasp early reading concepts.
Also included is BINGO! All kids love to play BINGO. Just as with Go A to Z!, you can use the game to practice letter recognition and then to learn the letter sounds. These interactive activities are vital for learning to read during kindergarten.
The best part of playing games to practice skills is that older children/siblings can also play along with kindergartners for some family fun. Older siblings already know their letter sounds, but the review can help make for great spellers. This family involvement enhances the learning to read experience for all, starting in kindergarten.
We really enjoy BookShark for the content of the curriculum and the open-and-go style that it lends to parents with everything planned out for you. Some of the subjects we have used have included:
Science for 6-8-year-olds and for 9-12-year-olds
History
Language Arts