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.*
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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