Delayed Academics?

Megan was working on some cutting skills this morning.  Every morning this week I have been having my girls work on some sort of school stuff.  Laura and Jasmine have been working on math and some reading.  For Megan, I have her working on some basic activities, cutting and pasting, and some workbook stuff to get her into a "school" mode. 

I have really been trying to focus on Megan's fine motor skills, but to tell the truth, I worry that she just isn't ready.  I don't want to push too hard and have her frustrated.  I'm trying to make it fun for her in a way, easy and natural.  I believe in a child working hard, but there's a balance between working hard and being frustrated because the child is not developmentally ready for a skill or concept.

Kindergarten is the official title for the grade Megan is supposed to be entering, but I'm learning that grade level concepts vary from place to place and curriculum to curriculum.  Megan learned a lot with preschool.  She is ready to move on to more advanced learning in some areas, but not in others.  I have read all the arguments that state that pushing her too hard too early would be a grave mistake.

As I plan our Kindergarten, I have come to the realization that maybe, at 5, she needs a bit more time and practice for some concepts.  For instance, she knows her letters and sounds, but struggles with blending.  So, I'm thinking we will spend time reviewing those letters and sounds and take phonics and blending slowly.  If she isn't getting it, I will back off and go back to reviewing what she knows.

My research has shown me that, unless a child is showing more signs of readiness, they shouldn't be pushed to read too early.  Instead, a love of books and learning should be formed with things such as tons of reading aloud, playing games with words and letters, and reviewing concepts. 

Megan is playing with writing letters.  She writes letters really large on paper, but can't seem to write them in the smaller space provided on handwriting pages and in workbooks.  She gets easily frustrated with the task.  That isn't what I want.

So, the first part of our Kindergarten year will be a review of concepts we learned in preschool.  I will probably pull out the preschool program and reuse much of it, with the higher learning objectives provided, and add in other things.  Then, after we do that at a double speed, I will be able to evaluate how she is doing.  If I see that she is getting bored along the way with our learning, I can always increase the pace or make the work more advanced.

A few of the homeschool programs out there haven't caved to the "earlier is better" learning that has become so popular in the public school.  A few programs believe in steady learning with a more gentle approach to how and when concepts are introduced.  I've spent hours reading and researching studies that have been done on this subject.  It has given me a course of action without feeling like my child is behind because she wasn't reading when she turned five.  Ironically, not pushing certain concepts until developmentally ready doesn't mean that learning doesn't occur. 

As our school year is shaping up, with prayer every day into our planning, I am surprised at the directions God has taken me.  It is exciting and, at the same time, reassuring.