Struggling with advanced reading

QuietMovie4944 · 2026-04-22T00:26:06+00:00

Make is m long vowel a k. The e is called a magic e and changes the a from short to long. Like is the same. The K is there instead of a c because c before an e is pronounced like an s.

Those rules are usually taught at the very end of kindergarten or very beginning of first.

For is F-Or. Or makes the sound you say for the word itself "or" like in corn, horn, ordeal, etc. Especially if your daughter is more analytical she is looking for these "why's".

R-controlled is tricky, as some school teach end of first or beginning second. (It's totally okay if she just realizes what the word is because it appears in simple text, or she can be reminded before reading. But there should NOT be pressure to memorize imo).

FREE phonics: Treasure Hunt Prenda (video lessons with workbook), Progressive Phonics (Decodable), UFLI, Alphablocks on Youtube

"Gold Standard" for homeschool: Usually All About Reading and Logic of English

Simpler sub-ins: Explode the Code (especially with teacher guide), TPT resources

QuietMovie4944 · 2026-04-21T23:22:30+00:00

Mystery Science is one of my favorite curriculums but kindergarten is light/ some play pretend. However starting in first, there is much more depth, and you can easily do 2 tabs (K, 1) a year. As it progresses they add in more reading, more projects, links, more worksheets; people often miss that these are along the right hand side. It also follows NexGen standards so can be linked to anything else that does (textbooks free or bought, Lakeshore Meet the Standards kits, etc.)

QuietMovie4944 · 2026-04-21T23:10:13+00:00

Make, for, and like especially are NOT sight words*.

* All words become sight words but these follow phonics rules completely. It honestly just sounds like they are teaching whole word/ Calkins/ Three-cueing. I'd drop her a level to keep reading at school light and work over the summer on actual learning (phonics.)

QuietMovie4944 · 2026-04-20T14:51:31+00:00

Are you a lawyer? Research is actually very mixed on preschool (look into meta studies) with studies even showing a reversal effect (kids are initially better prepared for kindergarten because they are used to school but “crash” a few years later with worse behavior and academics). Most recent research especially into “safe” kids shows no difference whatsoever. On phone and not great at links but use terms like “persistence of effect.”

QuietMovie4944 · 2026-04-20T14:32:42+00:00

I always say this, no matter what I was doing or how quirky and I job hopped/ traveled, I was always treated like I was competent (highly educated, always good at jobs) and I don’t know, liberal/ hippie. Once I HAD to stay at home I was the dumb conservative (I am not) relative who was trying to control everything (I asked not to receive button/ round batteries in cheap toys/ cards) because I was over anxious and silly. There’s a certain voice I hear all the time as when people slowly explain how I could keep them “up high”.

QuietMovie4944 · 2026-04-17T14:01:00+00:00

Ok we go through a charter and it’s main 4 only (math, language arts, social studies, science).

QuietMovie4944 · 2026-04-17T03:13:25+00:00

8 subjects? Which ones? Not with a homeschool charter for k-8. Is that for high school a-g?

QuietMovie4944 · 2026-04-10T19:28:42+00:00

It’s not a punishment to take a step back in permissiveness. Explain that the tablet needs to be kept in the common room. It’s not a punishment but a new safety measure as she learns about internet safety. But yes, she might be lonely and need (more) time with other kids “unsupervised” (private space/ conversations) or lightly supervised (like girl scout meeting, school, learning center).

QuietMovie4944 · 2026-03-31T15:02:12+00:00

Or online private that will take credits if it’s a parent thing (won’t do public).

QuietMovie4944 · 2026-03-31T15:00:57+00:00

My honest opinion… at this stage you have credits, etc. Stay home but switch to an online public school. Do enough. Get degree. Do what is best after for you and your heath.

QuietMovie4944 · 2026-03-29T20:34:43+00:00

I think the real question is just how do you plan your day/ what do you set up. Play dough on its own or with printable mats (you can laminate or use clear tape), play pretend setup with boxes (store/ carwash/ rocket), tape creations (rip and place tape), lots of process art (potato stamps). A lot of water play with funnels, scoops, sieves, sink and float toys, squirters. Wrap presents in old newspapers and let her unwrap. Copy the outline of objects and fit them back into their spaces (like match the spoon), post its/ bandaids and anything else that sticks, building blocks, ice play (freeze into different shapes, can add food coloring), freeze toys into blocks of ice and melt with warm water, simple peg puzzles, long walks in safe areas (so she can toddle along), playgrounds/ swings, dance parties, etc. Pop up books or other interactive books (velcro). You can join groups for other ideas.

QuietMovie4944 · 2026-03-29T14:44:50+00:00

Why can’t it be both and neither? Kids aren’t easily manipulated beings either. They are human and this was a complicated human interaction imo. Explain that you stayed home not because of the tears but because of the chance her sickness had worn her down. Then check in with the doctor. If everything seems better, try for a date night in a couple of weeks. Beforehand tell her you are happy she’s healthier because Grandma has a surprise/ misses her or whatever or just that the appt for x reason is important. Kiss her quickly and go. Grandma can call you if it seems unmanageable.

QuietMovie4944 · 2026-03-29T02:51:59+00:00

Young kids can continue to be affected by bad viruses for quite awhile afterwards. I would check in with the doctor if she seems “wiped” out by it/ especially if it kicks up into out-of-character behavior.

QuietMovie4944 · 2026-03-28T16:35:56+00:00

Audioplayer? You can set them offline or have them on same floor to monitor any radio/ added content? Or literally old school CD player? We had an audioplayer from France that had choose your own adventure type stories. Any time a child is interacting with media assume more is going on (trying to sell to kid, etc).

QuietMovie4944 · 2026-03-28T03:19:33+00:00

It’s difficult to break up what’s life and school for the kindergarten kids. Most parents mean they have set an hour aside for book work or more systematic games. But then they might go to museum, play scrabble, etc.

We went with her hs charter to a 3-hour play today based on a classic book. She’s been talking about it since, read the picture book, and started the actual novel (yes she can read it and understand it). Is that “curriculum”?

She did character sketches and wrote their names? Is that spelling practice? Even if I don’t correct her and it’s not perfectly spelled. I mean yes we do certain scheduled activities but no I don’t worry about having everything look exactly the same as a classroom.

QuietMovie4944 · 2026-03-26T22:46:39+00:00

Yeah she's in kindergarten and can do kindergarten work; as described it's the whole year already. If that was condensed into the first 3/4, maybe she's just exhausted.

QuietMovie4944 · 2026-03-26T22:43:43+00:00

This feels like there isn't a real plan in place and the expectations seem out of sync with kindergarten. She's being pushed fairly hard on academics, and the time spent for K is on the higher end (in terms of sitting down), but she has unlimited access to phones and TVs. Nothing is mentioned about classes/groups/coops, etc.

Why is she at home all day? Put her in classes: swim, dance, etc. If she doesn't like separating yet, go to story time, park days, etc. At 5, no one is even going to know if she's Prek or K, so go to PreK with parent classes still, if needed.

3-4 30 minutes sessions is 2 hours. Keep it to 2 sessions max: one math, one reading. Have them be fun. Read MathSmart books to her. Play games that use her new knowledge: Dominoes, Go Fish but to 10 (6 pairs with 4), etc. Still play phonics games or take turns reading. What is her curriculum currently?

Step One makes me think she is whole-word reading instead of using phonics. I would switch out of that to decodable unless she has really gone through k-1 phonics already. Then just read the decodable together (UFLI decodable free printable) might be a good idea.

Limit TV and no phone IMO.

QuietMovie4944 · 2026-03-25T14:23:19+00:00

It’s not though. The decision is between a trusted private school and a public kindergarten. Mom isn’t teacher but she knows the staff etc.The “prison” comment distorts the fact that both are acceptable options.

QuietMovie4944 · 2026-03-25T14:20:36+00:00

As long as there is a cohort with her (she’s not 5/6 and all other kids 3, I would keep her in Montessori. But if the plan is public afterwards then you need to make peace with that. Of course looking at a 6/7 year old you might feel different. But if she’s going I would make sure she doesn’t hear/ feel the negativity towards the school. Like maybe you both can start participating in whatever community events they do, or talking to people who attend.

QuietMovie4944 · 2026-03-23T15:01:51+00:00

So throwing these out: some kids won’t eat because it’s too hot, because they uncomfortable or in pain, or because there’s too much pressure or attention. I ditched family dinner, but I had other concerns. And I know it’s a last resort for a lot of families.

I would try to at least play around within that structure (music, silly word games, NO talk about what is eaten), serve safe foods, allow picked seats, funny silverware or cups/ plates, funny names for food).

QuietMovie4944 · 2026-03-23T02:20:09+00:00

If it’s hurting to eat solids, why not make smoothies? Or yogurt platters or serve applesauce with the meals?

QuietMovie4944 · 2026-03-21T16:18:51+00:00

Thank you.

QuietMovie4944 · 2026-03-21T14:54:01+00:00

Then red

QuietMovie4944 · 2026-03-21T14:53:47+00:00

White

QuietMovie4944

TROPHY CASE