Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Learning Environments Homeschooling gr 1- Need guidance

For science, this may be helpful:

http://www.nextgenscience.org/sites/ngss/files/1%20combined%20DCI%20standards%206.13.13.pdf

For social science, other states have standards starting from K so you might want to take a peek there to get a general scope and sequence.

For Montessori elementary curriculum:

http://www.amazon.com/Teaching-Mont...57&sr=8-3&keywords=montessori+elementary

It's out of print but your local library may carry a copy.

There are endless possibilities!
I am an "afterschooler" with an accelerated child (DS 6 years). I do not follow a complete curriculm, but use the concepts from them to teach my child. Needless to say, I used my free time to "challenge" my child rather than depend on his PS for doing a good job of it. Though my child has moved on to a better school now, I continue to do the afterschool acceleration, but at a slower pace.
Here is the list of choices that might help you:
Math - Singapore Math with it's whole suite of books, Miquon math with Cuisenaire rods
Math online - EPGY math, DreamBox math, DragonBox math, Khan Academy
LA - Start with First Language Lessons and move on to MCT's Grammar Island. Spelling - Spelling workout, Literature - real literature read alouds, Poetry memorization of funny poems because DS loves that kind of stuff.
LA online - EPGY LA
Handwriting - our weakest area - we used Kumon books that were great but proved ineffective in the long run. So, you might check Handwriting Without Tears that others have recommended.
History - we have done small units on American history based on interest. Will be starting Story of the World or A Child's History of the World in 2nd grade.
Science - Building Fundamentals of Scientific Understanding and various interest led topics like electricity, volcanoes, tubers and rhizomes, robots etc with books from the library.
Music - Faber Piano Adventures (outsourced to a music school)
Art and Craft - no skills here ... so can't suggest anything.
Extras - Chess - outsourced to chess school, but I will help with chess homework. Susan Polgar's book is pretty good.
Have fun chosing!

Here's a placement test for Singapore Math: http://www.singaporemath.com/Placement_Test_s/86.htm

Thanks! All of the info has been so helpful.

We homeschool in South Africa - started 18 months ago when we pulled oldest son out of K then. I was wary of buying into a specific curriculum at first as most of them were grade based only and were not enthusiastic about me buying a higher grade for the same year or using 2 grades in one year.

so we decided to do an ecclectic mix and match according to his unique asynchronous needs.

For Maths we use dreambox.com and he attends SEMAS (Japanese abacus Soroban) one on one classes. We also use loads of fun apps on our phones and PC for him including:
Dragonbox (algebra for kids aged 5+)
Timez Attack (times tables and also now additoin, subtraction and division)

For Science we currently use a lot of kitchen science and easy to use science experiment books. When he was studying Genetics earlier this year I used online videos and two awesome kids books. We are starting with Superchargedscience.com middle of next year - great for kids working on their own and so much fun!

For lifeskills we use a blend of montessori, waldorf and unschooling concepts and materials.

For what you would call social studies (I think? Geography, history etc) we use the Leapfrog TAG pen worldmap, Solar System and Human body charts and fill in missing things with kids encyclopedias and non-fiction books.

It works well for us and we have adapted what we do to fit Nathan (nearly 5 now) too.

We really try follow their interests and so do a lot of projects and unit studies too.

I love this approach purely because I can see the benefits as my boys love learning. Grades and grade level no longer matters and my kids are better off for that! As they leave behind the rigidity of age-based learning they are learning so much more fully and wholeheartedly too.

Ideas for younger kids - use a more life learning approach. Bake together, garden together, play singing and action games, do messy play and creative activities. Go on outings and walks together. When your 3 year old is curious about something get a book on that and read it together as long and as deep as needed. You can use montessori materials for more formal learning as needed or buy a variety of things from so many different resource providers.