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Natalia
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I want to use the Five in a Row curriculum with my 4 yo but I am unsure which volume to begin with: BFIAR or FIAR volume 1. I know that we have read a lot of the books of Vol 1 so I know he can handle the books. But what about the activities? are the activities in FIAR too advance for a 4 yo?
Thanks in advance,
Natalia
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Cay Gibson
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Natalia,
We read BFIAR this past year so we're moving into vol. I with my 4-yr-old.
The early volumes are perfect for 4 yr olds. 
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Rebecca
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At what age would you switch from BFIAR to FIAR?
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Cay Gibson
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| Posted: July 27 2006 at 4:48pm | IP Logged
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Rebecca wrote:
| At what age would you switch from BFIAR to FIAR? |
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FIAR has it programmed exactly right.
BFIAR is ages 2-4.
I wouldn't use Vol. I until the child is over 4 yrs of age, at a Kindergarten mentality (at least), and---even then---take it slowly. Volume I might last Annie through K and 1st grade. Depends on how much she reaps of it this year.
Edit: Natalia, I should have mentioned, if you haven't done BFIAR yet, it is very appropriate for a 4 yr old. Do that first to "get into the groove" then move on to Vol. I.
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Cay Gibson
"There are 49 states, then there is Louisiana." ~ Chef Emeril
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Cajun Cottage Under the Oaks
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Dawn
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Cay Gibson wrote:
| [Edit: Natalia, I should have mentioned, if you haven't done BFIAR yet, it is very appropriate for a 4 yr old. Do that first to "get into the groove" then move on to Vol. I. |
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I am very glad to hear this! I actually *have* BFIAR *and* a 4 yo!  You all recommend "rowing" so highly its time I look into it further.
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Natalia
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So what else would you do with a 4 yo?
Really, I know that sounds like a stupid question but this is the first time I am going to homeschool a preschooler. My other two kids (13 and 9) went to a Montessori preschool. So technically I haven't taught any of them how to read. I am nervous. I don't have a good background on early education.
How long do you set aside to do BFIAR? What kind of activities does it include? Does it require a lot of preparation? What does your preschooler do the rest of the time your other children are doing school?
I know this is ridiculous but I feel overwhelmed ...
Natalia
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Cay Gibson
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Oh, Natalia, "overwhelmed" is my middle name this week.  I'm so glad I can be of some use...somehow. 
My plans for the 4 yr old in my home.
Due to a Dec. bday, my 4 yr old would have to wait another year for Kindergarten. I think she's ready and hs allows this early start.
Basically, I'm doing PreK and K with her this fall.
Don't be nervous, Natalia. My college degree isn't in elementary education at all but I taught my 8 yr old to read at the same age as my current 4 yr old using CHC's Little Stories for Little Folks  and a few Bob books and Dr. Seuss books. It was no-stress, very laidback, and very manageable. Chels loved learning to read and she hasn't stopped since.
I'm looking at my BFIAR now. There's really not a whole lot of preparation unless you want to do lapbooks...which I did with my middle dd. With my youngest we have mostly done everything as oral discussion and she has played with her sister's lapbooks.
We didn't do lapbooks because we were doing Mosaic this past year. It was enough just to read the BFIAR books, discuss them, and enjoy them.
Activities in BFIAR?
Music suggestions, art, casual science suggestions, Bible verses, rhyming, character formation, simple math
While the other dc are doing their school work, that's when the Montessori baskets and trays get set out. I plan to have a reading corner this year (we haven't had one set-up since we moved into this house) where Annie can retreat with her tape recorder. And, yes, she is allowed to watch TV for Reading Rainbow and Between the Lions (is that the name? doesn't sound right).
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lapazfarm
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Natalia, It isn't rediculous at all! I am an old-timer and have taught several kids to read already, but I am nervous about Kindergarten this year with my littlest! I guess it's because it's been so long (next older is almost 11) and because I am going to "wing it" without a program like BFIAR. We all have our moments of doubt!
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Genevieve
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Dawn wrote:
| [I am very glad to hear this! I actually *have* BFIAR *and* a 4 yo! You all recommend "rowing" so highly its time I look into it further. |
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Oh Dawn! You would LOVE it! My three and half does. We do skip some of the activities because he isn't interested in them.. I actually read some of the suggestions as is and wait for his eyes to light up. *grinz* The best part about the selection of the books is that I think they would lend well to storytelling (with puppets or whatsnot) which you naturally lean towards. We actually lived those characters for weeks on end. So much that we might dwell on one book for more than the intended week. 
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Alice R
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I gotta tell ya,
I don't do anything formal with a 4 year old. 
I read to them and take them to every educational place I can find. I have tons of art supplies for them to make a mess with. Oh, and I feed them.
I have found with my kids that I can bang my head against a wall teaching them something that if I only waited-they can learn in a snap.
I do B4FIAR but I don't follow any of the activities. I just do things as they pop up in daily life. I've done FIAR for years and I guess the little ones listen.
Blessings,
Alice
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Cay Gibson
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Very un-schooling approach, Alice. You're right! Most of the time, learning happens without us having to program it or schedule it. And it's less stressful that way. 
We've unschooled quite a bit in the past years but I still like a structured school span during some part of the day. This year it will be from 10 AM-2 PM.
What happens when I don't have some structured time in our day? I wrote about it on my blog.
I am so ready to plan and execute.
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Cay Gibson
"There are 49 states, then there is Louisiana." ~ Chef Emeril
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Cajun Cottage Under the Oaks
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Alice R
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I'm heading off from the original topic but don't forget about "Slow and Steady Get Me Ready" by June Oberlander.
260 Weekly Devlopmental Activities from Birth to Age 5
The sticker on my books says I paid $19.95.
I personally like FIAR but you might be able to get this at your library and add to FIAR.
Always looking for inexpensive ideas!
Blessings,
Alice
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Bookswithtea
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I like B4FIAR for 4 yr olds. I'm going to use it with a young 4yr old this year. I have had children younger than 5 sit in on FIAR books for years and although some of the books are right at their level, FIAR seems to me to be its *best* with late 5yr olds to 7 yr olds. Some of the activities are easily over the head of a 5 yr old. When I use FIAR with a younger child we just pick the easiest activities.
I don't recommend doing a lot of school with kids this age either but what I find is that my preschoolers *beg* for something of their own. FIAR type activities are easy and not overwhelming, imho.
The best suggestion I can make is to print out the list of books from the FIAR web site for B4 and also for one volume of FIAR and go to the library or B and N and look at the books first.
Hope this helps!
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~Books
mothering ds'93 dd'97 dd'99 dd'02 ds'05 ds'07 and due 9/10
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4Real Forums : Living Learning
Topic: Five in Row or Before Five in a Row?
