Homeschooling First-Grade

Welcome! If you’re new to This Little Home of Mine, I’m Elizabeth. I am a former elementary school teacher who is now homeschooling my kids. In this post, I’m sharing all about homeschooling first-grade!

Around here, we embrace a year-round family-style approach to homeschooling – a 365-day-a-year round-the-clock approach to living and learning together. I love how educational opportunities can so naturally be woven into our day-to-day life, and I’m excited to give you a glimpse into what that looks like in our house during the first-grade year.

Homeschooling First-Grade

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If you’ve visited me in this space before, you may have seen me share about homeschooling for preschool and elementary, too! I have put together age-specific posts to assist homeschooling families in their journey, and my hope is that as I share what is working well for us that you will be inspired to find what works best for your family.

• Two-Year Old Homeschool Preschool
• Three-Year Old Homeschool Preschool
• Four-Year Old Homeschool Preschool
• Homeschooling Kindergarten
• Homeschooling First-Grade
• Homeschooling Second-Grade 
• Homeschooling Third-Grade 
• Homeschooling Fourth-Grade

In this post, I am sharing all about Homeschooling First-Grade! If you are considering homeschooling your first-grader, I’m so glad you’re here. I’m going to share my favorite resources, teaching strategies, and planning tips – things that have worked well in our learning environment – let’s get started!

In previous posts, I have gone in to a lot of detail, but my goal for this post is to keep things as simple as possible – providing you with a glimpse in to what we’re doing, hoping you will feel inspired in our own way. 

Bible – For the preschool and kindergarten years for my oldest two kiddos, we used The Jesus Storybook Bible for our Bible time. I know we will continue to enjoy that book as a family (It is truly beautiful!), but since then, we have discovered some other favorites that I’ve shared here. Our favorite time to read together? At the breakfast table and/or just before bed.

As far as Scripture memory goes, we are part of a local AWANA program! Throughout the school year, our memory work comes directly from our handbooks. If you have an AWANA program near you, I would highly recommend it. It is a fantastic way to encourage your children to learn Scripture. My kids are wild about it!

Free Mail-In Bible Lessons We’ve Used As Well

• Mailbox Club International
• Houston Postal Bible School

Language Arts: Phonics/Reading/Grammar – My kiddos are second generation A Beka students. A Beka’s phonics program was used to teach me to read, and as a classroom teacher, this was hands-down my favorite phonics/reading program to use with students. You may feel that it is not a great fit for your child – and I realize that are all kinds of excellent options out there – but I am big fan and have seen fantastic results with it over the years.

Handwriting – We use A Beka’s manuscript curriculum. (Handwriting without Tears is another great option, if you’re interested!) In addition to A Beka’s daily workbook pages, I like to find creative ways to encourage handwriting practice – ideas that don’t include pencil and paper. For example, tracing Letters (and words!) with water is one of our favorite ideas.

Creative Writing – This is an area where I like to add in some additional activities – fun writing prompts, out-loud storytelling games, various holiday activities, etc. These storytelling cards and this Storytelling Game have been fun to include our Bedtime Basket and enjoy together as a family in the evenings.

Math – In the summer months, Kumon books have been great for extra reinforcement –

with A Beka’s math curriculum being our go-to throughout the year.

I like to bring to life whatever is on the page – using as many hands-on manipulatives and activities as possible.

I am always on the lookout for items I can use in this way: yard sales being my favorite spots to find the kinds of things I like to use with my kids!

Science/History/Health – For the first-grade year, I use Abeka’s science, history, and health readers as guides for various topics I want to cover – using the topics as a guide, but finding my own ways to bring the material to life – read-alouds, field trips, hands-on experiences, experiments, art activities, etc. – all allowing me to easily include my younger ones in the activities.

This printable planning packet is perfect for brainstorming ideas for any topic you are learning about together:

Art – Around here, we don’t really do a lot of crafts (I’m specifically scared of glitter! ha!), but we do love to draw, color, paint, and use play dough.

My kids love grabbing their sketch books (simple Melissa & Doug art pads I found online) and drawing along with Art for Kids Hub. If we’ve been reading about a specific plant or animal, historical figure or landmark, etc. we look to see if he has a video where we can draw that exact person, place, or thing along with him, and he usually does!

Music –When my oldest started kindergarten, we kicked things off with piano lessons at a local studio where he worked along in the “Teaching Little Fingers to Play” book. Though all was going well there, I decided to make the switch to an area group whose teachers COME TO THE HOUSE. Yes! For our current season of life, this has been amazing! The teacher comes weekly and now actually works one-on-one with my three oldest kiddos. While the teacher rotates through lessons with each child (using hands-on activities as well as the flashcards and Piano Adventures series you see here), this gives me time to work more closely with my other kiddos. This setup has been perfect for many reasons!

In this house, music is constantly in the air – while we play, while we learn, while we eat, while we rest, while we ride along in the car (Thank you, Pandora! ha!), and though I am excited about having my kiddos spend time with a trained teacher, I also love having them sit by the piano – on a picnic blanket (I’m not kidding! ha!) – and we sing together. This is as simple as my playing songs found in the back of their picture books, Christmas music from a hymnal, silly tunes we make up as we go, or sing-a-longs we have on hand.

I have received a lot of questions about when might be best to start lessons, what resources to use, etc. but like with so many things, I think it depends on each child – always taking in to account their development as well as their interests and enthusiasm for different things. My advice: Consider your own kiddo – just them, no one else’s – and let that guide your decisions. In most situations, that alone will give you the answers you need!

P.E. – Throughout different seasons, our kids have participated in low-key sports programs. Emphasis on low-key! The intensity level from the coaches (and fellow parents!) is chill with the focus being on learning basic skills and having fun!

The best thing kids can do for physical activity? Play outside! Take walks, ride bikes, run in the yard! While my kids enjoy going to swimming and soccer, they love the freedom that comes with simply playing outside together.

GAME NIGHT – Around here, Thursday night is Family Game Night! Sure, we play classic just-for-fun games that families have enjoyed for years, but this has also been a great opportunity to connect over games like Zingo®, Math War, Money Bingo, Sequence® States & Capitals, and more. It’s evening…we’ve just finished dinner…Daddy is home…and we’re learning together. Not only are we practicing how to take turns and how to win and lose graciously, but we’re also reinforcing many of the things we’re learning in school.

STEAM – At least once a week, I like to have some kind of SIMPLE science experiment for us to do together as a family. This usually happens in the evenings or on the weekends – when Daddy is home.

This is one of the ways he is able to participate in our homeschooling activities, and the kids go wild when it’s time to do an activity with daddy. The ideas I use are usually something I have spotted on an Instagram account I follow or from this book: Science Experiments for Young Learners: K-2 – I realize the cover might seem a little out-dated (I’ve had this book for years!), but the experiments included are easy, peasy ideas that you can do with objects you already own – very little (if any) prep required for most of them!

A Couple of Things I Say Yes! To:

Local Activities: I am always on the lookout for local events/activities that would be a good fit for our family. I consistently watch what’s going on at our libraries, museums, parks, children’s theaters, farms/orchards, etc. and this has gifted us with so many great opportunities for learning – and another chance for daddy to be involved. With a batch of little ones, it works best for us to do these things in the evenings or on the weekends. The extra set of hands is helpful for me, and we all love having David along for these experiences.

Summer Camps: In our area, we have a handful of different places that offer excellent summer camps for kids. I am looking for quality programs that TEACH, and I have loved seeing my boys enjoy a variety of different camps that encourage them in things that interest them. STEAM camps have been their favorite: especially the ones that involve Legos, and these kinds of opportunities have been an excellent addition to our homeschooling lifestyle.

Technology:While I realize too much screen-time can have a negative impact on kiddos, I’m definitely not one to say that it’s all bad. We include all kinds of technology in to our homeschooling routines: educational apps, on-line computer games, YouTube videos, and television shows (Yes, television shows!). Our current routine includes a daily Tech Time. This includes regular practice with Keyboarding without Tears as well as other favorites.

Our Favorites Apps:

• Endless Alphabet
• Starfall
• OSMO
• Reading Eggs
• Prodigy
• Storybots
• YouVersion: The Bible App for Kids

Our Favorite YouTube Channels:

• Alphablocks
• Art for Kids Hub
• Oh my Genius
• Storybots
• Super Simple Songs
• The Dad Lab

Our Favorite Websites:

• Funbrain Jr.
• Starfall
• Teach Your Monster to Read
• Keyboarding without Tears 

Our Favorite TV Shows

• Daniel Tiger
• Mickey Mouse Clubhouse
• Little Einsteins
• Super Why
• Word World
• Peg Plus Cat
• Martha Speaks
• Adventures in Odyssey

Our Favorite Audio Options

• Adventures in Odyssey
• Jonathan Park
• Patch the Pirate
• Geronimo Stilton
• Playaways from Our Local Library
• C.S. Lewis Chronicles of Narnia Radio Theater by Focus on the Family

A Few Things I Say No! To:

Crafts – While I realize Pinterest is full and overflowing with all kinds of cute craft ideas, we honestly don’t include many crafts in our homeschooling activities. Opportunities for art exploration? Sure, but not many crafts.

Supplemental Resources – Once again, Pinterest. When I hop on Pinterest, I see all kinds of amazing printable resources – super cute goodies that are right there at my fingertips ready to be printed and used with my kids. However, I have to think carefully before I get too carried away with things like that.

• How well does it fit with what we’re learning? 
• Is it just busy work or would it play an important role in their learning something new? 
• How much time is it going to take to print and prep this printable or activity?
• Keeping our other work in mind, do I want to make time to complete this activity?

My answers to these questions determine whether or not I pin things to a board I set aside for activities I actually want to make happen with my kids. Needless to say, if something is just busy work…or if something is going to take more prep time than its worth, I usually skip it.

Play dates – When my boys were younger, play dates were a regular part of our routine. In fact, most Fridays, you would find us at the park with other mommies/little kiddos. These days? Not so much. It’s not that we don’t ever have play dates anymore, but honestly, they are few and far between. We are currently in a different season of life that requires me to be more focused at home with my kids, and the truth is that all of those play dates in the first few years of motherhood were really more for me than my babies. ha!

Outside Commitments – My current season of life as a wife and mommy is a full-time ministry of giving and serving at home. There can oftentimes be a lot of pressure for at-home moms to commit themselves elsewhere. I’m not sure why others assume mamas have extra time on their hands, but if you allow them, they will quickly fill your schedule for you – over-committing you in ways that are not a good fit for your life with littles. This is an area where I have had to be careful to set boundaries. I want to say Yes! to everyone, but when I do that, I am forced to pull away from where I have been called to serve right now. This is an area where I am constantly having to keep myself in check. Anyone else struggle with this same thing? Maybe it’s just me! ha!

I love sharing our learning lifestyle on Instagram! Are you active on social media If so, I would love to connect with you on Facebook and Instagram!

We also have a new Instagram account that is dedicated to all things homeschooling:

Lifestyle Homeschooling

A Few Helpful Tips

Morning Time: This is a great way to kick off the morning, and it’s always the perfect time to read books together: whether it be fun picture books or a chapter book that we’re reading through a chapter at a time. Yes, even the littles are with us during this time. You can grab an editable printable for this here:

Reading Time: When my kiddos wake up (and before they go to bed), they have reading time. Thirty minutes or so for them to independently explore books. In the mornings, it sets the tone for a day of learning together, and in the evenings, it serves as the perfect way to wind down before sleep.

Rest Time: All of my kids have an afternoon rest time. The little ones sleep and my older ones use their time to complete independent work. They head to a quiet spot – but instead of sleeping, they finish their school work. Then they can choose which way they want to relax until the little ones wake up from their nap time. This gifts them with time to work and learn independently – something I want to encourage with each one of my kids.

Mommy’s Helper: (I am working on a blog post about this as we speak!) Have you ever used a Mommy’s Helper? For us this describes a young babysitter who simply plays with my littles while I either tackle household chores or do school activities with my older kids. In past years, this has been helpful when it comes to some of my mommy chores, but this summer, I have been using one to hang out with my littles while I do more focused learning time with my first-grader. With a new baby on the way, I have used this as an opportunity to go ahead and dive in to some of the review material found at the start of his curriculum – which will take a little bit of pressure off of us when our new addition joins us in a couple of months.

Flexibility: that has been the key word for me! Always being willing to adjust and find creative ways to make things work in my current season, and I hope you – as a homeschool mom (or future homeschool mom) feel that same freedom.

Want to read more about our family’s Lifestyle of Homeschooling? Our daily schedule? A look at our week? I would be honored to share with you how we have adopted a lifestyle of living and learning together and how you can do the same with your own family: