Kindergarten curriculum?

So, if you've looked into homeschooling at all, you know there are TONS of curricula out there, and none of it really covers everything.
One publisher will be perfect for reading, another math, so on and so forth.
Then comes the issue of cost. If you can't bundle all subjects from one publisher, you pay more in shipping and miss out on bundle "deals".

It's overwhelming. It can be quite intimidating, and I say that coming from a school teachers experience in picking out the curriculum for a middle school language program.

Also, I had read blog after blog about moms who jumped in with a set curriculum and soon became stressed and overwhelmed. Either it was too much, not enough... they began to worry about falling "behind" and being a failure.

Not how I want my first year to go.

So instead, I go on Pinterest ( 😔guilty) and search for things my child needs to know for kindergarten and learn in kindergarten.
Amazingly, it comforted me because it really was stuff I could teach without a set bought curriculum.  I knew that I could pretty much make do with free/cheap and make-your-own stuff. Cause really, it's kindergarten. A child's ability to focus isn't fully developed, they learn more through song, play, and hands-on life than books and lectures.

This is how I wanted my homeschool to be anyway, very hands-on and parent led. God trust me to educate my children, I'm going to take it seriously.
(Deut 6:5-9)

So I start planning. I download phonics flash cards, print worksheets, and math worksheets. Find math and money flash cards at yard sales. I get familiar with the easy reader section of my library. I think about the different games we play and how they can help her learn.

I think about teaching the family tree, address and phone number, emergency contact info, public workers (police, fire, etc)...

I join a local Facebook mom group and feel out what they do - ask for advice and recommendations.

Oh yeah, I was ready. She was turning four and I was ready for her to start "school".
- Yes, I think I over-plan a bit...

Then one day, a friend invited me to the open house of her homeschool community, Classical Conversations.

And I learned, yet again, that I was missing some foundational structures in my planning.

Did you know that there's a Modern education model and a Classical education model? I didn't.

I had to learn more - and I am still learning more about it.

What I can say for now is, I feel God wants me to use the Classical Christian model of education for my children.

I'll tell you more about why I chose this  and what it is - hopefully in my next post.

I leave you with this -

Proverbs 1:7-9
7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
8 My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:
9 For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck.