Using homeschooling materials to tutor?

[HouseArrest]

Hello homeschoolers out there, here is a question for you. I need to do some extra preventative tutoring for my second grader next year. Our kids are in a Catholic school that I absolutely love, but the second grade teacher is new and is still “learning”. I want to supplement some next year just as a preventative measure. Are there homeschooling materials that are a good fit for this? Or should I just get a copy of her book next year (and then do what with it)?

 

[Corki]

I call myself a “part-time” homeschooler because I am always supplementing something. Each year, there is at least one subject where the curriculum at the kids school is lacking.

Is there a particular subject that you want to enhance or just overall?

 

[HouseArrest]

Sorry - left that out.

It would be for reading. Supposedly some of the kids in the second grade class are falling behind in that year.

I should add that I do have some teaching experience but in high school math. Teaching reading, in addition to it being my child, is a little scary for me and it would be easier if I had a “package deal” if you know what I mean – I can’t really invent curriculum.

Thanks!

 

[Corki]

I suggest that you look at the material at Catholic
Heritage Curriculum www.chcweb.com They are solidly Catholic, inexpensive (compared to texts) and incremental. I have used their spelling, grammar and handwriting series. They have phonics and readers too.

IMO, with reading it isn’t so much a matter of “what kind” of material as much as a matter of “how much”. Some kids just take a bit longer (more practice) before they are fluent in reading. My youngest was quite fluent by 2nd grade but for my older son, he took until mid-fourth grade to read without it being a struggle. The moral being that the “right” material is whatever catches your child’s interest and that he/she will stick to.