Not sure what to title this but here it is......Mady has been able to write her name and say the ABC's since she was 2........and I have no doubt that she will excel in Kindergarten because....well she knows all that she needs to know as far as basics....I am not saying that to be tacky but I have seen what is required for her to know to move on to 1st grade and she has mastered all of those required skills. Our biggest challenge this year is going to be reading which she has already started working on. Emma is going to be 4 in Nov. and will go back to the same Christian preschool as last year. This year they will focus more on the skills of the ABC's and #'s and so forth. But she doesn't know her letters, or how to write her name....frankly she has never shown an interest until recently. I feel horrible that I have not taken the time to work with her as I did with Mady. Can some of you home schooling mom's give me some advice as how to work with her and websites that would be of great help in doing this. I have looked at enchanted learning and love their stuff but can't get the stuff to be printed off right and you need to be a member from what I read to do certain things...maybe I am reading it wrong. I would appreciate any advice or help any of you could send my way. Our local Dollar Tree sales books for $1 that help with letter recognition and phonics and so forth and we have some of those ......thanks ladies....

Hon, I think you're on the right track. But, honestly, if she's only four and has 'some' of it, she's doing good. Don't let the traditional requirements tell you she's behind. She will get it in her own time.

As far as websites, the coolest Alphabet stuff I've found has been at DLTK. I don't have the link readilly, but you can google it and find it.

But if it makes you feel any better, elders are usually a little "advanced" than their post-born siblings, just b/c you're new and want to do everything right, and parents go overboard. I'm not saying you did that, you done what was right, but it's normal.

Either way, give her time and she'll be "caught up" to where she "needs" to be.

TRUST ME. Been there, done that :-)

Thank you for the kind words....and yes I was one of those mommy's that with the first did this and that and yes went overboard but ya know in a good way...lol. I have looked at that site before and gotten somethings off of it but couldn't remember exactly what it was called...so thank you letting me know......This last year was her first year at SonShine preschool...they only go Tues and Thurs....and there was some learning but enough for that age group....then after the holidays a little girl was in her class that should never been allowed to start due to being so young because there was a lot of disruption and behavioral problems that the parents didn't address so they just put her in some form of daycare...which is not what the program was....hoping someone else would remedy the problem......her teacher this coming year was Madys teacher in the past and she is great.....

www.starfall.com Is the funnest reading/phonics website for kiddo's I have ever seen! and there are NO ads. It has tons of levels and lot's of music and fun stuff.

I have checked out star fall and they have really good stuff.....here area a couple more that I have found as well....

www.hubbardscupboard.org
www.preschoolexpress.com
www.akidsheart.com
www.beginningreading.com

I just had to share this with all of you. We have some friends through the girls preschool that homeschool their girls. Well I sent Jennifer an email the other day asking if she could send me some websites that she used with her girls...one is going into 1st and the youngest is going into K. and she sent me some really good websites. Then she emailed me and said she was cleaning out alot of the preschool stuff that she had and some that a friend had given her. O my goodness it was a bag full of stuff and will be very helpful to go along with what Emma is learning at preschool. There were even some crafts and very nice story books. There was one really good book for activities/crafts for ages 3-6 and so many that I already want to do now.....just had to share our blessing and gift from friends