At the Pre-K level, math is focused mainly on familiarizing the child with basic skills such as counting and recognizing numbers and shapes. For most preschoolers, these skills can be taught through play and by using simple manipulatives. By kindergarten, students are able to use these basic skills to find answers to slightly more complex quantitative questions, whether through adding, subtracting, or measuring values. Their understanding of basic shapes will advance to encompass three-dimensional objects. Much of math study at the kindergarten level will still be carried out through play and the use of manipulatives. Many homeschoolers also begin using a formal math curriculum when their children begin kindergarten.
Whereas in traditional school settings, many students either fall behind in math or become very bored with the subject because they have already mastered the concepts being taught, the homeschool environment allows children to truly progress at their own pace. Many homeschooled kindergarteners understand math at a second or third grade level. Those who struggle with math in the kindergarten years will still benefit greatly from homeschooling, as their instruction can be tailored to meet their exact needs as they advance through the material.
This section includes our recommendations for kindergarten homeschool math curriculums. It also includes some of our favorite other math resources for homeschooled preschoolers and kindergarteners. If you have questions or want to know more, please email us!