Abeka Kindergarten | It's not what you've heard!

[@kimberlygoudzwaard2811]

I love Abeka kindergarten! I really like their language arts for k-3rd as well, particularly the phonics. It’s so straightforward and thorough!

[@pillarsandpress]

Totally agree! I have a 3rd grader who has done Abeka language arts for K-3 - I think we might be changing it up for 4th grade next year, but I love the foundation Abeka gave her in these early years!!

[@emileeengelhardt9373]

I was Homeschooled and now homeschooling my 6! I grew up on Abeka and am using it with my kids. The language arts program is unmatched.

[@pillarsandpress]

Totally agree!

[@NightwingAquaman]

Hello! Did you use the phonics games? If yes, what are your thoughts?

[@pillarsandpress]

I didn't purchase any of the phonics games. They had some game ideas in the back of the teacher book and I would use a few of them occasionally. I felt like many of the ones in the back were geared more towards classroom or using with multiple students, but some were great for just one! Off the top of my head I think we did the Around the World and Leap Frog one from the back of the book.

[@GardenMinistry.]

Hello! Fellow Abeka fan! I've also taught 2 of my children to read quite easily using the program. I'd say if you're new to it and on the fence, try using atleast the phonics Language Arts from Kindergarten to 2nd grade, and try simplifying it. The teacher manual is a great resource but it can be a bit much, we hardly used it and focussed instead on The HandBook For Reading, the special sounds (I wrote mine on note cards to save money), the workbook practice, and the readers. You dont have to do every single thing! It spirals alot and repeats itself, so you can skip things your child has mastered. My kids were on the fast track to reading fluency, and they love reading. Its been such a blessing and peace of mind! My kids wanted just straight to the point, no fluff, thats Abeka. 👍🏽👍🏽

[@pillarsandpress]

Totally agree and great advice. Using them for k-2nd is the sweet spot. Thanks for sharing your experience!

[@jamesramsay3365]

I second this video! I love abeka for phonics, reading and language in the lower grades. It's fantastic at these ages. I can relate to homeschoolers looking at you weird when you say you use abeka. I feel like it gets a bad rap for not being homeschool friendly and being too much etc and it's somewhat deserved if you use it to a tee. But I feel like a lot of people throw the baby out with the baby water when it comes to abeka. There was a time when I swore I would never use it because it was too much and it was just "school at home" etc. As I've become more experienced and comfortable in my homeschooling journey (realizing I'm in charge of my homeschool, not the curriculum, and I can customize a curriculum any way I want to serve our needs) I've found abeka to be really fantastic. I use it the same way- I do not follow the lesson plans to a tee and I do not get all the things that can come with it and I buy everything I can second hand so it doesn't cost a lot either. I customize it to work for us and the lessons are actually very quick and easy to teach and very effective. I feel like I need to advocate for abeka sometimes because it does seem to have a bad reputation so people write it off like I used to. But if you make it your own it's a really great option. I only use it for phonics, reading and language in the lower grades. I use the current edition for k5 & 1st and I've decided to use the older edition for 2nd & 3rd because I like progression of it better. I'm currently doing k5 & 2nd with my oldest 2 kids. After 3rd we'll switch to something different for LA. -Sarah

[@pillarsandpress]

Yes! I feel exactly the same way as you do and you explained it all so perfectly! Thank you so much for sharing! You can take any curriculum and make it fit your needs! So far we've also used it for K5, 1st, and 2nd, and start pulling in different things around 3rd grade! (although I do supplement with First Language Lessons starting in 1st grade! We just read their old blue book together and don't do any of the new worksheets that go with it.)

[@MW11-3]

We are finishing up Abeka K5 in a few weeks and will move on to Abeka 1st grade in the fall. We also used K4 last year. I love it. I do plan to move away from Abeka after 2nd grade for LA but for the learning to read/phonics age, Abeka is second to none!

[@pillarsandpress]

Totally agree! I had thought I would move away from Abeka for my oldest after 2nd grade too, but actually ended up using them again for 3rd! We are finishing up now and it’s been good, but finally ready to move to something else for 4th grade next year!

[@trurenu8nelz944]

Hi, what are you considering going into after Abeka? I am researching curriculum for 2nd and 3 rd grader

[@dianasingh29]

Where can i purchase this

[@pillarsandpress]

www.abeka.com/abekaonline/bookdescription.aspx?sbn=327778 Here is a link to the full k5 kit from Abeka!

[@tatyana1324]

I'm glad I found you 😊 Thank you for sharing, because I have a four year old and looking for a curriculum to use... Now, I am torn between Christian Light education and Abeca 🤦🏼‍♀️

[@pillarsandpress]

Hey! Thanks for watching. And I know the feeling, it’s so hard to choose sometimes! 😅

[@elizabeth0265]

This is SO helpful! I've been looking up how to use abeka k5 and today you popped up in my feed!🎉 Any and all tips are greatly appreciated.

[@pillarsandpress]

Hi! Thanks for watching! If you choose to go with Abeka I would try to find the lesson plan book second hand, helps to cut down on the cost!

[@PineappleQTpie]

Reposting my experience: I have used Abeka with both of my sons since kindergarten and will continue with my younger kids too but with three little ones we have moved on to The Good and The Beautiful for my older boys now that they have a solid Abeka language arts foundation.

[@pillarsandpress]

I hear so many good things about TGTB! Thanks for sharing!

[@sarapayne9445]

I do this as well for our kindergarten year. I just use the same things that you have mentioned except handwriting. My son is actually 4 so I’m letting him finish up k4 handwriting.

[@pillarsandpress]

That’s great! My oldest didn’t mind handwriting but my kindergartner now doesn’t always love it, so lots of times we’ll skip or just do half a page. I’m not big on forcing writing in Kindergarten. :)

[@sarapayne9445]

@@pillarsandpress How are you planning 1st grade next year? I’m just curious.

[@TheAwakenedMom]

Thank you for sharing some important nuggets! I am an Abeka fan 😊 What do you use for Science and History?

[@Sustainable.Motherhood]

Hi thank you for making this video ! Did you start with k4 ? Or k5 with your 5 year old ? I’ve got a 4 yr old and a recent 6 yr old . Thanks

[@pillarsandpress]

I started with K5! I like to keep it really informal before Kindergarten, We usually just read lots of picture books and do play based learning. I do pick up some simple workbooks from the dollar tree for my 3-4 year olds sometimes, but that’s more to help them feel included in school! I don’t worry too much about how she goes through it.

[@seasonsofwonder]

Hi. I am a new subscriber. Excited to see more and happy to support. Blessings ! 🥰

[@pillarsandpress]

Hi! Thank you so much for watching and commenting!

[@garrettandcorynncollins586]

I plan on using Abeka for math and LA from K5-3rd since I know it gives a really strong foundation. I tentatively plan on moving away from Abeka after 3rd. What do you think you’ll use after?

[@pillarsandpress]

Right now I’m considering using some literature based curriculums like Total Language Plus or Progeny Press but I haven’t decided yet!

[@PineappleQTpie]

I have used Abeka with both of my sons since kindergarten and will continue with my younger kids too but with three little ones we have moved on to The Good and The Beautiful for my older boys now that they have a solid Abeka language arts foundation.

[@wonderfuljoanna21]

Me too. I combine homeschooling with unschooling

[@pillarsandpress]

Yes! It can be both. 👏🏼

[@alkajoseph]

is it possible to get a pdf format for the Abeka Kindergarten for a budget

[@pillarsandpress]

I do not believe they have any pdf versions of their textbooks.

[@juliedavis1859]

This is my first year for K5 and I made a down payment and agreed to auto pay monthly which made the financial part of it very much affordable. You still pay the full amount but in monthly installments. You can also choose to break your payments up into 6 months or 9 months which is what made the curriculum possible for our family. Hope this helps!