I am solidly in the camp of those who believe that very young students do not need a lot of academic work. In thinking over my English Guide one night, it occurred to me that the list of concepts for first and second grade might cause a parent to feel that this is not the case.

The truth is, although they are foundational and really should be taught early on, most of the concepts mentioned in these early grades can be taught in a very informal fashion. For example, it is really not necessary to sit your first-grader down at his desk or the kitchen table, tell him, “Today we are going to learn about ‘Predicting the Outcome’,” and proceed to have a lesson about “Predicting the Outcome.”

Surely you are already reading with your child. When you are in the midst of a story, pause and ask your child, “What do you think will happen next?” You have just asked him to predict the outcome. Congratulations, you have finished your English lesson for the day/week.