Several people have asked what we are doing with our preschoolers these days, and I thought I would pass along a few of my current resources and ask for your suggestions.
Beginning last fall, I set aside about an hour each day to focus on "school" with Coop, and Sweet A was hanging out with us and picking up what she could (which was a lot). They were learning the letter shapes with the Hand Writing without Tears wood blocks, we were reading books purposefully, and going through this book:
A is Amazing. (Which I can't find a picture of online...) It has about 15 words associated with each letter, activities for each, recipes, related books, etc. Anyone could come up with this stuff on their own, but it's all in a big fat book. I was also working through What Your Kindergartner Needs to Know.
After I read the three booklets pictured above, by Ruth Beechick (thanks, Mom) my approach changed a little, but more than anything my mindset changed. All of a sudden, our whole lives became opportunities for learning. We don't do any "sit down and focus" preschool anymore, but they are learning SO much, so quickly because I am more purposeful and focused about creating an environment of learning that sort of consumes our entire day. It fits our goals well, and I think it is just what our kids need to be doing during this season of their lives. The kids were already counting all the time, and doing typical 4 & 2 year-old things, but now they are much more aware of numbers and we take every opportunity to incorporate simple math into our everyday lives.
We still have a letter we focus on each week, with a pretty card and picture that goes on a tray along with any objects they find during the week that start with that letter sound. Our letter for this week is "H." Every time an "H" sound comes up throughout the day/week, we talk about it. Today we made chocolate chip cookies because we made a list of all the things that make Daddy HAPPY. We also focused on making each other happy, and reviewed Philippians 2:3, "Let nothing be done through selfish ambition..." This wasn't part of a curriculum, but life. They have a school notebook where their projects go...we try to do some kind of artsy thing each day and work the letter into our pictures/collages/paintings.
The other big change we made in the last few months came after reading this article:
Ten Things to Do with Your Child Before Age Ten
I haven't read the whole book, just this article (so far) but I realized we were not reading enough. I don't have a very strong voice, and it really wears me out to read for long periods of time. I think I just need to drink a lot of water and get tough! They suggest reading for two hours a day, which seems absurd but it doesn't have to be all at once (obviously) and it really goes by quickly once you start reading chapter books. I didn't realize my four year old would be able to comprehend longer books, and so we were just sticking with your typical juvenile library books. After I read that article I tested the waters with Homer Price and Little House on the Prairie, and he really enjoyed them. His attention span doesn't usually last more than a chapter (and I let them color or play quietly while I read) but he is loving it. We don't get two hours in every day, but now I have a goal.
Lastly, we are working through this list when we go to the library:
1000 Good Books List
I keep a printed copy in our school notebook and highlight the books we've already read. We are learning of new authors, who may have other books that aren't on the list. It's helpful when looking for used books at Goodwill, online, etc. Even if it's a book they aren't ready for yet, I can know it will be one we'll want later on.
Most of the day they play their little hearts out. They have a 45-minute room time when they play alone in the morning, and now that the weather is nice I think they would be happy to live outside. Even Baby T was digging for worms in the garden plot today!
If it sounds time-consuming, it's really not. It requires a lot of my mental energy (and they aren't even school age!) but I know these are the years to instill in them a love for learning so it is worth it!
I would love to hear how you are filling your preschool days...I know several of you have inspired me lately.
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8 comments:
I want to come to YOUR pre-school!
You're on the right track, Brite.
If you can make learning an enjoyable part of life you certainly should. It's amazing how quickly they learn. Have you tried any of the facts-set-to music kind of things? Scripture, skip counting, geography. They'll pick it up fast and not even know they're learning!
Brite,
I loved reading as a child, Mom was always threatening to take our books away if we didn't finish our schoolwork first :) and one of my favorite series was the "Moffats" by Eleanor Estes. I still read those books every once in a while, simply to reminisce. The author wrote in such a way that you felt she remembered being a child and seeing the world literally. They had a strong loyalty to family and parents-that makes it nice because you're not always stopping to say,"Now, we should never say that," Anyway, I know I don't have preschoolers but I have read to lots of children. :) Good to talk to you on Sunday!
i love all your thoughts on this, brite. our preschool life looks a bit dull right now. mama is sitting on the couch a. lot. and so there is a lot of reading but not much more right now!
i'm glad that you posted about this. just yesterday i spent the boys' naptime poking around the web looking at more homeschool curricula. i'm drawn to so many methods/varieties and feel like i can see the good (and the bad!) in so many. i know the boys are still very young for formal schooling but i'm enjoying researching right now.
All I have to say is: Your kids are going to get the best education known to man!
Laura B, I need to get some of the learning song cds...I remember learning all the countries in Africa through one of those (tapes). :) They do know quite a few Psalms set to music, but I need to put that to work for school, too.
Kim, I had forgotten about the Moffats- I'll have to look for that next time we go to the library! And I'd say you count as an authority on preschoolers! :)
Kate- you are doing exactly what you should be doing now! Rest while you can. What better place to read than on the couch!
Carrie, you are biased, but living testimony to that truth! ;-)
Ok, so now there's even more I need to pick your brain about! Seriously, I am calling you this week. ;)
I wanna come to your pre-school too!!! seriously though, I saw those Ruth Beechick at your house while I was visiting, and I figured out that my mom had those books. So I'm going to borrow them from her :)
Okay, I'm finally getting caught up on all the blog posts I missed while I was gone. Did you know the T's from church use these books? I didn't know you were going in the same direction! The Mrs. leant me her books before I left although I have not been able to read them yet (book club is looming in the very distant future). Ben's been reading them though and I"m interested to check them out. Thanks for putting this in a post.
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