Juliette and I have been pretty much sitting around the house the past two days. So, we haven't spent any money. YAY! Tonight, I am up pretty late looking for information for some homeschooling ideas for Juliette. She's incredibly smart, and I am worried about her "falling behind" by not being in a structured environment this year. Don't get me wrong, I don't think keeping her home for her 3 year old year is going to set her back for life ... but she was learning a ton at her daycare ... and I want to keep that up.
I figure we'll do the capital letter one week and the lower case the next. So, we are working on capital A this week. Then, I think I am going to do a "lesson" per kid movie. My parents bought Juliette the newest Ariel movie, and in the preview there is The Little Mermaid 2. Juliette is HOOKED! She wants to see this movie, and she wants to see it bad. I don't have it on DVD since I didn't have a child the last time it was released, so a friend had it ov VHS so I borrowed it. I am going to surprise her probably early next week with the movie and having a theme day. I am going to tie in our arts and crafts with this theme as well. I hope that makes sense.
Each week we are going to work on doing a special meal/dessert going along with the letter as well. This letter is going to be applesauce ... and something else. I haven't figured it out yet. I think making homemade applesauce will be fun for her ... she loves seeing how things work. On my day off, I figure I'll let her help with dinner ... this is something she's getting really into and I know she'll be tickled to death.
I hope this works ... I don't think I'm biting off more than I can chew ... and I think the two of us are going to have a bunch of fun with eachother. I know most parents feel like this, but I just love watching this girl soaking it all in.
Homeschooling a preschooler
October 1st, 2008 at 05:04 am
October 1st, 2008 at 01:32 pm 1222867956
Good luck - sounds like fun! I have a preschooler and we do activities from a magazine called "The Mailbox" - it is a teacher resource and I take mine out from the library and make copies of the coloring pages.
October 1st, 2008 at 02:00 pm 1222869639
October 1st, 2008 at 02:01 pm 1222869671
At this age, they just don't learn the way you would expect them. So those are my 2 cents. Books on mumbers are also very fascinating to kids when they are ready.
I would consider us preschool homeschoolers. Since my husband stays home and men tend to be more focused on teaching/learning than mothers are. I notice the people I know with SAHDs always have the brightest kids. There is a reason for that. Men think differently and raise kids differently.
I know my kids go to preschool, but it is a very old-fashioned "play" school. I take them there for the socialization, but it is amazing how bright those kids are. Play is how they learn. They have never done academics there, but all the kids there know their letters and such.
I just wanted to point out from my experience things to focus on. My child could read before 3 but I tell you I never taught him letters. They just pick it up when they are ready, assuming you spend time with them and have the tools (books) available. People all the time assume we had our kids in the corner with flash cards, and truth is opposite is true. Expose them to everything and explain how the world works, but if you don't force it on them and let them take the lead, you will be amazed.
Cooking sounds great!
Good Luck!
October 1st, 2008 at 02:36 pm 1222871772
Monkeymama is right though, my oldest wrote her name at 3 and we did not teach her, but I read to her and #2 daughter constantly (even though I worked full-time). My nephew read the Reader's Digest at 4 and I can guarantee my sister never did a thing with him, she was too busy working and going to school. I know he could read because he injured his leg, and I took him to get the x-ray since he came to the doctor I was working for. While waiting, to entertain him I picked one up and showed it to him and sure enough he read it (my sister told me he could but I did not believe her!).
October 1st, 2008 at 03:40 pm 1222875652