Do you use an actual preschool curriculum, or do you find the learning-by-living philosophy in a home schooling lifestyle to be sufficient for that stage? I really like the LOTW program just for a little structured learning time to prepare for kindergarten curriculum(required by my state), but was wondering how others do it. TIA.
I've found that just learning by living is perfect for preschoolers! Do crafts at home, enjoy storytime at the library, play dress-up, play games, and sing songs. However, while my first grader is schooling, her 4 year old sister wants to "school" too. I have a stash of early learning books from Walmart that she does (when she wants to) so she can feel like she's schooling too. Little does she know she's learning more just living life and having fun! I was always amazed at how much my little ones learned that way.
we used this with our five year old. never ended up using much of it since he moved faster than the book did. http://www.amazon.com/Comprehensive...=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1275604968&sr=1-5 we also used click and kids. http://www.clicknkids.com/ satisfied with both.
I'm unschooling my preschooler. The only "curriculum" he really uses is for phonics. And we don't follow it to a tee. I'm not pushing him to read, we're just working on identifying letters and, while we identify, might as well teach the sound as well....we're currently using readingeggs.com for this (cause that's what his big brother is using). Well, I forgot, the only other "curriculum" we're using for the 3 year old is for Spanish. It's actually for my 1st grader but the 3 year old likes to do it with us. Honestly the 3 year old is better at pronunciation and remembering the Spanish for words/phrases than the 1st grader! LOL Notice what we 'formally' use for the 3 year old is the same as what we use for big brother LOL It's more about him feeling included in things than having him follow a curriculum.
Learning by living here! My sons did learn a lot during the preschool years by playing some educational computer games though. They love the computer. My toddler is learning her ABCs on her own by playing with magnetic LeapFrog letters on the fridge and watching Signing Time videos. Reading picture books to a preschooler is always a good thing, but I wouldn't purchase a preschool curriculum. So much can be learned informally or through play at that age.
I am not a big fan or preschool curriculums (and barely a fan of them for kinder). That said, my youngest has been getting so much more exposure to things since I am schooling his big brother and need to keep him busy, too. http://www.homeschoolshare.com/levels.php has some great ideas of things to do around great books. I looked at letter of the week a bit and it does look like a fun way to introduce school, but I haven't used it.
Learning by living definately! This is not the approach I took with my now 11yo, but he was headed for public K. But with my next two coming up, we have done very little that resembles "school", and they are thriving!! If they ask for school we do it.. but usually I let them pick what to do (I have all kinds of workbooks and FUN hands on learning games and toys and manipulatives), and we stop when they want.. and even if they ask to do it, I don't "make" them do it right even. I will read the directions to them and let them go... if it's perfect I make sure to praise them, if it's way off.. I make sure to praise them. We always talk about what they did and why (like the other day my 4yo wanted to do a page that was color the circles in.. he put an X on anything that wasn't a circle, then he did a second page of the same thing and put an X on all the ovals and circles he said it was because they had smooth sides, I told him he did a great job and really I was pretty impressed that he thought like that). They watch tons of shows on NickJr, PBS and Playhouse Disney... and the things that I can see them learning from them is amazing to me. They play constantly and come up with some wild games. Now that my 5yo is the age that she should be starting K in the fall, I'm having a very hard time moving into curriculum type things with her... because I see the great love of learning she has naturally, and I don't want to put out that fire like happened to my oldest.
Move in slowly, Sommer! Use the worksheets sparingly, and read a lot! Tell her that, since she's older, she needs to do a little more "big girl work". And just keep adding a bit more as she's eased into it!
Jackie.. I'm trying..lol I have some of the most awesome, fun curriculum to use for K, spent WAY more than I ever imagined I would for K to make sure I had lots of fun things handy, and she is ready to go.. it is I who am balking at the idea..lol.
LOL! When I was a kid taking swimming lessons, I found the best thing to do when the water was SO COLD in the morning was to just jump right in and "bob" ten times. It was SO much easier than easing into it! Girl, that's what YOU need to do, lol! And once you do, you're going to LOVE it!
That's exactly what we've been doing for the last year. She has a Sesame Street Pre-K game that she has learned SO much from, we occasionally let her play a few of the games on the Noggin website, she watches Signing Time DVDs and loves them (I'm trying to scrape together money to get more of them on eBay :lol. She can recognize all her numbers and letters, so now we're working on the sound the letters make. Her LeapFrog refrigerator magnets have been a fun way to do that while I cook dinner every evening. It's good to hear we're already on the right track. DH is totally on-board with homeschooling, but his family is not. Thankfully they live across the country, and the occasional nagging telephone call about enrolling her in school for some "social interaction" is easily ignored. I suppose I'm just allowing them to pressure me, and make me feel inadequate as far as her "formal" education is concerned.
That's right! Doing that for my 3 y/o DS and it really works. Answer his questions, and if he has a specific question then by all means look it up! DS has learned so much by just following us around and listening to our explanations! It really surprises me how much he learns! Don't waste your money on a curriculum. If you want him to learn ABC's go to www.Starfall.com. There is some phonics there and letters. Sometimes DS and I go there and look around. 100% free.
Sounds like you have things set up well already. My boys were more than prepared for Kindergarten without any formal instruction. Research has been done on the social issues and homeschooling comes out on top. I wonder if many of the social concerns people have relate to the child missing out on things like proms, learning to stick up for oneself, crushes, learning how to fit in, wearing the right clothes, etc. It is usually about wanting your child to act like every other kid out there. I like this article about it.
