Preschool Corner: Preschool for the rest of us!

What do I mean by "Preschool for the rest of us"? Doing preschool with our littles is a great goal. It really is. Since I'm on the subject, preparing a complete dinner every night, sweeping the floor sometimes and keeping everyone's underwear drawer from going empty are great goals too. But they just don't always happen. Perhaps I should do a (long) series of posts on "Life for the rest of us". Maybe I'm the only one they would apply to... or maybe, just maybe, there are others out there who find that they are falling behind too. (Would any of you others like to come clean my bathroom??? It could really use it!)

Sorry, back to preschool. It's been a while since I've participated in Preschool Corner... and even longer since I've been deliberate about "schooling" my littles. Ok... so it was shortly after my 5 month old was born that I tossed out my "official plans". Sure we've been reading! Gladys Aylward, Charlotte's Web, and lots and lots of picture books! But's it's been more haphazard.

With the advent of a new year, I've set myself up to go again! Last year I started fresh with the new year and we had a great run of it. But at least it was something!

We're going to give it a go this year too! :) This year I'm not using any particular "curriculum", but instead piecing together my own thing based on different themes each week or so. And it's pretty relaxed. Though apparently not relaxed enough or I wouldn't be missing things already!

This is where the "preschool for the rest of us" part comes in. I'm no Jolanthe or Carisa or Erica... but I'm so glad they are. I make the plans (I have a thing for the planning part), it's just the implementation that I struggle with.

I'm trying to base my plans on a relationship based model, spending time with my children (duh, right?) and enjoying them. I have a new schedule/routine for us, but we've yet to actually complete it as written. As the weeks go by, I'm trying to add in more from the schedule to our real lives, so it's really more like a routine goal!

Ok... long windedness. Sorry. What are we actually doing? Well, here it is... for the last couple weeks since I didn't get around to this last week:

Bible

We got the kids the The Jesus Storybook Bible for Christmas. Really, I wanted it for them... but I'm thrilled that they really like it too. I decided to use this book as our Bible "curriculum". We're going through a story a week. I have no idea how many weeks that will take us, and we will probably do somethings out of order around Easter, but we're doing it. I read the story of the week each day (more or less) of the week and we talk about it.

Also during our Bible time (approx. 10-15 minutes total) we practice our verse. I put our verse sheet (click the pics above to download) on the fridge and they love to do it at meals and throughout the day as well. I find the big letter and the picture help them remember "which one" we're working on. The rest is really for me since I'm the only reader! :)

We are starting our Bible time by learning/singing the Doxology (we walk in a circle like "ring around the rosy"). They seem to like it so far. Then at the end of the time, we sing a related song/hymn. When learning about Creation last week, we sang "In the Beginning" from Donut Man. The kids like that one and we have it on a CD. This week we've begun learning the hymn "Trust and Obey" to go with our story about "the Fall". They really like that one and ask to sing it all the time. They already know the first verse and chorus themselves, so we may work on adding a verse this next week.


Our "theme" is outside our Bible time most weeks. Right now we are in a "Winter/Snow" theme. The kids have really enjoyed the snowman related materials I found here, here, and here.


Here Sweet Pea is practicing poring with pony beads and her tea cups:
Sweet Pea is also learning how to help Mommy do dishes. For real this time! (I'll try to get pics sometimes.)


I'm trying to incorporate some "manly" activities into Tornado's day since Daddy is gone all day:
This week Tornado had a chance to shovel the front porch and around the car (with my help of course). He was very proud!

That same day, (since we got several inches of snow) I brought some inside.


And of course there are other crafts...
... like this one. I don't think any of our crafts are done... from this week or last week. I'll try to include pics when they are. This will be a cute snowman head. We started 4 inch earth balls last week (a long story I'll share when they are finished) to go with our creation story. Sigh... maybe we'll finish them this next week with the rest of our snow crafts.


And then we're also doing some normal things. The kids think they are play... and they are. But I also know they are helping in the area of math, problem solving, etc.

"Look Mommy, I'm making a garage!" And he did it all by himself for the first time ever!



As you can see, we did do some things. But it's hit and miss at best. Some days all we do is Bible time and I call that a successful day. Other days, like today... we don't even do that. But we're a work in progress.

Labels: Homeschooling my 2 Year Old, Homeschooling my 4 year old, Preschool Corner

posted by ~Babychaser~ @ 2:17 PM 1 Comments

Preschool Corner: Tossing the Bath Water...

... keeping the baby. All of them.


I had some pretty big ideas about what preschool would look like this fall. I sat with notebook in hand this summer, very large with child, while the kids ran around in the grass that makes up our front yard. I started with a basic list, a brainstorm of ideas. From there, I organized it all onto a calendar... taking into consideration special dates that work for the themes I had in mind. Then I started thinking in more detail about what I would include for each week's theme. I wanted to have as much planning done before baby came as possible... so I'd be more likely to get it done on this end.

Let's just say... the time and work were not wasted. I can still use those ideas someday... if I want to. But I am making the decision to let it all go.

The plans.

The schedule.

The delusions of grandeur.

I'm tossing them out the window. Saying good-bye. And not looking back (except to borrow ideas when I want to.)

But let me clarify here... I'm tossing my plans. My curriculum. My lesson plans.

I am not tossing learning. Education. Preschool.

The bath water (my curriculum) is gone. The baby (learning) is sticking around! (As is Little Man... just in case you're worried!) Just with a little less structure (or no structure... as the case may be.)

So below is the new plan, for now... always ready for tweaking as needed! This may simply be the plan for this week... or this month. Maybe it will last through the fall, or to Christmas. Maybe it will be all of what this "school year" looks like. It's ok. He's 3, she's 2. This is preschool we're talking about. And it looks like, as hard as I've tried to fight it, this more relaxed approach is the best way for us after all!

We'll be concentrating on character in general... obedience specifically. I'll be learning how to slow down. To incorporate the children into life. To exude gratefulness. To keep my focus upward. To keep our home with joy. And so many other things. The kids will learn whatever they glean from the day to day... and hopefully a lot of what I'll be learning will spill over onto them.


Our plan:

Bible and Character

Small Talks About God:Devotions for Young Children
Scripture Memorization
Bible Stories
Catechism (Big Truths for Little Kids: Teaching Your Children to Live for God)

Science

Nature
Seasons
Animals (interest led)

Reading/Language Arts

Read Alouds (Chapter Books specifically, but also tons of picture books)
Mazes, Tracing, Coloring, etc.
Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons or The Ordinary Parent's Guide to Teaching Reading (not doing this right away, but plan to start sometime this year)

Math

Number Recognition to 20
Telling Time (again, not right away, but a goal for the year)
Other early math as it comes up in life

Social Studies

Literature based (as it comes up in our reading)
Holidays
Community Helpers (interest led)

I hope to share with you each week some of what we've done... and what it ends up looking like. I'm excited for the year, and I'm no longer overwhelmed because this is pretty much what our lives look like without trying. I'll prep for some things and plan some activities as I have time, energy and desire... and if we don't ever get to working at the table (coloring/mazes) one week, I'm not going to worry about it.

As much as I love planning, I'm looking forward to just living... and seeing my kids learn through it!


Checkout what others are doing too!

Labels: Homeschooling my 2 Year Old, Homeschooling my 3 year old, Preschool Corner

posted by ~Babychaser~ @ 3:23 PM 3 Comments

Tot School

Labels: Homeschooling my 2 Year Old, Tot School

posted by ~Babychaser~ @ 7:28 PM 4 Comments

An introduction to Tot School

Ok... so I mentioned you'd be hearing more about Carisa. First of all, she doesn't know me at all. It just makes me feel good to talk about her like we're real life friends. She, among a few others, has a blog that I've been just eating up over the last few weeks (like I have time for that!) I stumbled on her a year or two ago, but really I wasn't ready for her then. Somehow, I've re-stumbled on her in the last month and I am oh. so. ready! I hope you'll like her as much as I do, because, as I've mentioned, I'm going to be talking about her a bunch in the days, weeks and months to come. And first to come... is Tot School.

Oh how I love Tot School. I've been slowly working in some things with Sweet Pea over the last week or two, but really I'm just getting my feet wet. I keep wanting to officially start, and I know me. If I don't "officially" start sharing it here, I won't ever officially start.

The basic premise is to be intentionally playing with our Tots! I know some of you are thinking, "well, duh... I do that anyway." That's great! You're already "doing" Tot School. You're just not calling it anything special. Me??? I am very good at letting my kids play while I do things... just to look back on the day and be disappointed that I missed a chance to just "be" with my babies. So for me, this Tot School thing is magic. Some days it's 5 minutes finding animals in a book together on the couch and making noises (like today), or putting our hands together in a bucket of beans for a few minutes (also today). Other days it's working through all the puzzles together or playing with pom poms. We've done a number of things over the last week or so, and I've been enjoying every minute! I'm looking forward to being even more intentional (and dare I say it, even planning the intentionality) in the coming weeks. What a great way, especially after baby comes, to have some one on one time with my baby girl... even if it's only 5-10-20 minutes some days.

What about Tornado? Oh, he's usually right there too. For some of the things we all take turns (like stirring the beans in the bucket). For other things he is practicing waiting patiently and letting Sweet Pea be center stage of mommies life (this is very good for him!) I imagine he'll be a regular part of Tot School... but the activities I choose and guide will be tailored for Sweet Pea. Don't you worry about him though... when we were done with Tot School time today, he was already making his way to the kitchen table, asking if it was time for "big boy school". And of course, it was!

Head over to Tot School to see what others are doing with there tots at various ages and stages. And let me know if you decided to join in... either on your blog or just at home. I'd love to know what you're doing with your littles!

Labels: Homeschooling my 2 Year Old, Tot School

posted by ~Babychaser~ @ 7:08 AM 1 Comments

Free Resource for Teaching Shapes to your Preschooler

I've mentioned before that I am a regular over at CurrClick. Each week they give away a freebie resource and each week for the last two and a half years or so I download and file away some homeschooling resource. I have tons already and figure that by the time I need any of them I'll have quite the eLibrary of resources for teaching my children. Woo hoo!

It isn't often that they have a resource I can use right away, but this week (only) they are giving us an ebook for teaching shapes to our preschoolers (or toddlers if your little ones are as ready as mine is.) Click on over here right away to sign up and download your ebook!

Labels: Homeschooling my 2 Year Old, Passing it On

posted by ~Babychaser~ @ 1:08 PM 0 Comments

Science with Daddy

Today is My Beloved's day off... I love that he is working 4 day weeks! It is so fun.

This morning, our list of errands was cut short by the reminder that it's President's Day and nothing we needed to do would be open... so home we stayed. After Sweet Pea went down for her nap, Daddy brought out the gyroscope we got recently.

For 30 or more minutes Daddy and son sat on the kitchen floor and played with the gyroscope. Tornado held it, felt it on his finger, picked it up from the floor, and tried to set it on the little balancing point... all while it was spinning. Meanwhile, Daddy was talking to him using words like "centrifical force", "gravity", and "kinetic"... words Tornado (age 2) won't understand for some time, but it's never too early to introduce these concepts to our little ones.



I'll tell you, it blessed my heart to hear them playing and having fun for so long. The first time Tornado had success setting it down, Daddy said "give me five". A while later I heard it come from Tornado himself... and every time after. I just kept hearing, "Gimmie five" from Tornado's mouth... and I'd know he'd been successful again.

Not only science introduction, but great fine motor practice!

Labels: As it happens..., Homeschooling my 2 Year Old, Prince Charming

posted by ~Babychaser~ @ 10:53 AM 2 Comments

A feather

I was startled this morning by a large spidery bug type thing floating/falling down in front of me as I came out of the bathroom. As it turns out, it was only a feather, which, I imagine came from My Beloved's down coat.

Well, this feather turned into at least an hour of educational entertainment. Once Tornado was awake, we held the feather, touched the feather (it's soft), let the feather fall, caught the feather, and blew the feather. Not only did I have an entertained toddler on my hands, but we learned some new things too. We learned to say the word "feather". We practiced some fine motor skills as we held, picked up, and caught the feather. Then we took it up a notch.

While I was nursing Sweet Pea, I had Tornado bring me a small toy from the toy area. Once I had it I held both next to each other and asked him which one would be "fastest". "Will this one fall fastest? Or this one?... Is the elephant (that was the little toy he brought me) faster, or the feather?" He made his guess/estimate/hypothesis and we tried our experiment. I dropped both of them at the same time and you know what? He was right. The elephant fell fastest. Here we gave him an intro to forming a hypothesis (not that he'll know what that means for a long time), experimented, and learned some about "fastest" vs. "slowest". I tried to approach "heaviest" by putting both on my hand and blowing on both of them. Of course the feather left and the toy didn't, but I don't think he grasped that one.

Of course feather fun had to end, and as I imagined would happen eventually, he stuck it into one of the floor vents never to be seen again. Most unfortunate! But we move on... short attention spans you know. :)

Have you ever had feather fun? Any other ideas of things I could try next time my husband's winter coat shares it's filling with us?

Labels: As it happens..., Homeschooling my 2 Year Old, Learning for Little Ones

posted by ~Babychaser~ @ 12:11 PM 0 Comments

Snow much fun!

We woke up this morning to beautiful white snow (and the hair you see in this picture)... but at temperatures in the teens and the three of us still getting over colds, I wasn't too keen on going outside. Plus, Sweet Pea didn't like it so much the last time. I took an idea from Monica and brought the snow inside to us. A tub of snow and some items from my kitchen and we had ourselves 30-45 minutes of fun. The towel I put down on the floor caught most of the wayward snow and then mopped up the rest of it when we were done.

While they (though Sweet Pea didn't last long) played, I talked about what it was. Tornado said it was cold. I talked about what would happen to the snow, we practiced saying the word "melt" and we put some snow in a cup to see what would happen to it. An hour or so later, we revisited the cup and Tornado told me it was "snow water".

We concluded our "snow play" with a color sheet of snow flakes and the letter "S". We traced the "S" with is finger and talked about it (both the name and the sound). We colored together, and when all was said and done, he happily asked me to draw a goat for him to color. When he came home for lunch, My Beloved wanted to know if "goat" started with an "S".

All said... I'd say we got in some science, fine and gross motor, and letter learning! Not to mention lots of fun together!

Simple fun, simple learning... and no money necessary! (I'm sneaking into Frugal Friday... it's been a long while since I've participated... go check it out!)

Labels: As it happens..., Homeschooling my 2 Year Old, Learning for Little Ones

posted by ~Babychaser~ @ 9:00 PM 4 Comments

Christmas Lesson Plan for Toddlers: A whole week of fun!

Labels: Homeschooling my 2 Year Old

posted by ~Babychaser~ @ 7:06 PM 2 Comments