Mommy's Favorite Things: Homeschooling



Sunday, June 13, 2010

Homeschooling



Some of you may know that come fall we will begin preschool homeschooling. I can't wait to get started. Avery is only 3 and preschool isn't really needed, so I wanted 2 full years of "practice" before I decided if homeschool would be completely right for us. I can't wait to start. 

I won a curriculum a while back for 3-5 year olds and I can't wait to give it a try.

I also wanted to share some of my favorite websites right now for preschool stuff. You don't have to use these things only if you're homeschooling. But what child comes home and wants to stop learning completely? NONE, So here are some sites you can get ideas from!!

Toddler Craft this is a favorite because it's a BUNCH of crafts. Tailored for ages 1-7. So this is enjoyable. There is a Ceramic recipe that I think is just AWESOME! This is a great gift for someone. Make it, use a cookie cutter, wait for it to dry paint it and give as a gift. You could even make an ornament out of it with a handprint. So many COOL things you can do!! I think The grandparents are getting a Christmas Ornament with handprint and name and year and age on it for Christmas this year! Wouldn't that be adorable???

Home Education Resources has some great printable worksheets.

Scholastic  has a great activity section as well. 


So far these are my favorites. I think I eventually will make this blog half giveaways and half life/homeschool. I want to show off our projects and videos of the stuff she learns. I think it would be neat! When I switch to wordpress I can have those separated into categories as well.

My friend and I are creating a homeschool group. We will be getting together once a week (minimum) with other homeschooling friends and we will do some curriculum, snack, play time and field trips. I think it will be so much fun and I can't wait to get started. This actually starts next week so we can get into the hang of things and the kids can get used to it. I think it's great that we'll finally have a schedule. Once school starts, I want Avery up by 8:30. Breakfast by 9. I want school to run from about 9:30-11:30 or whenever the craft finishes. For a 3 yr old I think 2 hours is PLENTY. We can get in some reading, some math, some crafts, yadda yadda. Right after school will be snack. Hour later lunch and then nap. I can't wait for this schedule to start. I'm starting to train her now. She's going to bed at 8 now instead of 9, and She's been up at 9:15 lately so we're on the right track!!

Thanks for listening!


3 comments:


Rachel C said...

You're so ambitious - that's great! I haven't sent my kids to preschool either. We do tons of reading, crafts, activities, etc, but I don't have a "schedule." I don't think I'm disciplined enough to homeschool :)
Kids are constantly learning just by interacting with us and with everything around them. I didn't follow a curriculum or lesson plans, but my oldest already reads and writes really well. She will start kindergarten in August, and I don't think the teachers will pick her out as "a kid who didn't do preschool!"
I guess I never want my kids to feel like learning is "work." I want it to be fun for them, and I also don't want to stress myself out thinking we're behind schedule or whatever. What you're planning sounds great though - I love the idea of a group to plan activities with.


Heather S said...

Thanks Rachel. I appreciate the kind comments. I didn't think I would be disciplined enough either, but it's for my daughter and I know her education is important, so I'm going to try my hardest. That's why I'm giving myself these 2 years.
We don't do much of anything right now, but my daughter just turned 3. She knows her ABC's. She can count to 20 in English, and to 10 in Spanish and halfway there in German. She knows them all in German but not in order. She's very smart and learns quickly. I didn't want her to be bored in school. She can learn something in 1-2 days and they will spent an entire week on it and she'll get bored. I would much rather have her at home where she can learn on her own pace.
Also we may even skip a grade this way! I'm hoping it will go smoothly.

The group is for field trips, socialization and interaction, and some schooling as well. Right now it's more of a play date then anything though!


Anonymous said...

Hello,
Welcome to the wonderful world of homepreschooling! I homepreschooled/homeschooled all my four children, and look back on those years as some of the best of our lives.
I blog about homepreschooling/homeschooling at www.susanlemons.wordpress.com and hope you and your readers will visit me there.
Blessings,
Susan Lemons
Homeschooling mom of 4
Bachelor's Degree in Child Development
Former preschool teacher
Author, Homepreschool and Beyond