In our house, each day is filled with learning. We have fun playing educational games, using technology to reinforce various skills and taking advantage of learning opportunities through conversations and hands-on experiences. They are developing strong social skills and the ability to participate in a structured environment through outings, playdates, weekly story time, Sunday school and weekly Rainbows class. I have been blown away by how quickly both little ones have absorbed knowledge and developed skills.
That being said, I am looking forward to facilitating daily lessons in a more purposeful, planned manner next school year. Aubrey is starting to read and is ready to start basic addition and subtraction. Jackson can identify 95% of the letters and can count to 12. He knows his shapes and colors(finally) and is eager to learn more. Both love to learn about the world around them. They are capable of so much and make learning together fun! :)
I have been surprised by how many complete strangers have asked Aubrey if she attends preschool. She just answers with a polite no, but internally I am holding back from jumping in and explaining to them why going to preschool is not necessary in order to master preschool academic and social skills. There is certainly nothing wrong with attending a preschool and many parents opt to send their children to preschool for a variety of good reasons. We are opting not to and our children are flourishing despite this neglect. ;) Seriously though, if you are thinking of helping your child master preschool expectations at home and ensure their readiness for kindergarten (whether that be homeschool, public or private school), there are some great resources out there and tons of free/inexpensive technology sites/apps. Ultimately, its all about making learning fun and having fun learning together!
Our school year is going to be organized around fun themes (seasons, holidays, social studies/science topics, etc.) with hands-on learning, crafts, basic skills, technology and field trips to support them. My hope is to post the themes we are focusing on each season, along with resources, ideas and field trips we have planned. Here are some great resources to get started.
Planning and Goals:
VA standards provided for public school preschool programs. Provides a helpful overview of areas to focus learning in.
Kindergarten Readiness Checklist- provides a list of specific skills that should be mastered during preschool in a format that allows you to check off when mastery is achieved.
That being said, I am looking forward to facilitating daily lessons in a more purposeful, planned manner next school year. Aubrey is starting to read and is ready to start basic addition and subtraction. Jackson can identify 95% of the letters and can count to 12. He knows his shapes and colors(finally) and is eager to learn more. Both love to learn about the world around them. They are capable of so much and make learning together fun! :)
I have been surprised by how many complete strangers have asked Aubrey if she attends preschool. She just answers with a polite no, but internally I am holding back from jumping in and explaining to them why going to preschool is not necessary in order to master preschool academic and social skills. There is certainly nothing wrong with attending a preschool and many parents opt to send their children to preschool for a variety of good reasons. We are opting not to and our children are flourishing despite this neglect. ;) Seriously though, if you are thinking of helping your child master preschool expectations at home and ensure their readiness for kindergarten (whether that be homeschool, public or private school), there are some great resources out there and tons of free/inexpensive technology sites/apps. Ultimately, its all about making learning fun and having fun learning together!
Our school year is going to be organized around fun themes (seasons, holidays, social studies/science topics, etc.) with hands-on learning, crafts, basic skills, technology and field trips to support them. My hope is to post the themes we are focusing on each season, along with resources, ideas and field trips we have planned. Here are some great resources to get started.
Planning and Goals:
VA standards provided for public school preschool programs. Provides a helpful overview of areas to focus learning in.
Kindergarten Readiness Checklist- provides a list of specific skills that should be mastered during preschool in a format that allows you to check off when mastery is achieved.
Milestones by Age allows you to get a feel for what your child should be doing and help select areas to focus on. Be sure and incorporate the skills they've already mastered too! We want to keep up their confidence, maintain skills, and allow them to make connections and extend their learning.
Let each child guide your plans. Provide opportunities for learning that meet them where they are and keep learning authentic and fun
Gathering Ideas:
http://www.nuttinbutpreschool.com
http://www.prekinders.com
http://www.thecraftyclassroom.com/index.html
Gathering Ideas:
http://www.nuttinbutpreschool.com
http://www.prekinders.com
http://www.thecraftyclassroom.com/index.html
http://www.preschoolexpress.com/theme_station.shtml
Pinterest- search hands-on activities or preschool activities
*Google and Pinterest are 2 of my favorite go to places when looking for fresh ideas that support literacy, math, thematic units, etc...
Pinterest- search hands-on activities or preschool activities
*Google and Pinterest are 2 of my favorite go to places when looking for fresh ideas that support literacy, math, thematic units, etc...
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