Teaching Tuesday: Resources for Pre-School

Today I wanted to pass on a few resources that I have used to plan some hands on, age appropriate activities for both Landon and Elaine.  For me the day gets away from me if I am not purposeful in my time with my children.  Before I know it I have spent the morning on laundry, email, dishes, and cleaning.  Then it is lunch time followed by nap.  Then after nap it is supper prep time, then dinner, then baths and bedtime.  The day is gone and I haven't taken the time to focus on my kids.  Really spend time with them.  So even when Landon was very little I started looking for ways to play with him intentionally and help him learn about the world around him.  The first resource I found was a really fun book, Slow and Steady Get Me Ready, by June Oberlander.  I purchased an older edition from ebay.  It starts at birth and goes through age 5 with an activity a week.  I haven't always done every activity with each kid, but when I am looking for something fun to do it is full of age appropriate ideas.  The ideas usually involve things you find around the house.  I have had to improvise a few times for instance when it suggests using empty spools...I don't sew enough to have empty spools lying around, but I always found something that would work.  This fish activity was one I found in the book.

The second place I want to highlight is Hubbard's Cupboard.  It is a website with tons of great ideas for 2 and 3 year olds.  I have used lots of her ideas this year.  I used her monthly themes loosely for Elaine.  I love having the suggested books to read, because finding books at the library can be tricky while watching a 4 year old and a potty training 2 year old and pushing a stroller.  I also used several of her ideas for Christmas too.  Here Landon and Elaine are making shape angels, a link I found on Hubbard's Cupboard's Christmas list.

Next Tuesday I have some activities I have used to teach reading comprehension that can be used with several age levels and with almost any book.  Later this week the crafty organization project I have been working on and another yummy recipe.

Teaching Tuesday: Reflecting

Today I just wanted to spend a little time reflecting on how "school" has been going.  As I have been spending lots of time nesting this week, I am going to keep this simple and use a list format for what works for us and what does not.

What does not work:

• Having a strict beginning time (Rushing everything to be sure we are starting right at 8)
• Insisting the 2 year old track right with the 4 year old
• Lots of sitting very still
• Lots of coloring

What is working:

• Starting when our normal morning routine is finished (ex. breakfast is over, kids are dressed, mom has showered, dishwasher is emptied, laundry is started)
• Having some alternatives ready for Elaine (ex. paper to cut and glue, puzzles to do, etc) Then she is free to join when she is up to it, and Landon is less distracted by her.  The site Hubbard's Cupboard has been very helpful.
• Using hands on/movement activites
• Free style art time - Landon is not a fan of coloring when he is given a specific task, such as color the 3 apples red.  He loves, on the other hand, to paint picture after picture.  We do spend some time on following specific directions as this is an important skill, but making time for him to paint or use play dough is also very important.

I am hoping to share a little craft project we are going to do to get ready for the new baby later this week.  That is if nesting doesn't completely consume me.

Teaching Tuesday: Our Classroom

So today tonight (better late then never) I am going to give you a peek into our little classroom. 

Here is were the children sit to do their papers.  

Our Calendar Space

 "Teacher's" Desk

Our easel - I use the dry erase/magnet side for our lessons.  I also have a home made felt board I use on the easel too.  My model wanted to be in the picture, but didn't want to smile for the camera.

If you are interested in the fun floor you see.  Check out this post.

Awesome Closet Space

Computer

It is not a fancy space, but it is perfect for our needs.  We are looking to get a few student desks to slide under the counter. 

I have a little craft project and a healthy lasagna recipe to share later this week, for now I am headed to bed.  With only 6 weeks until baby's due date, I am ready for bed almost all day.

Teaching Tuesday: Week 2

Our second week of homeschooling went well.  I am still learning how to juggle my 2 year old, while encouraging my 4 year old to focus on the lesson.  I think many times I am more distracted by the extra commotion then he is.  When I look at the 2nd week as a whole, I am excited by how much learning is happening.

I thought I would take this week and give a little background into the curriculum we have decided to use for those that might be interested.  As a first grade teacher I taught ABEKA phonics.  It was my first look at the program, and I was very impressed.  It was very different from the whole language approach that I had been taught with in elementary school.  The first graders were reading and writing so well.  So I knew that I wanted to use ABEKA phonics, and when looking at my options, felt it in my best interest to use the whole K4 ABEKA curriculum for Landon.  It is well rounded and easy to follow.  Knowing right after our school year got started we would be bringing home a new baby, I wanted something that was spelled out day to day.  I didn't want to be creating activities from scratch each week.  I do like to incorporate some of my own learning games and style, but ABEKA gives a thorough plan on its own, which is a real relief when things are hectic.  Which I am sure will be increasingly true when the new baby arrives. 

For Elaine I really just wanted a few things so she wouldn't feel left out.  I am not a huge fan of lots of structure for a 2 year old.  They really still need so much exploring and play time, but knowing her personality I knew she would want "work" of her own.  I decided to get the Learning Numbers for 2 year-olds workbook from ABEKA.  It is really just a coloring book that focuses on numbers.  The pages look similar to Landon's, enough that she feels like she has important work too.  I also picked up the Comprehensive Curriculum of Basic Skills Preschool book too.  I got ours at Sams Club for $7.86, which I think is a steal for all it includes.  It it is divided into several sections that include: basic skills, reading readiness, writing readiness, and math readiness.  I know she will not use most of it this year, but she likes the pages about colors and shapes.  I let her play the games with us, altering the directions for her age.  For us this has worked better then just finding a completely different activity to occupy her.

Next Tuesday I plan to include some pictures of our school space, and hopefully before then a quick craft that made organizing Elaine and the new baby's closet a little more fun.

Teaching Tuesday: Week 1

If you would have asked me 5 years ago where I would send my children to school, it would have been a very definitive answer.  My answer would have been the private Christian school where I was teaching.  I love that school.  It was a great group to work with, all with a sincere passion to share Christ with our students while equipping them with the academics skills needed to be life long learners.  Hoping to give them a Biblical worldview that would prepare them for whatever God called them.  I knew I would stay home with my children when they were small, Kyle and I discussed that before we were even married.  It was and is what we both wanted for our children.  So when I had Landon, I left my position at the school, knowing I would return when my children were ready for school.  Well Landon is now ready, well ready for preK anyway...but I'm not ready to go back.  I have Elaine still at home and will soon be welcoming a new addition in a few weeks.   So after lots of prayer and counsel, we decided we would homeschool.  We are planning to take it year by year, child by child.  I still love the school I taught at, and highly recommend it to all those who are looking for a private Christian school.  For now though, God has called us to homeschool.


God blesses us when we follow his call.  As parents discussed where they would be sending their children to preschool and getting supplies, I prepared our "classroom" and supplies.  As I heard of my fellow teachers getting ready for Back to School Night, I read over the curriculum I had selected.  I became more and more excited for our first day of school, and our first week went great!  Not without any bumps, but I was really pleased.  I soon realized how much I had missed teaching.  Homeschooling feels so right for us at this stage.  I can use the way God has gifted me in teaching, while still being the Mom God called me to be to our younger children.

I still feel like my time as a classroom teacher isn't over just postponed a few more years.  We will continue to seek God's plan for our family and follow it with the strength only He can equip us with.