OT:Anyone homeschool PREK?

[mommy2allgirls]

Due to one of my dd's going to a special preschool for disabilities my older dd wouldn't be able to go to preschool next fall and I am planning on homeschooling her and enrolling her in some activities so she gets the socialization. Anyways, what do I need to have to homeschool and doesn't anyone have a particular curriculum that they have used and liked?

 

[npmommie]

Due to one of my dd's going to a special preschool for disabilities my older dd wouldn't be able to go to preschool next fall and I am planning on homeschooling her and enrolling her in some activities so she gets the socialization. Anyways, what do I need to have to homeschool and doesn't anyone have a particular curriculum that they have used and liked?

You don't need a curriculum to homeschool for preschool . just play, read, go to the library, have playdates, let her explore her world, do crafts, paint, crayon, learn shapes thru play, colors thru play, go for nature walks, plant a garden, listen to music, play an instrument, do pretend play together, explore, and just enjoy your dd!! You don't need a structured program to do all this, just relax and enjoy, and she will learn!
have fun!

 

[cglaura]

I had great success w/ the book Alpha Phonics, by Sam Blumenfeld.

I started when she was 4. She's always been homeschooled, currently we are using Alpha Omega Lifepac, because she is at a point where she can be self taught, with guidance and check ups from me. But throughout the years we flip flopped alot depending on how she was grasping certain concepts and what she was really interested in learning.

She is planning for the GED in the fall, so technically she'll be graduating as a Junior, though we never went by formal grade levels according to years...when she finished the stuff, we moved to the next level.

She is going to take few courses at community college to get the swing of formal classes (when she would have been a hs senior...then hopes to get into art school, hoping on the Art Institute of Philadelphia.

Good luck! Best decision I've ever made. It's been hard at times, I'm a single mom / self employed...work at home at night, but soooooo worth it!

ETA: Just wanted to add...the phonics was the only formal kind of thing we did at that age. I agree w/ npmommie, let her learn from experiences. She just wanted to read, so we found that book and it was fantastic.

 

[MSSANDRA]

You don't need a curriculum to homeschool for preschool . just play, read, go to the library, have playdates, let her explore her world, do crafts, paint, crayon, learn shapes thru play, colors thru play, go for nature walks, plant a garden, listen to music, play an instrument, do pretend play together, explore, and just enjoy your dd!! You don't need a structured program to do all this, just relax and enjoy, and she will learn!
have fun!

ITA. Just enjoy her and have fun.

 

[lil mermaid]

ITA. Just enjoy her and have fun.

Yeah - what she said

And read, read, read.....

 

[Ellester]

You don't need to "have" anything to homeschool other than a desire to be with your kids. I agree with the mostly play, but there are some good PreK resources out there. I wouldn't spend lots of time on a formal curriculum, but some kids really like "doing school". For that age, check out Five in a Row (www.fiveinarow.com), very laid back and lots of snuggle time reading. We use Sonlight for our curriculum and they have a new preschool level, we haven't personally used it but I can't imagine it not being good (www.sonlight.com). I've gotten a few Kumon workbooks from Barnes & Nobel that I like. I also like the ABC series workbooks from Rod & Staff (www.rodandstaffbooks.com), they are very reasonably priced and my youngest two have really liked them. Enjoy the time with your little ones!

 

[_queenie_]

My DD is 3.5 and doesn't go to preschool (may not next year either). I wouldn't say that I homeschool her, but my DD13 gets a few homeschool/teacher worksheets offline and helps her with those. She's already reading, can do a little addition, and can point out a few states (where we live and surrounding states) on a map. She started out doing more simple worksheets, but now she's doing more advanced Kindergarten ones. I do craft type things with her anyway, but going the extra step has definately helped her.

 

[npmommie]

If she likes "doing school" .......you can find those all in one curriculum books at walmart, sams, bjs.........they have them for pre K.
and they are less than $10

 

[bumbershoot]

Due to one of my dd's going to a special preschool for disabilities my older dd wouldn't be able to go to preschool next fall and I am planning on homeschooling her and enrolling her in some activities so she gets the socialization. Anyways, what do I need to have to homeschool and doesn't anyone have a particular curriculum that they have used and liked?

Hi!

At that age, just in case you're asking about legalities, it doesn't appear you need to do anything official. Was looking around, and I don't know if this site is absolute fact, but their FAQs say the age of compulsory schooling in TX is 6. (Wow, my state of WA is 8!)

Have fun!

 

[npmommie]

Hi!

At that age, just in case you're asking about legalities, it doesn't appear you need to do anything official. Was looking around, and I don't know if this site is absolute fact, but their FAQs say the age of compulsory schooling in TX is 6. (Wow, my state of WA is 8!)

Have fun!

do you have the link to hslda? they give all the info on all the states and the legalities
www.hslda.org

texas is awesome they don't have to report

 

[mamaloya]

For preschool we did a lot of worksheets from www.learningpage.com . I also love the workbooks at Rod & Staff. I will try to find a link later. Also check out www.cbd.com . They have preschool workbooks.

I agree with the others that preschool should not be too formal. It is great if they want to do the worksheets, but I never MADE them do them. My goal for preschool is for them to write their name, be able to sit and listen for short periods of time, know their shapes and colors and count to 10 and sing the alphabet song. That is it. You can accomplish this easily w/o much formal work.

If you are worried about learning to read, studies have shown that learning to read early has absolutely no advantages to one's education. I feel that a kid should be a kid. If they want to learn at that age, GREAT, if not, that's OK too.

Good luck!

 

[fishie]

One comprehensive site I like, which also has great state information as well as both content for both secular and religious hsers, is A to Z Home's Cool. the url is: http://homeschooling.gomilpitas.com/index.htm

Here's what I've done for preschool with my twins, who are now almost 5:

CLASS TYPE STUFF:
Gymnastics or ballet
swimming lessons
art classes
kids' cooking classes
Some other options are Kindermusik, Gymboree, and anything else available through your community center or other nearby community centers.

NON-CLASS STYPE STUFF:
small playdates w/ friends from the above classes (usually one at a time)
visit the library to check out books on stuff they are interested in (currently, that means volcanoes & earthquakes, rabbits, and fish tanks) and read them aloud together
crafts - coloring paper, construction paper, crayons, markers, colored pencils, safety scissors, stencils, stamps & stamp pads, stickers, tape, glue sticks, pipe cleaners, pom-poms, craft sticks, buttons & beads, etc.
24 - 48 piece puzzles
tinkertoys & lincoln logs
sewing cards & lace-up beads
building blocks

Because the girls combine their toys in so many creative ways, I don't have any sort of "clean up one toy before you get out another" rule, and we also often leave their projects set up overnight, so they can continue playing with them the next day. They also often help me make their lunches when we have sandwiches, spreading condiments with butter knives, and adding their meats and cheeses by themselves. (I do any cutting, though.)

They help me choose meals for the week, help me measure and weigh fruits and veggies at the grocery store. When we hit the mall, they have a small allowance that they can choose to spend; I help them decode price tags and determine whether or not they have enough money to buy what they want.

They spend *some* time on kid-safe websites, playing games; they also learned to use the remote control when we watch tv/dvds. When the weather is warm, they play outside and dig and make mud soup and play tag; they've spent time making a mess in the bathroom sink with the liquid soap; they have tea parties with water and goldfish crackers; they play with leftover wrapping paper and scotch tape, using it to wrap their toys as gifts for each other . . . . there is so much they can do at home that they would *never* get to do in preschool!

Good luck!

Wendy McDonald