*Help with homeschool*

MonkeyMom · ***Help with homeschool***

Okay so after many discussions with my dh, most of them very loud and heated, about homeschoolig our dd. He has semi-agreed to let me try it out and see how it goes. I know I am very early on this as she is only 21mts. I want to start gathering things now and picking out cirriculum. (Am I crazy? Maybe!

). I want to make sure that I am making good decisions now that will allow me to continue to do this when she is actually school-aged.

What is a good cirriculum for preschool?

Did any of you even homeschool preschool?

I have Mary Pride's book already and it's wonderful. I just wanted to see what my mommysaver friends had to say about all of this.

Thanks!

flybygrace · 06-30-2008, 12:33 PM

Well I'm in the same boat, sorta. I'm set to start preschool with DS this fall (he'll turn 4 in October) and I wish someone could just slap a curriculum in front of me and tell me to follow the directions.

I spent 2 hours with my eyes bugging out at a local teacher's supply/curriculum store before coming home last year near in tears. In desperation, I sought my MIL's help, as she successfully homeschooled 4 children. She told me to relax, and just do educational play, life skills and interactive learning until he was around 4 (this Fall). So, I'd have DS count things at the grocery store, or separate his car collection based on colors, types, sizes, etc. We played "which is different" with his toys. I taught him colors, shapes, opposites (big/small, high/low, loud/quiet), same/different, numbers, alphabet. What tv he does watch is on the educational side (Dora, Sesame Street).

If you're looking for a preprinted set curriculum, there are plenty online you can order or get books. Here are a couple websites that are great if you want to do it on your own or supplement some book curriculum.
Valuable Preschool Years - Fun Preschool Curriculum
The Perpetual Preschool (even has some great toddler things!)
Learn to Read at Starfall - teaching comprehension and phonics (DS loves this!)
Brightly Beaming Resources

If I come across more, I'll post them for you. I think the biggest thing is just being involved in your child's learning and teaching them not only letters, numbers and the like, but skills for life (manners, cause/effect, communication, etc).

MonkeyMom · 06-30-2008, 02:39 PM

Thanks so much. I knew I was over thinking this whole thing. Like I said she's technically not even preschool age yet. So Thanks again. I love these websites.

stacia · 07-01-2008, 09:12 AM

I knew when they were born that I was going to homeschool and starting reading/researching then so you're not crazy!

You don't need a curriculum at all you know! However here are some good suggestions for pre-k that I've used/liked. First of all, my method is very literature based-I love reading so we do a ton of that and these programs are literature based also. Both are Christian based however easy to leave out that part if you don't want that.
Welcome to WinterPromise Publishing has 2 pre-k packages, they really go together b/c one is an activities program and the other is the reading program so you can combine them. The good thing about WP is that it has crafts/arts built into the curriculum guide, I always just did them on my own with Sonlight. Art is very important at the pre-k level, it is great for fine motor skills/pre-handwriting abilities especially.
Sonlight: Christian Homeschool Curriculum, Homeschool Program, Resources, Education, Homeschooling Materials & Books has a great pre-k program. We used that and are on a higher sonlight core now. Sonlight is more expensive, however I feel it's worth the price, you might not.
There are free internet programs like Brightly Beaming Resources, we did that one also. It's fun for teaching letter sounds, however if your kids already know them it's not that beneficial.
There is also the unit study method, we've done that also and it's really fun. It's more work for you since you will have to coordinate the unit, but pretty easy and fun, especially science units. Just match up some good books, activities and field trips.
There are a ton of websites to help you!!!

MonkeyMom · 07-01-2008, 12:12 PM

Thanks stacia. All the websites are great. You guys are so awesome here.