What About Preschool?
Sep. 19, 2006 at 11:40 AM
Homeschooling
A reader emailed and asked,
One of the joys of homeschooling is that you get to learn all the things you may not have learned the first time around. All education leaves some gaps. It's just a matter of which gaps they are. So I encourage you to determine to homeschool not just based on what you know, but what you and your son can learn together. With your passion and his energy and aptitude, you'll be a dynamic team. I wrote a more detailed post on choosing curriculum that you may find helpful.
At the preschool stage, curiosity is the best curriculum and exploration the best teacher.
Provide lots of opportunities for him to ask questions and then discover the answers together. Build a habit of attentiveness by asking him about what he sees around him. Ask him to describe the objects and why he thinks the Lord gave them to us. What is their purpose? How does the object relate to other things around it? Attentiveness is just one of many habits our younger children need to mature and learn about the world around them.
Charlotte Mason, an English writer from the 1800's talks about many of the early habits we are to help cultivate in our children. I would strongly recommend her writing as a source of inspiration and information. Even if you don't use the "Charlotte Mason method" her words of advice and wisdom will help you gain a greater understanding of education. Karen Andreola has taken the lengthy of works of Charlotte Mason and condensed them. Her website, Charlotte Mason, is a goldmine of information. For a daily burst of Charlotte Mason, visit the blog Charlotte Mason.
Other resources I have found helpful for preschoolers are,
Five In A Row by the Lamberts
Alpha Phonics by Blumenfeld
Math U See (A gifted child son would probably enjoy this method.)
Although, some may disagree I would discourage the use of electronic teaching at this stage, both TV and computer. I would also encourage the use of plenty of read alouds that are a little longer than a story book. Something that would take a few days or a week to finish. I wrote more about this in my post, Don't Control the Remote...Control the Appetite.
And don't discount "playtime" as just a waste of time. When someone asked homeschooler Micki Colfax what she did with her preschoolers she replied, "They played with a lot of legos." It must have worked. Her boys made it into Harvard. Their book, Homeschooling for Excellence will give you some insights as well.
I'm just getting back into the preschool phase after being out of it for a few years. So if others have tips and ideas please share them. I also didn't speak too much about training that is so important during the preschool years. I hope to get to that soon.
I've also been asked what to do with preschoolers while your trying to teach the older ones. I'll try and get to that question soon. In the meantime, two resources that I have found helpful are Preschoolers and Peace and Terri Maxwell's Managers of their Home. If others would like to share their thoughts on that question feel free to chime in.
The Carnival of Homeschooling is also up at the Thinking Mother. There is always lots if ideas and inspiration there as well.
Related Tags: preschool, homeschool, homeschooling, education, public school, parenting, family, children
I've begun preschooling our 4 year-old at home with a simple curriculum I've put together. However, it is very basic and we speed through it in no time. I know that every parent thinks their child is bright, but I'm afraid that I truly do have a very bright child on my hands. I don't say this boastfully, but fearfully. Am I capable of teaching a gifted child? I was a B+ student. Nothing to write home about. However, I am passionate about learning to this day, I'm passionate about our child and I'm passionate about homeschooling. Could you take a moment and share some thoughts on homeschool preschool curriculum? Any recommendations?I've heard it said, "God doesn't call the equipped. He equips the called." By God's grace and His wisdom, you and your husband can teach your gifted son. You may not understand Calculus yet. But don't worry most preschoolers, even the gifted aren't ready for that just yet!
One of the joys of homeschooling is that you get to learn all the things you may not have learned the first time around. All education leaves some gaps. It's just a matter of which gaps they are. So I encourage you to determine to homeschool not just based on what you know, but what you and your son can learn together. With your passion and his energy and aptitude, you'll be a dynamic team. I wrote a more detailed post on choosing curriculum that you may find helpful.
At the preschool stage, curiosity is the best curriculum and exploration the best teacher.
Provide lots of opportunities for him to ask questions and then discover the answers together. Build a habit of attentiveness by asking him about what he sees around him. Ask him to describe the objects and why he thinks the Lord gave them to us. What is their purpose? How does the object relate to other things around it? Attentiveness is just one of many habits our younger children need to mature and learn about the world around them.
Charlotte Mason, an English writer from the 1800's talks about many of the early habits we are to help cultivate in our children. I would strongly recommend her writing as a source of inspiration and information. Even if you don't use the "Charlotte Mason method" her words of advice and wisdom will help you gain a greater understanding of education. Karen Andreola has taken the lengthy of works of Charlotte Mason and condensed them. Her website, Charlotte Mason, is a goldmine of information. For a daily burst of Charlotte Mason, visit the blog Charlotte Mason.
Other resources I have found helpful for preschoolers are,
Five In A Row by the Lamberts
Alpha Phonics by Blumenfeld
Math U See (A gifted child son would probably enjoy this method.)
Although, some may disagree I would discourage the use of electronic teaching at this stage, both TV and computer. I would also encourage the use of plenty of read alouds that are a little longer than a story book. Something that would take a few days or a week to finish. I wrote more about this in my post, Don't Control the Remote...Control the Appetite.
And don't discount "playtime" as just a waste of time. When someone asked homeschooler Micki Colfax what she did with her preschoolers she replied, "They played with a lot of legos." It must have worked. Her boys made it into Harvard. Their book, Homeschooling for Excellence will give you some insights as well.
I'm just getting back into the preschool phase after being out of it for a few years. So if others have tips and ideas please share them. I also didn't speak too much about training that is so important during the preschool years. I hope to get to that soon.
I've also been asked what to do with preschoolers while your trying to teach the older ones. I'll try and get to that question soon. In the meantime, two resources that I have found helpful are Preschoolers and Peace and Terri Maxwell's Managers of their Home. If others would like to share their thoughts on that question feel free to chime in.
The Carnival of Homeschooling is also up at the Thinking Mother. There is always lots if ideas and inspiration there as well.
Related Tags: preschool, homeschool, homeschooling, education, public school, parenting, family, children
4 Comments and Trackbacks
posted by SusannahCox on Sep. 19, 2006 at 2:26 PM
Great suggestions, Spunky!
I have three more coming up through the preschool age and I look forward to reading more as you add it.
My 4yo is doing a beginning math reasoning book and I'm amazed at how much he already knows, just from playing around and reading stories! I'm not sure how he learned it, but somehow he did.
posted by tryoneverything on Sep. 19, 2006 at 3:14 PM
I have given a lot of thought to homeschooling preschoolers. I was a former teacher so I had all sorts of ideas in my mind about what I "should" do. But 5 years later, two more babies, and a very tired momma produced nothing but lots of play time for my oldest child. I even spent a ton of money of preschool curriculum that I never used.
If people ask if I homeschool my preschooler and what I use, I will answer "yes" and "nothing but books, love, and tons of play." My oldest proved the idea that children don't need preschool to get ahead. Some of her friends we're given preschool type curriculum. She learned to read at the same time the rest of them did and before others. She's amazed me at all she's learned. I also thought she would be more gifted but she's turned out to really struggle in certain areas. I have backed off those and we are taking a break (she would be a 2nd grader by PS standards.) She's a very reluctant learner as well so we're learning to work together to make it happen.
My "gifted" child turned out to the be the child I thought would actually be behind in everything. He's 5 1/2. He taught himself to read over the summer when I wasn't watching. He writes are every opportunity he gets. He's even doing parts of the 2nd grade history curriculum that I bought to use with my oldest.
My true preschooler has only one interest right now. . .creating havoc. LOL!!! So she's doing everything we are doing right now except the writing. My oldest do their copywork and handwriting practice while I read to my two youngest in the morning. And the best thing I have done for all involved was to move my major read aloud and studies to the afternoon when my very precocious toddler is taking his nap.
I guess the thing about preschool I have learned most is to just have them be a part of your life. Do try to plan their days too much but give them structure. Read to them. . .alot!!!!!!!! I didn't do this enough with my oldest but she's managed to turn into a reader nonetheless. This is all my 3 yod wants to do right now is read. Even my toddler brings me books to read.
As far as the question about what to do with younger ones while schooling older ones, I would suggest including them as much as possible. I keep play-doh and other fun hands on stuff around for those times when he is around. Right now most of school is done in the afternoon. Their free time comes in the morning and they are eating up the cooler weather in our backyard. I have babyproofed the backyard and sit in my living room while I read and study my own things. I can hear everything. We are having a blast with school for the first time in 3 years.
I didn't mean to write a book. I had many people tell me as a new mom that I didn't need a preschool curriculum and I didn't believe them. I wasted lots of money and tons of time worrying about it all. Although I do believe that younger children need something to do while older sibling do school, I don't think you have to spend tons of money. The library is the best resource. It's was also my "gifted" student that actually brought me to the point of relaxing and realizing that I CAN teach my children. I have had no choice but to keep up with him on my own. There is no money to afford the curriculum that he could potentially need (we've made really good use of the audio books the library. He's now obsessed with lions because I checked out a audio book on a whim. :)
Sorry to write so much.
posted by Anonymous on Sep. 20, 2006 at 10:31 AM
I am convinced that the most important thing a homeschooling parent can give their child--in preschool and at any age--is a passion for learning. If you teach your child to love learning, your child will learn, and probably far surpass you in many areas. It's a marvelous domino effect. I can say this as a homeschool graduate with parents and other relatives who have always been hungry to learn and open to new avenues of exploration... it's rubbed off!
Blessings,
Rachel
http://rachelstarrthomson.blogspot.com
posted by lindafay on Sep. 25, 2006 at 12:17 AM
Just wanted to let you know I've been enjoying the HOMESCHOOLPEDIA link on your sidebar. I'v shared some of his resources with my readers in my del.ici.ous links. I wish the author would keep posting.
have a wonderful day,
linda