Our Home Preschool

Week 9

2011-04-11T09:51:00.000-07:00

Weekly Book List:
"Mice Squeak, We Speak" by Tomie dePaula and/or "Have You Got My Purr?" by Judy West
"What Will the Weather Be Like Today?" by Paul Rogers

There is also a series of weather book I found at the library called QEB Weather Watch by Honor Head. The titles are "Sun", "Snow", "Rain" and "Wind".

Monday-Language Arts
sign of the day: horse
Letter(s): E, F
Reading Vocab: Elephant, Fish
Literature: "Mice Squeak, We Speak" by Tomie dePaula and/or "Have You Got My Purr?" by Judy West
Activity: -Talk about communication. How do we communicate? How do animals communicate? Do we ever communicate without words? -Pretend to be all the different animals in the book. Walk like the animal and make their sounds. -Sing Old Mc Donald, using animals from the book.
-If possible, visit a local farm. We have some friends who have a few different animals that we will visit. Listen and watch how the animals communicate.

Tuesday-Science
sign of the day: sunshine
Topic: Weather and Seasons
Read: "What Will the Weather Be Like Today?" by Paul Rogers
There is also a series of weather book I found at the library called QEB Weather Watch by Honor Head. The titles are "Sun", "Snow", "Rain" and "Wind".
Online Story:
Learn: What is Weather? Why does it change and When? Talk about the position of the earth in relation to the sun that creates seasons. To demonstrate this, use different size balls, or cut out circles and make a sort of diagram. Why do we need to have different types of weather?
Activity: -Check the weather outside. If it is rainy, sing "Rain, Rain, go away!" If it is sunny, sing "You are my sunshine". If coudy, do cloud craft. If it is windy (or may be windy soon) here are some wind crafts: (or just do all of them!)
-Make a Bumble Bee Kite
-Homemade pinwheel

Wednesday- Math
sign of the day: color
Topic: Easter Egg Math
Activity: counting: write numbers 1-12 on 12 easter eggs. Have child put them in chronological order into an egg carton.
sorting: dump them out, have child put them back in, sorting them by color
graphing: make a bar graph showing how many eggs there are of each color. help child color in the right amount. Analyze the chart. Which color has the most? the least? How many of the colors had 2? etc...
adding and subtracting: make up math problems using the eggs. ex: "I had 12 eggs, but a rat came and stole 2 of them. How many are left?" (I use magnetic numbers to write out each problem on a cookie sheet so they can see as well as hear it) "There were 5 eggs then a chicken layed 3 more. How many are there now?" etc...

Thursday- Social Studies
sign of the day: snake
Topic: Snakes
Read: here are some basic snake facts. Read then explain to child.
Learn: What snakes are poisonous and which are not? Look up particularly the poisonous snakes in your state. Go to google images and look at pics of each one. (Info for Washington)
Activity: (choose a few)
-snake maze
-toilet paper tube rattle snake
-Snake art: draw a rough outline of a snake, making the body large enough to draw inside. Have child make small patterns or line with a crayon. Then, using watercolors, paint the snake. The paint will not cover the crayon.
-Play Snakes and Ladders!
- make snake out of pipe cleaners
- paper plate snakes: color a paper plate (or just use a paper cut into a circle), any colors. then cut in a spiral pattern, making a snake. Add eyes.

Week 8- Christmas!

2010-12-20T16:21:00.000-08:00

Weekly Book List:
"The Snowy Day" by Ezra Jack Keats (also available online- see below)

* I went to a thrift store and bought a bunch of really cheap varied Christmas books and wrapped each one and put them under the tree. Each day, the kids get to open one (or two, depends how much you have) and that is what we read that day.
**we will also be singing Christmas songs as part of the lesson each week.

Monday-Language Arts

sign of the day: snow
Letter(s): s, j (I know we already did J...)
Reading Vocab: snow, Jesus
Literature: "The Snowy Day" by Ezra Jack Keats (or read online here)
Activity: -The Snowy Day sequencing cards
-Nativity Coloring page. After coloring, cut into 6 squares and use as a puzzle.
-cut and paste snowman
-or make a snowman mobile
-make snowflakes out of paper and hang them on the cieling.
I LOVED this Gingerbread Man letter matching game. Match the upper case letters to their lower case letter.

Tuesday-Science
sign of the day: Tree
Topic: Christmas Trees
Sing: O Christmas Tree
Learn: talk about disidous and nondisiduous trees. Why don't "christmas" trees loose their leaves and turn colors like other trees? Tell child the evergreen christmas tree is a symbol of everlasting life that Jesus gave to us. Bring a branch of a real evergreen in for the child to see and feel.
Activity: - christmas tree coloring page
Beaded Christmas tree ornament: use green wooden craft stick as tree trunk. Glue or wrap green chenille sticks horizonatally across trunk as the branches. String beads on the branches then curl or glue ends to keep them on. Glue string or ribbon to the top to hang it.

OR! make the tree completely out of wood craft stick, paint, and glue on sequins for ornaments. Could also make a magnet?

Wednesday- Math
sign of the day: present
Topic: Patterns, Sizes
Activity: -Use these Christmas pictures and practice patterns.
-Here are some different size baby Jesus pictures to put in order.
-Christmas counting page
Thursday- Christmas fun!
sign of the day: Christmas
Topic:
Activity: -Christmas tree maze, Christmas tree maze 2, snow christmas maze, santa maze, christmas maze, baby jesus maze (my son loves mazes....)
-Christmas dot-to-dots
-Make Wreath. Cut hole in center of a paper plate. Tear small strips of green construction paper and glue on plate. Add red pom poms for berries.
-nativity christmas coloring pages

Getting Behind

2010-11-04T21:26:00.001-07:00

so...I'm getting behind. It was bound to happen. Time for our fall break...haha.

Week 7

2010-10-31T23:52:00.000-07:00

Weekly Book List:

"The Giant Jam Sandwich" by John Vernon Lord

Monday-Language Arts
sign of the day: sandwich
Letter(s): j, w
Reading Vocab: jam, wasp -I don't know why this is a picture of a wasp, yet says "worm". oh well.
(to go along with book)
Literature: "The Giant Jam Sandwich" by John Vernon Lord
Activity: Real vs. Make believe: while reading the book, perhaps point out to your child the concept of fiction. Ask what things in the book could have really happened and what couldn't.
Sequencing words: Cut out all the parts of a sandwich out of colored paper or felt. (or use play food) Build a sandwich, vocalizing each step with the words "first, next, then, finally" etc. Ask things like "what do you do before/after you put on the jelly?"
Make bread. Use your favorite recipe. Make a jam sandwich out of it!
Write your own story: Help child come up with his own version of this story and write it down. First, you will need to do a bit of brainstorming (answer the following questions):

1. What's the name of your town going to be?
2. Think of a pest (cockroaches, goats, mice, or even peacocks or kangaroos!)
3. What is the problem with the pest? (this can be realistic like it was with the wasps or ridiculous)
4. What is the solution going to be?
Tuesday- Science
sign of the day: animal
Topic: Animal Classification
Read: (after the lesson) Any book with a variety of animals. I chose Animal ABC's. Ask child which family each animal belongs in.
Learn: Discuss the five catergories of the animal kingdom: mammals, fish, amphibians, reptiles and birds.
Activity: Animal Classification Pockets: (click on the about 3rd link down "animal classification pockets") Assemble these pockets on some sort of board or paper. Find several animal pictures. If you get Nat. Geographics, that would be great to let child cut out animal pictures and sort them. Otherwise, print out pictures of several different types of animals to sort. classroomclipart.com is a good source. Cut them out, then help child put them in the right pockets. There are also some from homeschoolshare you can use. This will also be a good opportunity to discover new species.

Wednesday- Math
sign of the day: snail
Topic: numbers
Activity: we are just going to practice counting. I got out all our old counting games. Also got out the numbers and practiced simple math problems.

Thursday- Social Studies
sign of the day: spider
Topic: Spiders
Read: Anansi the Spider
Learn: All about spiders.
Activity: spider maze, Little Miss Muffet coloring page, Spider dot-to-dot, spider egg carton
hand print spider: make a spider using childs finger prints (minus the thumb) for the legs. put it on a web made out of string.

Week 6/ Halloween!

2010-10-20T14:58:00.000-07:00

Weekly Book List:
Go to library and pick up several Halloween related books. Read one every day with the lesson.
Buy: Candy Corn mix

Monday-Language Arts
sign of the day: pumpkin
Letter(s): p, q
Reading Vocab: pumpkin, queen
Literature: Peter, Peter, Pumpkin Eater nursery rhyme and Five Little Pumpkins poem
Activity: Peter Pumpkin Eater finger puppets use to tell rhyme
Do Five Little Pumpkins finger play

Tuesday-Science
sign of the day: halloween
Topic: Pumpkin lifecycle
Learn: print out these stages of a pumpkin's life. Help child put them in order. Maybe include the pumpkin pie stage! Here's another pumpkin lifecycle worksheet.
Activity: cut open a pumpkin. Explore the insides. Talk about how the seeds, if replanted, will make more pumpkins next year! Cook the seeds and eat them. (wash, spray with little oil, cook at 325 for 25 minutes)
Here's a jack-o-lantern maze for fun.

Wednesday- Math
sign of the day: corn (put together with candy to say candy corn)
Topic: Candy Corn Math
Activity: Candy Corn Patterns: Buy a package of Autum Mix candy corn (with the pumpkins and and two different kinds of candy corn) Practice making and finishing patterns with the candy.
Candy Corn Grid Game: each player gets an ice cube tray. Take turns rolling dice. Whatever number you roll, you get that many candy corns. Whoever fills their tray first, wins.
Play don't eat Pete with candy corn: Make 3x3 grid with one candy corn in each square. One player goes out while the others choose which one is "Pete". Player comes back in and begins to collect the candy. When they choose "Pete" everyone yells "Don't eat Pete!" They get to keep however many they collected before finding "Pete."
Thursday- Social Studies
sign of the day: fun
Topic: Pumpkin Fun
Activities: jack-o-lantern mask: hold a paper plate up to child's face. Mark where his eyes, nose and mouth are. Make a jack-o-lantern face on the plate matching up with the child's face. Color orange. Cut out holes for eyes nose and mouth. Punch holes on each side of the plate and tie yarn to tie around child's head.
Make pumpkin cookies using chocolate chips to make a jack-o-lantern face.
Make egg carton jack-o-lantern. fill with candy corn.
Go to the pumpkin patch!

Week Five

2010-09-29T22:02:00.000-07:00

Weekly Book List:
"Are You My Mother?" by P.D. Eastman
Monday- Language Arts
sign of the day: bird
Letter(s): a, c
Reading Vocab: apple, cat
Literature: "Are You My Mother?" by P.D. Eastman
Activity: C is for Cookie song! (from Sesame street)
Make a bird nest: Using whatever you have available (sticks, pine needles, hay, grass...) and mud, let child pack it all together and make a nest.
Feather painting: Using feathers as a brush, let child paint a picture.

Tuesday- Science
sign of the day: water
Topic: Water
Learn: Properties of water
Activity: Water Experiments!
Water tension: :
1. using a dropper, see how many drops of water you can get to balance ontop of a penny. When you have as much as you think will fit, gently touch the water with a toothpick and watch it flow off. (breaking the tension)
2. in flat container, arrange toothpics in a pentagon. (or any enclosed shape really) add some water. dip another toothpic in dishsoap and gently touch it to the center of al the toothpics. Watch as the soap breaks the tension and pushes the toothpics away.
Density:
1. Using a large bowl water, gather several objects and test if they will sink or float. Let child guess first. If they sink, they are more dense than water.
2. Homemade Lava lamp! before lesson, freeze several ice cube with different colors of water. fill tall vase with oil and add ice. As the ice melts, it will slowly float to the bottom. (Water becomes less dense in its solid form, ice)

Wednesday- Math
sign of the day: day
Topic: Intro to Patterns
Activity: gather small snacks from the kitchen. (we used pretzels, cheerios, raisins and crackers) Use these items to teach child what a pattern is. Once he gets the idea, practice by starting a pattern and having him finish it. Then let child make his own patterns and check to see if they are correct.
Then we looked around the house to find some patterns. Some examples: stripes on a t-shirt, the tiles in the kitchen, pattern on the windows...

Thursday- Social Studies
sign of the day: apple
Topic: Apples
Read: Johnny Appleseed book (or just tell the story. Here's some basic information of Johnny Appleseed.)
Activity: Play Pass the Apple (same as hot potato, just use an apple instead).
Apple Pie Playdough: use this recipe for playdough, except use apple juice in place of water and add some cinnamon and nutmeg.
Apple Prints: cut an apple in half. (take out seeds) Let child paint it then press it against a piece of paper. If you want, cut one half again to make different patterns to paint. When done, glue the seeds on the apple print to make it look like a real apple. Draw a stem.
Pick apples! we are going to an orchard to pick apples.

Week Four

2010-09-23T13:34:00.000-07:00

Week Four Book List:
"Growing Vegetable Soup", by Lois Ehlert
"The Grouchy Ladybug," by Eric Carle

Monday- Language Arts
sign of the day: yellow
Letters: x, y (click letter for worksheet)
Reading Vocab: X-ray, yellow
Create: Xavier the Pirate (x marks the spot)
Play: Have a treasure hunt! Make a pirate map: draw 3 or 4 different pictures of a specific place in your home (ex: ontop of a bookshelf, or under the bed). Each spot will have a clue that leads to the treasure. (ex: on the bookshelf you might find the word "bottom", under the bed might be the word "dresser" the next might be "drawer:) When he has all the clues, the child will know where to find the treasure! (it can be anything- goodies, a toy, etc.) Make sure to mark a big X on top of the treasure!

Tuesday- Science
sign of the day: soup
Topic: Plants
Read: "Growing Vegetable Soup," by Lois Ehlert
Activities: If possible, pick vegetables/fruit from a garden and talk about the growing process.
How Plants Drink: put a piece of celery in a glass of water colored with food coloring. Check back throughout the day and watch as it changes colors. Explain how plants suck up water through their roots.
Grow a Bean: Materials: clear jar, yogurt container, paper towel and bean seeds. Wrap strips of paper towel around the yogurt container so that when placed upside down in the jar the paper will touch the sides. Push the bean seeds between the jar and the paper so that they will stay without falling. Wet the paper and place the jar in a sunny location. Be sure to keep that paper moist. Watch as the beans swell, split, and sprout both down (roots) and up (shoots). (about 2 weeks)
Make Vegetable Soup: Take child grocery shopping and let him help pick out what vegetables to use. Go home and chop them up and make your own soup. (throw in crockpot and it will be ready in time for dinner!) Hopefully he will be excited enough to actually eat it!

Wednesday- Math
sign of the day: time
Topic: Introduction to Telling Time
Read: "The Grouchy Ladybug," by Eric Carle
Learn: Teach child how to count by 5's. This printout may help. (My 4 y.o. will not quite get this, but this is just an "introduction". If it flies over his head, we will not worry too much!
Clock: use this template. Make a minute and hour hand and attatch to clock with a brad. Explain the basics of telling time. Move the clock as you are reading the book to the appropriate time.
Digital Telling Time: do a basic explanation of reading a digital clock. This is much easier for preschool age.
Play: Snap-o-clock. print one or two of these. fill in template with matching analog and digital time. cut into cards. Use cards to play "snap", saying "snap" when a clock face and its matching correct time are turned over.
Here are the steps to follow when you play Snap:
Deal out an equal number of cards to each player.
Each player puts their stack of cards face down in front of them.
Players all turn one card face up and place it next to their face down stack.
They look at everyone's card to see if any matching cards have been turned up. Tip: If yes, someone says “Snap.” The first person to say “Snap” gets all the cards in the face-up stacks that match each other. Play then continues from Step 3.
If no, play continue from Step 3.
If a player gets to the end of the face-down stack before the end of the game, he or she turns the face up stack over and continues.

Thursday- Social Studies
sign of the day: money
Topic: Money
Activitiy: You will need a variety of coins. You may want to clean them first.
Sort: Have child sort the coins into piles that are the same. When he is through, discuss each pile. ("the coins in this pile are DIMES. They are worth 10 CENTS. 10 PENNIES is the same value as ONE DIME"...etc, etc.)
Line the coins up in order of their size. Then explain how size of the coin doesn't determine it's value. Realign the coins in order of value.
Play: If you have enough, make coin towers.
Saving Money: explain that money is earned by hard work. Maybe give child chance to earn money by doing EXTRA chores (not daily, required ones).
Make piggy bank out of a mason jar. Let child decorate it. Help him think of something he would like to save up his money to buy. Put a picture of the desired item on the jar to remind him what he is saving for.
Play: create a store. This could simply be child's playroom! Or the kitchen pantry. Give child a basket and let him pick what he wants to "buy". He will bring his goods to the checker (you) and one by one tell him how much each is worth and let him give you the correct amount of money. Ex: "That teddy bear costs 2 quarters and a dime." He it out and gives it to you, then moves on to the next thing.

Week Three

2010-09-16T22:17:00.000-07:00

Week Three Book List:
"The Giving Tree" by Shel Silverstein
"Digging Up Dinosaurs" by Aliki
"Dinosaurs, Dinosaurs" By Byron Barton

Monday- Language Arts
sign of the day: tree
Letter(s): m, n
Reading Vocab: monkey, nail
Literature: "The Giving Tree" by Shel Silverstein
Activity: Story Sequencing strips: put in appropriate order to retell story.
Make "Giving boy/girl": Trace child on large roll out paper. Make tracing into a "tree" (legs for the trunk, draw leaves on the arms) Talk about things child can give, just like the tree did. Ex: hugs, a picture, be a friend, share with siblings, help with chores, etc. Write or draw these things around the tracing.

Tuesday- Science
sign of the day: dinosaur
Read: "Digging Up Dinosaurs" by Aliki, "Dinosaurs, Dinosaurs" By Byron Barton
online book: "Tyrone the Horrible" by Hans Wilhelm
Song: I'm a Mean Old Dinosaur (Tune: I'm a little Tea Pot)
I'm a mean old Dinosaur
(Make a mean face)
Big and Tall
(Gesture hands big and tall )
Here is my tail, here is my claw.
(Gesture hands behind your back for tail and make claw hands)
When I get all hungry
(rub your tummy)
I just growl
(have the kids exaggerate the grrroooowwwlll)
Look out kids I'm on the prowl.
(chase eachother like dinosuars)
Craft: Handprint Dinosaurs:
Trace child's hand about 4 times. On separate paper, draw outline of dinosaur. Color both green then cut out. Cut only top half of hands out (to look like spikes on Dinosaur's back). Glue finger "spikes" on dinosaur's back. Should look roughly like this.

Wednesday- Math
sign of the day: number
Topic- numbers 10-15.
Review- numbers 1-10, using this mushroom counting activity.
Activity- Practice counting 1-15. Write numbers down in order to give visual representation.
Counting Dogs: count and write number on each dog.
Muffin tin counting: Write numbers 10-15 on small piece of paper and each to bottom of a cup in the muffin tin. Using beans, cereal or anything small, have child place the appropriate number in each one.

Thursday- Other
sign of the day: dance
Topic: Music
Activity: Make instruments. Gather whatever you can find around the house that will make noise. Ex. toilet paper tube filled with rice = maracas; paper plates filled with beans and stapled together = tambourine; rubber bands across cardboard box = guitar; oatmeal container with lid = drum. get creative. Try this paper roll flute.
Listen to and talk about different kinds of music and instruments. Ask what kind child likes. Listen, play and dance.

Week Two

2010-09-05T11:38:00.000-07:00

Week Two Book List:
"Go Away, Big Green Monster!" by Ed Emberly,
"Hello, Ocean!" by Pam Munoz Ryan
"My Five Senses" by Aliki.

Monday- Language Arts
sign of the day: big
Weekly Letter(s)- i, l (Tracer sheets: Ii, Ll)
Reading Vocab- leaf, ice
Literature- "Go Away, Big Green Monster!" by Ed Emberly
Craft- Following Directions Monster coloring page or, you could use the same color coded instructions but use M&Ms to color in the monster with this page. (be sure to save some M&M's for Wednesday!)

Tuesday- Science
sign of the day: see
Topic- 5 Senses
Read- "Hello, Ocean!" by Pam Munoz Ryan/ "My Five Senses" by Aliki
Activity- Senses Mystery Game: Introduce child to "mystery" smell/taste, etc. Have them guess what it is.
Smell: Collect several different odors in non-see through canister (film canister?). Ex: extracts, vapor medicine, a strawberry, shampoo, herbs..)
Taste: Blindfold child. Have them taste different foods. Ex: sweet chocolate, sour lemon, salty pretzel, etc.)
Hear: Make different sounds (behind blanket?) Ex: Keys, coins, rocks, jingle bells, etc.
Feel: Blinfold child and feel objects. Ex: cotton ball, sand paper, ice, wood, lotion, tape.
See: Play I spy!

Wednesday- Math
sign of the day: candy
Topic- Graphing and Comparing
Activity- M&M Graphing: Print off this chart and color M&M's. (or just make your own) Give child a bowl of M&M's. Help him put each in the appropriate column. When through, discuss the results.
Compare: Which has the most? least? same?
Count: How many blues are there? How many more greens do we need to make them equal to the reds? There are 8 browns. How many are there if we eat 2 of them? Etc, etc. Write out math problems with number magnets or cards.

Thursday- Social Studies
sign of the day: car (same as drive)
Topic- Maps
Learn- get out an atlas, globe and/or maps. Show to child and explain what maps are for and when we might use them. Show child the continent, state, and city where you live. Show him other parts of the world where friends or family live or that you've visited.
Activity- Carpet Map: Using masking tape, help child make roads on the carpet. Create a city. Use wooden blocks for buildings and pieces of colored paper for water, grass, etc. Let child be creative. Use toy cars and trucks to drive through city. Let child play and create as he wishes.

Week One

2010-09-02T00:31:00.000-07:00

Week One Book List:
"The Berenstain's B Book", "I Wonder if I'll See a Whale" by Ward Weller, "A Humpback Whale Tale" adapted by Justin Spelvin, "Blue Whales" by Patricia Miller-Schroeder, "Eskimo's" by Kate Petty.

Monday- Language Arts:
Sign of the day: book
Weekly Letter(s)- b, d (distinguish from eachother)
Reading Vocab- book, dog
Literature- The Berenstain's B Book
Activity- letter B worksheet, letter D worksheet, Letter word search: fill a piece of paper with letters. Let child circle all the b's then all the d's (with a different color).

Tuesdays- Science
Sign of the day: swim
Topic-Whales
Read- "I Wonder if I'll See a Whale" by Ward Weller, "A Humpback Whale Tale" adapted by Justin Spelvin, "Blue Whales" by Patricia Miller-Schroeder
Activity- Watch Free Willy!
Color whale with chalk. (print on blue paper).

Wednesdays- Math
sign of the day: eat
Numbers- Review numbers 1-10
Activity- Recognize numbers: cut out 10 papers with a number 1-10 on each. Play number bingo. (call out numbers, let them put beans on correct number)
Number Order: help child put them in appropriate order. Practice until he can do it himself.
Count 1-10: Cut out "bones" from white paper. Gather stuffed dogs (or any stuffed animal) and a "dog bowl". Turn number papers over, choose one at a time and "feed" the dog that number of bones.

Thursday- Social Studies/ Other
Sign of the day: cold
Subject- Eskimos.
Activity- Read: "Eskimos" by Kate Petty.
Frozen Paper: dip your eskimo coloring page in water, place on a cookie sheet and freeze it. Once it's solid, take it out and paint on it with watercolors. Watch the paint freeze and turn into a solid.
Color/ cut out Eskimo Paper boy.

Weekly Schedule

2010-09-01T22:58:00.000-07:00

Here is my weekly layout. I will probably change this as I see what works and what doesn't.

School week- Monday thru Thursday.
Before Week Begins: Go to Library and get Book List (I just search the online catelog from local library and find books for the topics we are learning about.)
-Begin each day with a new ASL sign.
-End each day with some sort of physical activity. (Game, kick ball, run around, dance, jump, etc)

Mondays- Language Arts:
Weekly Letter(s)- (recognize letter, know it's sound, write it's shape)
Reading Vocab- Choose a familiar word. (perhaps related to the chosen book, letter, or ASL sign) Show child what it looks and sounds like. Discuss the letters in the word. Make flashcard.
Literature- choose a book to read and discuss. Read several other books for fun story time.
Craft- do some craft that goes along with either the letter or book.

Tuesdays- Science
Choose any topic that might interest child. (an animal or plant, how something works, geology, space, physics, etc)
Read- Find a book or encylopedia that discusses the topic, if possible. Or just explain yourself.
Activity- might include demonstration of principle, a craft, or exploration of subject.

Wednesdays- Math
Numbers- counting, adding/subtracting, comparing, etc.
Activity- find something fun to count, compare, etc.

Thursdays- Social Studies/ Other
Social Studies- study a place, certain people (indians, eskimos), historical event, etc.
Other- holidays, day's of week, cooking, fun, anything.
Craft/ Activity- anything fun related to chosen topic.

The Adventure Begins...

2010-08-22T22:29:00.000-07:00

So far I have only been "practicing" homeschool so I can easily work up to doing the real thing! It is an overwhelming task, for sure. This year, my son is finally old enough to go to "real" preschool, and we almost sent him! In the end though, we decided to teach him here at home. I am really excited! I am not sure exactly how I am going to do it, yet. I am going to spend the next month or so getting ideas and plans together and then I will start. In the meantime, we have little "school time"s every couple of days. We have some good children's encylopedias as our main material. I let the kids choose a topic and we look it up and read about it. Then we do a craft and a game or activity that is related to the topic. Pretty unstructured but it works for now.

Anyway, expect changes and updates! I hope to get this rolling soon.

Why I Choose Homeschooling

2010-08-22T22:15:00.000-07:00

Taking advantage of an assignment for my English class I just took, I wrote a paper explaining why I believe in homeschooling. I don't mean this to seem anti-public school but rather just a defense of homeschooling.

Why I Choose Homeschooling

I was not home schooled. None of my six siblings were homeschooled. Neither was my husband, my neighbor or my best friend. In fact, I grew up thinking homeschoolers were “weird” and in order to be “normal” one must go to public-school like everyone else. How, then, did I become such an advocate for homeschooling? The answer is a simple one; I had children of my own. Suddenly social normaties meant nothing! My only concern was for the ultimate welfare of my loved ones. I desperately wanted my children to receive a good education as well as proper upbringing. With these thoughts in mind, I began my research. Finding this to be quite the controversial subject, I took every possible opportunitiy to talk with other families about their personal education choice and their reasons for choosing it. I carefully weighed the pros and cons of each choice. With every new piece of information I began to lean closer and closer until I finally made my ultimate stance that I would indeed home school my children.

Homeschooling has many advantages, but some are more important than others to me. I do not believe that public schooling is necessarily bad and I am not saying that homeschooling is always right, either. However, I do wish to make clear why I, like many others, have made this important decision. Ultimately, it is because of the time and opportunity a parent has to personally ensure that proper values as well as education are being taught to their children that I stand firm that home-based schooling is the best education a child can receive.

Let's look at a typical school day for your average American child. He wakes up early and heads straight to school, sometimes without even seeing either parent. After seven long hours of “education,” the bell mercifully rings releasing him from his prison. Just two more hours of sports or clubs and he gets to go home to yet another couple of hours of homework and studying. Some evenings, even, are filled with games or other events. These activities also often extend into the weekend.

Now lets do the math. The previously discussed schedule can claim up to fourteen hours of an involved teenager's day. There are only twenty-four hours in a day and hopefully he is sleeping for at least seven of those. Subtract time for friends and personal routine and what is left? Parents are lucky if they get one decent conversation with their child each day. Compare that, now, to the time that is spent with teachers, coaches, friends and others associated with public schooling. Who, then, is having the most influence on our children?

As for me, I choose to raise my own children. I choose to claim my parental right instead of sending my child away beginning at the very tender age of five. I choose to use that time to engender in my child the things I, not anyone else, believe are important to know in this world. Why would anyone want it any other way? Of course a good parent can still teach and influence their public-schooled child; but what greater opportunity they would have to do so if they had more time with them! There is no getting around the one-on-one time that both parenting and education require.

That extra time is also beneficial to the child. This typical schedule is overwhelming! Linda Dobson, author of The First Year of Homeschooling Your Child, believes that "Homeschooling gives a family the greatest gift it can receive – time. There's enough time to try many different educational approaches to find the one that best serves your child's needs and learning styles. There is also enough time for your child to play, imagine, dream, and explore" (Lyman, “Answers”). Children are not meant to be stuck at a desk all day.

Homeschooling also gives the child the much needed personal attention that public schooling cannot. Parents become mentors who work individually with the child and focus on their specific interests, goals, struggles and concerns. No one knows a child as well as his mother or father! They know his personality, his style, his likes and dislikes and have at heart his very best interests. With this privileged information, they become his very best suited teacher.

Perhaps the biggest reason that I choose to homeschool is so I can instill morals and values in my children and keep them safe from unneccessary evils. Drugs, theft, assault and even bombings have become common in schools. In fact, a 1993 study reported that over 25 percent of students had been victims of violence at or near their public school (Lyman, “Homeschooling”). But, much more important than the physical danger our children face is the threat to their personal integrity and moral character. I don't believe that the danger comes as much from outside forces acting upon the child, as it does from the hollow, empty and lonely environment that public schools provide. Even in a case where there is a caring, good hearted teacher, the standardized curriculum and unavoidable depersonalization of public education leaves a child lost, confused and vulnerable. There is a lack of personal mentoring, nurturing and one-on-one friendship that is necessary for building strength, confidence and a sound character. As a child looks around in this lonely place, he sees various groups doing various things and he is left to choose – alone, without a guide – what things to fill his mind with and what principles to guide his life. In opposition, a child in the home does not have these restraints. Unlike public teachers, parents are able to include religious curriculum that will give the child strength and direction. They can also give the child the attention, love and friendship that make him feel valued. Because of this controled environment and curriculum, most of these unfortunate circumstances can be avoided.

With all these perks, why then do most children still get sent to public schools? This is the very question that I have asked many a parent. The numerous answers I have received are quite varied. Some parents feel they need that time alone for themselves while the child is in school. Some have conflicts such as work or other small children to tend that prevent them from staying home. Others doubt their own ability to adequately teach their children. Like I once did, many people think homeschoolers are socially awkward and lack the skills to survive in the real world. While these arguments are sometimes valid, I believe these cases to be rare and usually avoidable. I will focus on the two most common homeschooling concerns: quality of education and socialization.

Many people doubt that parents can offer the same quality of education that trained teachers do. Thanks to recent studies, though, there should no longer be much debate over academic abilities of home schooled children. One such study, Progress Report 2009: Homeschool Academic Achievement and Demographics, holds title to “the most comprehensive homeschool academic study ever completed” and was conducted by internationally recognized scholar, Dr. Brian Ray. The results? Home schooled students scored on average 37 percent higher than public schooled students on academic tests. These results were consistent across every subject from math to science to language arts. Whats more, the very aparent achievement gaps found in public schools simply do not exist in home based education. The study interestingly found that factors such as parent's education level, family income, level of state regulation and amount of money spent on education had little to no effect on the results of the homeschooled students' tests. True to the beliefs of the Home School Legal Defense Assosication, “homeschooling is a thriving education movement capable of producing millions of academically and socially able students who will have a tremendously positive effect on society” (Slatter).

Many parents and students choose home-based education because they are actually dissatisfied with some of today's public teachers and curriculum and wish to “accomplish more academically” (Ray). Public education can hardly be called an “education” when it produces students who can barely speak or read English. America is now spending millions to correct these errors that could have been prevented had someone cared or spent a little more time with that child. We should take a que from our country's history. In the past, brilliant men such as Thomas Jefferson and George Washington were educated at home and homeschooling continues to produce bright and literate students today (Lyman, “Homeschooling”).

The most popular argument against homeschooling, the belief that homeschooled children miss out on the opportunity to socialize, is ill based and generally false. Research has confirmed the advantages home education has on personal enrichment. Studies have found that homeschooling gives students a unique opportunity to discover themselves, develop strength and resistance and find what they want out of life. Much research has been conducted analysing the life of adults who received home-based education as children. These studies have indicated that these adults participate in community service and vote and attend public meetings more frequently than the general population. They also go to and succeed at college at a higher rate and internalize parental values at a very high rate (Ray). Another study was conducted where trained, unbiased conselors observed several children of mixed educational backgrounds at play. Using developmental tests as a guide, the counselors found absolutely no difference in self-concept or assertiveness between home and public schooled children. In fact, the only noted difference between the children was that the home taught youth displayed better behavior (Lyman, “Answers”). A home-based education does not deprive a child of social development.

As you can see, there are several advantages to schooling your child at home. The disadvantages might include extra work, time and sacrifice on the part of the parent, but these are hardly losses when you realize the great reward you are giving to your son or daughter. Your child will experience a personally customized schedule and curriculum, more meaningful and successful teaching and education, a greater sense of identity, strengthened character, as well as plenty appropriate social interaction all under the direction of the one who cares for him the most!

Works Cited

Lyman, Isabel. “Answers to Homeschool Questions: knowledgeable answers to seven frequently asked questions about homeschooling explain the benefits of home education and dispel some typical misperceptions.” The New American. 6 May 2002: 31.

---. "Homeschooling: The Best Education Reform." The Cato Institute. March 24, 1998. 1 Aug 2010

Ray, Brian D. “Research Facts on Homeschooling.” National Home Education Research Institute. 10 Aug. 2009. Emwd. 2 Aug. 2010.

Slatter, Ian. “New Nationwide Study Confirms Homeschool Academic Achievement.” Homeschool Legal Defense Association. 10 Aug. 2009. Homeschool Foundation. 2 Aug. 2010. <://www.hslda.org/docs/news/200908100.asp>

Another delay.....

2010-06-06T22:10:00.000-07:00

We are in the process of moving and selling a home. I am having a hard time fitting school in anymore. My posts for sure will get fewer and farther between...

Review Week

2010-05-16T19:10:00.000-07:00

Maybe I am just not a good teacher, but there are some things that are just not sticking. Mostly numbers and letters. I think I am just not focusing enough on review, so that's what this week is all about! Reviewing and putting to practice the things we already have learned.

MONDAY- NUMBERS 1-9
- Caterpillar Circles (I think I might do this as a felt board project or just thicker paper so it can be done over and over again.)
- Ice Cream Scoops (actually goes to 10, but I might take #10 out for now since we haven't "technically" learned it, I don't know)
- Number Nature Walk:
Make a guide sheet that tells you specific numbers of things to look for. For example: 4 sticks, 5 pine cones, 6 rocks, etc. Whatever works for the area you are in. Bring a bucket and collect the right number of everything!
- Easter Egg Number Match:
Here is another game you can do with 9 plastic eggs.
* Label the top of each egg with a number 1-9. Label the bottom of each with the corresponding amount of dots. Separate all the eggs and set them out in front of child and let them count and match.

TUESDAY- LETTERS- Magazine Letters:
Starting with A, help child look through magazines to find one of each letter they have learned. (A- I) Cut and paste them in order on a separate sheet of paper.
- Letter Stamping
Set out a stamp for each letter that has been learned. Ask child to find a certain one then let him stamp it on a paper. Then ask for another letter until they have all been used.
-ABC Bingo

WEDNESDAY- WRITING -
Today we practiced writing letters and drawing shapes. My son wanted to make cards for Grandpa and Daddy, so I let him write them himself. First I taught him how to write each letter in his name and he copied it onto the paper. Then he wrote Dad's name, etc. It turned out really cute.

THURSDAY- Shapes and Colors
- Review colors and shapes
This was mostly for my toddler. My preschooler had fun "teaching" her, though. It was fun.

FRIDAY-Fun Day!
- Play pictionary! (we used the white board on the easel
We used this as another review for drawing specific lines and shapes.

Week 9

2010-04-20T23:04:00.000-07:00

Monday- COOKIES! (this is gonna be a fun one!)

vocab word: dough- the dough is the cookie mixture before it is cooked.

- Cookies for All

by Katrina Lybbert
Chocolate chip, shortbread, sugar cookies too,
Peanut butter, lemon creme, all for me and you.
Snickerdoodle, oatmeal, gingerbread too,
Pinwheels, pumpkin, they're very good, it's true!

- Bake Cookies, of course!! I would love to find some Alphabet Cookie Cutters.

Tuesday- Circle

- Circle Frog Paper Craft Glue frog on old CD for extra shiny fun!

- shapes BINGO this site is SO neat! It lets you customize a BINGO card any way you want it and has just about every theme you could think of! I chose the Shapes one for today.

- Using play dough, make circle "cookies" with smaller circle "chocolate chips"

Wednesday- Letter I

- Mystery Letters

Using a white crayon, draw the letter I in a few places on a white sheet of paper. (maybe in both upper and lower case, depending on how you choose to teach it) Let child paint to reveal letter. (for younger kids, put number in a circle or box so the don't have to paint the whole paper to find it.)

- Hunt for I's! Using masking tape, Make several letter I's around the room or house. Let child go on a hunt for all the I's.

- Letter memory game

set 3-4 Letter magnets on a plate or pan and show child. Have child leave or turn around and remove one letter. See if they know which is missing.

Thursday- Number 9

- 9 bags
get a couple of sandwhich bags and write a big 9 on each. Let child fill each one with 9 of some sort of snack. (ex. goldfish, cheerios, smarties, etc.)
- 1-9 dot-to-dot fish
- 9 bees count and trace worksheet

Friday- FUN DAY!
-Bunny puppets
cut out bunny rabbit shapes, color, and glue to craft stick. Glue pom pom or cotton ball on tail. Let child tell stories or play with it while reading Peter Rabbit, or other book about rabbits. We have one called You Don't Get a Carrot Unless You're a Bunny that would work great for this.

Week Eight

2010-03-12T23:56:00.000-08:00

MONDAY- SUN
Vocabulary word: Ray- a beam of light
- Talk about how Sun makes it warm and nice outside. Go play outside! (if sunny)
- Introduce Rain/Sun Chart. Each day, look outside. Let child color or place sticker in box on either sunny or rainy side.
- Talk about differnt kinds of weather and appropriate clothing for each. Maybe bring out some of child's clothing for each season and let them pick out which is for what season. Do weather matching worksheet.

TUESDAY- YELLOW
- Yellow Sun Lacing Craft
Print Sun Template on thick paper. (or paste printer paper onto something thick) Let child Paint it all Yellow. Optional: Paste on google eyes, pom pom nose. Use hole punch to make pattern around sun. (Either just around inner circle, or along rays) Give child shoe lace, ribbon, yarn, etc. to lace. If needed tape ends for easier lacing. (Great quiet activity for church!)
- Talk about what else is yellow

WEDNESDAY- LETTER H
- Letter H Word Search (Circle all H's instead of the whole word)
- Glue together craft sticks in shape of an H
- While working, talk about what starts with H

THURSDAY- NUMBER 8
- Playdough Spiders
make body out of black playdough. Cut 8 pieces of fuzzy bendy wires (don't know what they are called!) to use for legs. Opt: let dry overnight.
- Pizza Puzzle
Cut circle out of red paper. Color to look like Pizza. Trace circle on another plain paper. Cut pizza into 8 even slices. Draw the 8 slices on other paper. Number each section 1-8 on both papers. Let child match pizza slices to the correct number on the paper.

FRIDAY- FUN DAY!
- LETTER BINGO
Make a set of letter bingo cards for your child using the letters that he knows and the new ones he is learning.
Rather than using the Bingo letters at the top of the cards, you may want to make each column a different color at the top.
This way your child can be concentrating on the letters in the game rather than mixing them up with the letters at the top.

Week 7

2010-02-09T16:21:00.000-08:00

MONDAY- STARS!
vocab word: twinkle- to flash, sparkle, or gleam
- sing twinkle, twinkle little star (of course)
- Poem- Star light, Star Bright
- Felt Board Project:
cut out stars, sun, moon, earth (maybe other planets? for older kids)
Display on board and talk about their positions, orbits, etc.
Talk about simple astonomy- star, moon, sun: what they are and do.
- Make telescopes:
Use paper towel/ tp tube, cover end with black paper. (glue or use rubber band) Poke holes in the paper (maybe in the shape of a constellation). To use, aim scope toward light and see the bright "stars"
- STAR RHYMES (while working on a project)
Have your children help you make up a list of words that rhyme with the word star.
Such as; bar, car, far, jar, and tar.

TUESDAY- SHAPE STAR
-SPONGE-PRINT STARS
Trace around star cookie cutters on thin sponges and cut out the shapes.
Let your child dip the sponge shapes into white paint and press them on black paper to make star prints.
Have them sprinkle on salt or glitter while the paint is still wet, if you wish.

-CHEESE STARS
Use a miniature cookie cutter to cut stars out of cheese slices.
Serve the cheese stars on wheat crackers.
- Stand alone star craft?
- Watch Online Dora "Little Star's Wish" (what kid doesn't love Dora??)

WEDNESDAY- LETTER G
- color letter G template with Glittler Glue
- talk about things that start with G, draw them on page.
THURSDAY- NUMBER 7
- use pretzel sticks to make the number seven. Then count 7 pretzels. Then eat them!
- talk about 7 days in a week. Cut 7- 1" strips of paper. Write 1 day of week on each. Glue them into circles making a chain. For next week, pull one strip off for the corresponding day.
- Days of Week song (to Frere Jacques)
Every week has 7 days
See how many you can say
Sunday, Monday, Tuesday,
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday,
Saturday.. Saturday.
FRIDAY- FUN DAY!
- Bean Bag Games! (bean bag toss, Set up and knock down stuffed animals...)
- Let children put tape in any pattern they want on paper. ( their name, a number, roads, etc...) Let them paint over entire paper. Let dry. Remove tape to reveal picture.

Week 6

2010-02-06T22:21:00.000-08:00

MONDAY- RAINBOWS

vocabulary word- prism - a prism can be made out of glass or other clear material in a solid, sometimes triangular, shape. When light passes through the prism it separates into the different colors of the spectrum/rainbow.
- Use a prism to make rainbows.

- Draw a rainbow! On a blank sheet of paper help your child draw semi-circular lines, one on top of the other, to create a rainbow. This does not have to be perfect. Enjoy the color!
OR
-Draw a six arced rainbow on a large piece of paper. Cut or tear pieces of tissue paper (each color of the rainbow). spread glue over one arc of the rainbow at a time and let child put appropriate color of tissue paper to make a rainbow.
- Make RAINBOW colored Jello Jigglers! Find each color (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple) of jello in the small size box (3 oz, 4 serving). Mix with 2/3 cup boiling water. Layer each color in 9x13 clear pan. (or you could do it in individual clear cups) Let each color set before adding another. If you put it in the freezer, it would be ready to add another color in about 30 minutes or less. But make sure it's completely set (in the fridge) before cutting with cookie cutters or in squares.

TUESDAY- RED
- play with Red playdough. Make different things that are red. (apple, flower, etc)
- Do paper plate apple craft

WEDNESDAY- LETTER F
- Make an F with craft sticks
- Decorate F coloring page by stamping letter F
- Pudding Finger Paint! Make pudding, then spread some on a pan. Draw the letter with your finger in the pudding. Then eat it!

THURSDAY- NUMBER 6
-Q-TIP SNOWFLAKES

Here is an easier snowflake for young children to make. First cut some Q-tips in half and give six halves to each child.
Give each child a small square of waxed paper and a small bottle of white glue.
Have children squirt a glob of glue onto their papers, then arrange their six Q-tip halves into a six pointed snowflake.
Add more glue to center of their snowflakes plus add a piece of white yarn or string to each snowflake, then let dry.
When dry, gently peal the waxed paper from the snowflake.
Have children count the number of points their snowflakes have.
Hang the snowflakes from windows or from the ceiling.

- Muffin Tin Counting
Place a small piece of paper with a number (1-6) in the bottom of each muffin tin hole. Use small object (pom poms, beans, or small candies) and fill each hole with the correct number.

FRIDAY- FUN DAY!
-FEELING GAME Have your children close their eyes one at a time and give them an object to feel.

See if they can identify the object by only feeling it.
Object suggestions: Small rubber ball, a large crayon, an apple or orange, a rock or small piece of wood.

-INDIVIDUAL FOOT PRINT PUZZLES

Have the child stand on a piece of cardstock.
Draw around their foot with a pencil.
Cut out the foot shapes and write the child's name on the back of the shape, at the top and at the bottom.
On the toe part of the foot, print an upper case F, on the heel part, print a lower case f.
Then cut each foot print in-half with a different puzzle cut across the middle of the foot.
Let your children practice putting their foot shape back together

Week 5

2010-02-01T15:19:00.000-08:00

*note: I decided to change every Friday to Fun Day! There are a lot of fun games/ crafts/ cooking, etc. that I didn't have time to include into any other day and also I don't care much for nursery rhymes. So fun day it is at our house!

MONDAY- LIGHTHOUSES

- vocab word is beacon - a beacon is a signal, a light to guide and warn.
- Build a lighthouse with a tower of blocks, duplo, or other building toy.
- Read Pete's Dragon, point out and talk about lighthouse.
- color lighthouse

TUESDAY- OCTAGON

- octogon coloring page color red and write STOP. Teach about what Stop signs are for. Play "red light, green light" and hold up stop sign instead of saying red light. Make sure to reinforce "octogon" shape while talking about Stop signs.
- use craft sticks or toothpicks to make octogon.

WEDNESDAY- LETTER E
- talk about what starts with E.
- cut out E's in magazines
- use a white crayon to write a few E's on a white paper. Let child paint over paper. When he paints over the crayon, it will reveal the letter.

THURSDAY- NUMBER 5
- make a '5' page. Write a big 5 on a paper and do 5 stamps (of each kind of stamp ofcourse. Kid loves stamps)
- CHEERIOS GAME
Each person starts with a plate of 15 or so cheerios (or other small snack). Take turns rolling a die. (numbers 1-5) On your turn, eat the correct amount of cheerios for the number that you rolled. Play continues until cheerios are gone.

-APPLE STARS
Take an apple and cut it in half horizontally.
Show your children the star in the middle.
Each point of the star, holds a seed pocket.
Have children count the five pockets.

FRIDAY- FUN DAY!
- simple GO FISH game
Sort a deck of cards using only numbers from 2 - 10. (or whatever numbers they know) Shuffle and deal out four cards each. Children lay down pairs of numbers (two 3's, two 4's, etc.). When they have no pairs to lay down, they can ask someone else for a specific number. If the person does not have the card, they say "Go Fish" and the child takes a card from the pile. The person with the most pairs wins.

-CAR TRACKS
Set out some small cars, some large black crayons and some tape.
Show your children how to tape a black crayon on the back of a car, with the point of the crayon touching the table.
Now, let your children push their car over a sheet of paper, making black crayon tracks as they go.

Week 4

2010-01-20T15:35:00.000-08:00

*note: don't forget daily story time! about half hour (or until kids get bored)

MONDAY- EYES
The vocabulary word is iris - the iris is the colored part of your eye surrounding the pupil.
- play I Spy or do an I Spy book
- sing "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes" emphasising Eyes
- Place a picture of a face (on an 8.5 x 11 sheet of paper or larger) on the wall, but the eyes should be missing. Blindfold your child and then let him/her tape on the eyes. Help your child start walking from the other side of the room to get to the picture, while blindfolded. At this age you don't need to spin your child around first. See how funny your face looks!
- Explore outside (or inside if bad weather). Talk about how what we can see with our eyes and what it would be like if we didn't have them.

TUESDAY- BLUE

- put on a blue article of clothing
- walk around the house, pointing out things that are Blue
- add food coloring to milk for a snack. use blue plate or utensils.
- water color whale blue
- while coloring, sing:

Blue (to the tune Frere Jacques)
B-l-u-e, b-l-u-e
That spells blue, that spells blue
Like the color of the sky,
Like the color of the sea
Blue, blue, blue, Blue, blue, blue

WEDNESDAY- LETTER D

- make 'What Begins with D' mini book and/ or color simple Dd template using one of the methods mentioned on the site.
- Add 'D' alphabet flashcard. Review with other letters.

THURSDAY- NUMBER 4

- work in Preschool Workbook to introduce # or use #4 worksheet
- FISHING FOR FOURS.

Make a simple fishing game with a stick, some yarn and a horseshoe magnet.
Cut out paper fish shapes and write different numerals on the fish. Make about 12 fish and have three with the number 4 on them.
Place paper clips over the mouths of each fish and lay the fish on the floor.
Let your children take turns fishing for fish with the number 4 on them.
Variation: For younger children who may not recognize the numeral 4, you could just have them fish until they catch four fish.
- Eat 4 of something (cookies, crackers, etc)

FRIDAY- REVIEW and FUN (Didn't like the nursery rhyme for this week)

- Play with BLUE playdough, make 4 of shapes, the number 4, the letter D, an Eye...etc. Just review the whole week.
- PASTA NAMES

Write children’s names on a large sheet of construction paper. Trace with glue.
Give them some cooked spaghetti noodles. (add coloring to water while cooking)
Have them lay the noodles along the lines of their name.
Supply small butter knieves for cutting pasta to desired lengths.
- Bake COOKIES

New Resolve

2010-01-19T17:10:00.000-08:00

Ok. I"M READY! Starting next week I am going back to my weekly/daily schedule, and I am excited about it! My kids are getting way too bored and really need some extra stimulation.
I am going to make some changes, though:
1st- I am simplifying. I will still use the same curriculum, only simplify the material.
2nd- instead of doing a separate thing for my toddler, I will use the same subject or idea and just modify it to her level. For example, if we are doing a craft, I will let her color or do stickers. If we are learning about a animal, maybe get out that stuffed animal. If we are learning details about say, an airplane, I will simply show her a picture and tell her "airplane". Simple. That is my goal. That is the only way I will actually be able to carry this out on a daily basis.
3rd- I've changed my book and story plan to simply this: We will go to the library at the beginning of each week (Storytime!) and the books we pick out we will use each day for a joint story time.

Thats it. I'm ready.

Update

2010-01-05T00:38:00.001-08:00

Obviously....I am taking a break. Had a baby. Hopefully I'll be up and going again soon...HOPEFULLY!!

Preschool Week 3

2009-11-24T12:14:00.000-08:00

MONDAY
This week's theme is KITTENS. ~Cat Coloring Pages~

The vocabulary word is claws - claws are the sharp, curved nails on a kitten's paws.

Books to read aloud that support the theme:

Mama Cat Has Three Kittens by Denise Fleming
Three Little Kittens by Paul Galdone
Curious Kittens by Roy Volkmann
Kittens Are Like That by Jan Pfloog
The Little Kitten by Judy Dunn
Five Little Kittens by Nancy Jewell
Kittens Love by Lisa McCue

Poems that support the theme:
My Kittens
by Katrina Lybbert

My kittens are cute, and small, and furry,
They purr so sweetly I've no need to hurry,
So I stay and cuddle my kittens for hours,
From morning till night amongst the flowers.

Songs that support the theme:

Three Little Kittens

A Kitten for Joy
by Katrina Lybbert
(Tune: London Bridge)

Mommy brought a kitten home, kitten home, kitten home,
Mommy brought a kitten home,
For my sweet sister, Joy.

I wish that I could have one too, have one too, have one too,
I wish that I could have one too,
But a real kitten, not a toy!

Gross Motor Skills Activity: (Monday)
Roll a ball of yarn on the floor like a kitten.
Fine Motor Skills Activity: (Friday)

Make a kitten puppet from a brown paper bag. Draw a face on the bag. Make ears, a tail, and whiskers that your child can glue on the puppet. Also let your child decorate the bag with crayons. Create a puppet for yourself as well and play with the puppets together. Be creative!

Shape/Color (Tuesday)
This week you will teach the shape of a diamond.

Collect 3 - 5 everyday objects in the shape of a diamond... ie: stickers, puzzle pieces, pot holders, make one out of felt, etc... to share with your child and discuss.
Walk through your home looking for diamonds. (If this is difficult, look in magazines and books.)
Cut diamonds out of playdough or cookie dough... bake the cookies!
Put a drawing of a diamond on your learning poster.

Letter (Wednesday)
The letter this week is the letter C.

Give your child a printout of the (capital) letter C to color. ~Letter Printouts~
Teach your child to trace the shape of the letter C using his finger. You can trace in pudding, finger paint, a shallow tray (cookie sheet) filled with rice or beans, etc.
Point out the letter C in signs, cereal boxes, etc.
Post the letter C on your learning poster.

Number (Thursday)
The number this week is the number 3.

Show your child 3 objects to count, or eat 3 crackers, 3 cheerios, etc.
Show your child the written symbol (numeral) for 3 and put on your learning poster.
Add 3 stickers to your counting book.
Show your matching index cards for the number 3 to your child.
Draw 3 diamonds on a piece of paper and count them with your child.
Walk around your home counting 3 of many different objects.

Nursery Rhyme (Friday)
The nursery rhyme this week is Pussy Cat Pussy Cat. Recite often!

"Pussy cat, pussy cat, where have you been?"
"I've been to London to visit the Queen!"
"Pussy cat, pussy cat, what did you there?"
"I frightened a little mouse under her chair."
"MEOW!!!"

Week 2- Additional Activities

2009-11-13T23:11:00.000-08:00

Monday- Jungle
*This site has several really cute and easy crafts. Go to animal crafts, then jungle animals. I chose to do the Paper plate monkey mask because it looks the easiest! and J loves monkeys.

Tuesday- Green
*Make 2 ice cubes-one blue and one yellow. Put them in a sealed bag or container. Talk about what will happen as they melt. Let child feel and play with them through the bag.
*choose frog coloring page to color green

Wednesday- Letter B
*Draw the letter B on a paper. Glue something small, like beans or macaroni, on top to trace the shape of the letter. while working, talk about things that start with B.

Thursday- Number 2
*number worksheet , put 2 of things (pennies, beans, etc) in th jar.

Friday-
*review everything
*cooking- bake cookies or something

Preschool Week Two

2009-11-13T22:39:00.000-08:00

Monday

This week's theme is JUNGLE.
The vocabulary word is vines - vines are plants with long, thin bendable stems; they grow along the ground or climb up trees, etc.
Books to read aloud that support the theme:

Who's in the Jungle? by Dawn Bentley
Rumble in the Jungle by Giles Andreae
The Tallest, Shortest, Longest, Greenest, Brownest Animal in the Jungle by Keith Faulkner
(Eye Openers) Jungle Animals by Angela Royston
Slowly, Slowly, Slowly, Said the Sloth by Eric Carle
Hug by Jez Alborough
The Loudest Roar by Thomas Taylor
Jazzy in the Jungle by Lucy Cousins
Guess Who's in the Jungle by Naomi Russell
Splash! by Flora McDonnell
The Monkey Who Wanted the Moon by Anne Mangan
The Bird, The Monkey, and the Snake in the Jungle by Kate Banks
Through the Heart of the Jungle by Jonathan Emmett
Piece of Jungle by Sarah Weeks
Poems that support the theme:

Jungle Adventure by Katrina Lybbert

Creeping through the jungle, one hot summer day,
I saw a lot of animals pass by my way.
(Tiptoe around the room and pretend to look through binoculars.)
Monkeys swinging from vine to vine, (pretend to swing on vines)
Parrots fluttering in colorful design, (pretend to fly like a parrot)
Tigers, lions, and elephants too, (stomp around the room)
A tall giraffe like I saw at the zoo. (reach way up high)
Creeping through the jungle, one hot summer day,
I saw a lot of animals pass by my way.
(Tiptoe around the room and pretend to look through binoculars.)

Songs that support the theme:

Songs from Disney such as:

The Bare Necessities
The Lion Sleeps Tonight

Gross Motor Skills Activity: (Monday)

Create a jungle obstacle course by using cushions, pillows, chairs, blankets etc. Put on some music... a great selection is Carnival of the Animals by Saint-Saëns... and act out different jungle animals according to the sound of the music. Loud music can be for elephants and tigers, and soft music can be for birds and monkeys.

Fine Motor Skills Activity: (Friday)

Find a printout of your child's favorite jungle animal. Create thin strips of green construction paper to represent grass. Let your child glue the "grass" strips onto the printout to hide the animal in the grass.

Shape/Color (Tuesday)
This week you will teach the color green.

Introduce the color by coloring in the square (previous week's shape) on your learning poster with a green crayon.
Put on a green article of clothing.
Point out objects around your home of the color green.
Add the color to a meal by choosing a green food, or using a plate, cup, or utensil of the color green.
Let your child color in a coloring book or on a printout using a green crayon.

Letter (Wednesday)

The letter this week is the letter B.
Give your child a printout of the (capital) letter B to color. ~Letter Printouts~
Teach your child to trace the shape of the letter B using his finger. You can trace in pudding, finger paint, a shallow tray (cookie sheet) filled with rice or beans, etc.
Point out the letter B in signs, cereal boxes, etc.
Post the letter B on your learning poster.

Number (Thursday)

The number this week is the number 2.
Show your child 2 objects to count, or eat 2 crackers, 2 cheerios, etc.
Show your child the written symbol (numeral) for 2 and put on your learning poster.
Add 2 stickers to your counting book.
Show your matching index cards for the number 2 to your child.
Draw 2 squares on a piece of paper and count them with your child.
Walk around your home counting 2 of many different objects.

Nursery Rhyme (Friday)

The nursery rhyme this week is I Had a Little Nut Tree. Recite often!

I had a little nut tree, nothing would it bear,
But a silver nutmeg and a golden pear;
The King of Spain's daughter came to visit me,
And all for the sake of my little nut tree.

Her dress was made of crimson,

Jet black was her hair,
She asked me for my nut tree
And my golden pear.
I said, "So fair a princess
Never did I see,
I'll give you all the fruit
From my little nut tree

Preschool Week One

2009-11-12T21:50:00.000-08:00

Weekly Theme (Start Monday, continue with the theme all week)
This week's theme is COWS.

The vocabulary word is calf - a calf is a baby cow.

Books to read aloud that support the theme: (You can choose one book to read all week, or a new book for each day. These are just suggestions, you may find others related to the theme in your library.)
Helper Cow by Sue MacVeety; And the Cow said Moo! by Mildred Phillips; The Little Calf That Couldn't Moo by Iris Hiskey; (Chunky Farm) Cow by Emily Bolam; The Cow That Went Oink by Bernard; Most Two Cool Cows by Toby Speed; The Cow Who Wouldn't Come Down by Paul Brett Johnson; Cow by Malachy Doyle; Calico Cows by Arlene Dubanevich; No Moon, No Milk by Chris Babcock; Click Clack Moo by Doreen Cronin; Little Calf by Kim Lewis

Poems that support the theme:
Little Calf by Katrina Lybbert
"Good morning, little calf," gentle mother cow said, "It's time to get up from your sweet hay filled bed." Little calf jumped, stamped his feet, swished his tail, And followed his mother past a shiny milk pail.
Out into the barnyard, holding his head high, Little calf looked up to the blue, blue sky, Birds flying past chirped a joyful song, Little calf smiled, and felt happy all day long.
(This poem can be acted out at the appropriate places.)
The Purple Cow by Gelett Burgess
I never saw a purple cow, I never hope to see one, But I can tell you anyhow, I'd rather see than be one!
Songs that support the theme:
Old MacDonald Had a Farm Sing this traditional song with three verses. The first verse can be about a bull... and on his farm he had a bull.... with a moo, moo here.. (make the sound deep and loud) The second verse can be about a cow... and on his farm he had a cow... with a moo, moo here.. (make the sound high and loud) The third verse can be about a calf... and on his farm he had a calf... with a moo, moo here... (make the sound little and soft)

The Cow by Katrina Lybbert
(Tune: The Farmer in the Dell)
The cow wakes up at dawn, The cow wakes up at dawn, Moo, moo, a great big yawn, The cow wakes up at dawn.
The farmer milks the cow, The farmer milks the cow, Moo, moo, be careful now, The farmer milks the cow.
The cow eats up her hay, The cow eats up her hay, Moo, moo, O happy day, The cow eats up her hay.
The cow plays with her calf, The cow plays with her calf, Moo, moo, they sing and laugh, The cow plays with her calf.
The cow and calf now sleep, The cow and calf now sleep, Quiet please, don't make a peep, The cow and calf now sleep.

Gross Motor Skills Activity: (Monday)
Put on some music and move around your home like a cow... don't forget to make sound effects.

Fine Motor Skills Activity: (Friday)Build a cow with squares. You will need some white and black paper. Cut out one 4" square of white for the body, one 2" square of white for the head, about nine 1" squares of white to make the legs and tail, three or four 1" squares of black for the cows spots, and three or more 1/2" squares for the eye, ears, etc. in black. Help your child glue the cow together on another sheet of paper (of a different color).

Shape/Color (Tuesday)
This week you will teach the shape of a square.
Collect 3 - 5 everyday objects in the shape of a square... i.e.: blocks, pot holder, CD jewel case, etc... to share with your child and discuss.
Walk through your home looking for squares.
Cut squares out of playdough or cookie dough... bake the cookies!
Put a drawing of a square on your learning poster.

Letter (Wednesday)
The letter this week is the letter A.
Give your child a printout of the (capital) letter A to color.
Teach your child to trace the shape of the letter A using his finger. You can trace in pudding, finger paint, a shallow tray (cookie sheet) filled with rice or beans, etc.
Point out the letter A in signs, cereal boxes, etc.
Post the letter A on your learning poster.

Number (Thursday)
The number this week is the number 1.
Show your child 1 object to count, or eat 1 cracker, 1 cheerio, etc.
Show your child the written symbol (numeral) for 1 and put on your learning poster.
Add 1 sticker to your counting book.
Show your matching index cards for the number 1 to your child.
Draw 1 square on a piece of paper and count it with your child.
Walk around your home counting 1 of many different objects.

Nursery Rhyme (Friday)
The nursery rhyme this week is Hey Diddle Diddle. Recite often!
Hey Diddle Diddle! The cat and the fiddle, The cow jumped over the moon; The little dog laughed To see such sport, And the dish ran away with the spoon.