Spring/Autumn Pre-Homeschool Chat. :)

[CCJWGM]

It's that time of year again.  This thread has been quiet so I thought starting a new one might spur more people.  What has everyone been up to in the quietness?  Kindy plans?

I've taken a little break from hsing and can't even think of kindy now.  I'm having some minor (read huge) problems with DD.  Ugh.  She is very free-willed, spirited, and super-choleric  Which is great.  I embrace who she is but when it comes down to it for the past weeks...Ugh.  Tiny bits of gluten and dairy have snuck in from random sources which plays into it as well.  I have the hardest time getting her back to her sweet self after that.  It's not a time to hs.  It's a time to heal and stay sane. 

For example - (and a look into our non-academic homeschool life):  She really wants to make the stuffed guinea pig from this book http://www.amazon.com/Sewing-School-Projects-Kids-Will/dp/1603425780  I told her the first step is to draw our guinea pigs.  She draws a tree.  I draw a guinea pig to help show her.  She draws upside down people.  I give up. 
She knows the running stitch but needs to know the blanket stitch for the project.  I show her.  She does one beautiful blanket stitch and then does a new stitch she calls "The (insert her name)."  Balancing creativity with doing a job.  I know thinking outside the box is super great but.......it doesn't get the project done. 

I'm having a hard time extracting meaningful work from her which she craves (choleric) and dealing with behavior.  She was carding wool for me today and decided to do it her way which ended up with my carder being thrown across the room which is part of her way

And as for my son who is the true preschooler:  he's really into digging for Earthworms.  He's creating a new earthworm family to replace the slug family that mama made him throw out.  I've learned my lessons this time:  earthworm family isn't allowed inside like slug family was.  Mud puddle stomping is high on his list too.  We are keeping a weather chart and I think March so far has 2 suns on it so there is plenty of puddles. 

This week is "Whale Watching Week" so we might head on out for puddle stomping and whale watching on the coast.  It will make me feel better about not doing a single gosh darn educational thing at home with them right now. 

They've also been playing with their anger and each of them built their anger using recycled materials.  This was a great project because they came up with it themselves and did it themselves.  All they needed was the box of recycled craft materials and lots and lots and lots of tape.  DD wanted to use the whole roll of tape on her anger but was unable to.  Good effort though.  http://www.amazon.com/Anhs-Anger-Gail-Silver/dp/1888375949

[Momma Aimee]

Ah Spring.

One one hand i seem to have a better hand on some of the SN issues, on the other they seems more pent up and wild.  LOL

I am working on kidy for Ds1, but DS2 is 23 months behind him, so I am not going any place soon!

staying and sane and accompliushing somethign -- LOL -- i stuggle with that so much.  I know DS1 is capable of certain things, but he gets sooooooooooooo silly and "creative" (uh silly / stupid) it makes me fustrated.

I am all for open creative play and he has TONS of it, more actually since i have about stopped trying ANYTHING with him -- but come on he is 4 months past 5 and ve ought to be able to do something -- ie ve paint and he won't paint a frigging picture -- yu know a house, a tree, a person, a sun -- anything -- it is all a smudge and smear and "look i mixed the colors" aighhhhhhhhhhhh

i need to stop planning and start DOING

[CCJWGM]

Originally Posted by Momma Aimee 

i need to stop planning and start DOING

I can not tell you how much that statement applies to me as well.  That is my #1 defacto problem with everything from housecleaning to homeschooling to......everything.  Sigh.

[zebaby]

Looking forward to planning for our spring garden! If I can only figure out which veggies are impervious to city alley rats 

[zebaby]

I posted this on a different thread, but it looks like this thread was pretty active before and was interested in getting more feedback...

Anyone have tips for addressing starting homeschooling with a preschool aged child? Obviously, preK & Kg homeschool can be just like play to them, but for those of you that have set aside time in your day for "homeschool", I'm curious to know how you transitioned / introduced your child to the routine.

[CCJWGM]

Originally Posted by zebaby 

I posted this on a different thread, but it looks like this thread was pretty active before and was interested in getting more feedback...

Anyone have tips for addressing starting homeschooling with a preschool aged child? Obviously, preK & Kg homeschool can be just like play to them, but for those of you that have set aside time in your day for "homeschool", I'm curious to know how you transitioned / introduced your child to the routine.

I don't have much advice for you but wanted to respond.  For me I plan the routine and implement it.  I might explain briefly why I'm implementing it but don't really go into it.  Just suddenly I had craft time every morning and we did the color of the day.    This worked for a while but isn't working anymore.  You can see from above that we aren't really doing anything right now.  Now I fit what we do when we do it and I'm not stressing anything anymore.  I think the children liked having a time everyday for crafts but didn't really like me planning the crafts or being pulled away from doing anything they may have been doing at the time.  I took it away and no one missed it so......we aren't really doing it.  I'll try again later.   

You might try coming up with a homeschool song to sing before you do "homeschool" if that is the route you take.  I wouldn't explain much - just do it and have fun.

[Momma Aimee]

ITA

I decied and I just do -- one day I announced "Bible Time" and one day i said "come see this ....you get to choose an activity"

i find it is 97% ME and not so much them

[mtbmomma]

I was like you and wanted to schedule in dd's preschool time during the day so we could have some routine, then I realized I really just needed to make a schedule for me, not her.  So, for us that means we get up, get dressed, potty, and have some breakfast.  

After that we do our chores.  I made a job list, with jobs for both of us, and we check them off as we get them done.  I don't worry if she doesn't finish or anything, it is really just for fun for her anyway.  

Then we get to read books when we are done with our chores.  She brings me a big pile and we start reading.  I go to the library every few weeks by myself and check out a bunch of books with a related theme.  This month we are reading about Spring and gardens.

She may have a small snack now.

After reading we head outside to play for an hour or so.  I will often listen to podcasts, sketch, or read a book while she is playing with shovels etc. in the dirt.  Sometimes I will play with her, and sometimes I use that time to do a mini workout (push ups, squats, sprints, lunges).  

When we get back inside I set aside a half hour of time to do something fun with her.  I just suggest an activity, such as painting, a fun craft, waterplay at the sink, playing pretend with her toys, or doing a puzzle, or a game like Memory or Candyland.  

Then we go make lunch and eat.  She usually plays by herself for a bit after lunch and I spend some time on the computer.

The afternoons are our time for running errands, going to the park or playground, free play, or if I think she will need a nap we'll go for a run in the jogger or a bike ride and she'll fall asleep in the trailer.  

It really helps me to have a schedule for myself to make sure I get time to myself, spend some time doing constructive things with her, and so we both get outside.  I don't think she needs a formal learning time during the day, but I think it helps if I have times in my mind set aside for constructive play, stories, outside play, and free play.  

I hope this helps, I know that wasn't your exact question, but it is what has worked for us better then doing a set homeschool time.  

[onyxravnos]

Hello everyone! this years HS has been going really well .. we have a nice (almost done) main lesson book for the year and I'm really pleased with what we've gotten done... it helps so much to be able to look at his main lesson book when i feel like we haven't gotten anything accomplished. 

AND I'm so thrilled i found the one and only AK state HS program that takes preschoolers without an older enrolling sibling which means a free 200 bucks to buy materials! Now i just need to use that money wisely so i can try to fit in everything i want!

[Treece]

Well, my son is only 3 yo, but somewhat advanced, adn I have the 1 yo. (The 6 yo lives with his dad and goes to public school). So, our plan for Spring/Summer is to use Peak with Books, Math Start, and MAYBE  Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science 1. I haven't found any of the science books, and I really want to stay within a theme for the month. So, I am trying to plan it out and get the books as we go, but that may be hard and I need to be flexible. I am looking for a list (just a pdf type list) of the Let's Read books so that I can just look and see what I can choose from and grab and go so to speak.

[zebaby]

Originally Posted by mtbmomma 

I was like you and wanted to schedule in dd's preschool time during the day so we could have some routine, then I realized I really just needed to make a schedule for me, not her.  So, for us that means we get up, get dressed, potty, and have some breakfast.  

After that we do our chores.  I made a job list, with jobs for both of us, and we check them off as we get them done.  I don't worry if she doesn't finish or anything, it is really just for fun for her anyway.  

Then we get to read books when we are done with our chores.  She brings me a big pile and we start reading.  I go to the library every few weeks by myself and check out a bunch of books with a related theme.  This month we are reading about Spring and gardens.

She may have a small snack now.

After reading we head outside to play for an hour or so.  I will often listen to podcasts, sketch, or read a book while she is playing with shovels etc. in the dirt.  Sometimes I will play with her, and sometimes I use that time to do a mini workout (push ups, squats, sprints, lunges).  

When we get back inside I set aside a half hour of time to do something fun with her.  I just suggest an activity, such as painting, a fun craft, waterplay at the sink, playing pretend with her toys, or doing a puzzle, or a game like Memory or Candyland.  

Then we go make lunch and eat.  She usually plays by herself for a bit after lunch and I spend some time on the computer.

The afternoons are our time for running errands, going to the park or playground, free play, or if I think she will need a nap we'll go for a run in the jogger or a bike ride and she'll fall asleep in the trailer.  

It really helps me to have a schedule for myself to make sure I get time to myself, spend some time doing constructive things with her, and so we both get outside.  I don't think she needs a formal learning time during the day, but I think it helps if I have times in my mind set aside for constructive play, stories, outside play, and free play.  

I hope this helps, I know that wasn't your exact question, but it is what has worked for us better then doing a set homeschool time.  

Maybe I didn't express myself well enough, but that's EXACTLY what I was looking for! LOL I guess when people see "homeschool" they have a more formal idea in their minds, but for us, it really is much like what you've described. My plan is to do more "schooly" type of activities in a really relaxed manner while eating at the table since he'll stay at the table for extended periods of time as long as he's entertained (plus it helps to get him to finish his meal!). Other than that, I need to organize my own brain to get basic tasks done (like you mentioned). Reading your response made me think about maybe creating a picture chart for chores - not only will it make it clear in my mind what needs to be done on a daily basis, but it will hopefully motivate, guide & clarify to DS what our day will bring. Thanks!

[MoonStarFalling]

Hello! We've got lots of plans this spring. I set up the art easel DD got for Christmas and she's been keeping some paint and crayons out on that coming and going and using it many times a day. She usually paints every day so she's loving this. We are going to be raising some chicks this month and I plan to make a terrarium and planting a garden. Finger knitting is also on the schedule. The kids are getting art supplies for Easter. They love to transform things from the recycling bin or doing art projects. DD is getting a piggy bank for her birthday so we'll have a chance to talk about money more this year. Then we're off for a couple months of traveling (MO, MT and CO).

[CCJWGM]

Zebaby - there is a book called Steady Days which is a great read in helping you organize your brain.  The book itself  is written by a CM method (I think) homeschooler of young children and so it is perfect for what many of us are experiencing. 

As I type this her website is down.  Otherwise it is  http://www.steadydays.com  but here is the amazon link

http://www.amazon.com/Steady-Days-Intentional-Professional-Motherhood/dp/0984124608

We had our super fun whale watching adventure today and saw no whales.  We drove to a new location and true to name it started downpouring as we came to Cape Foulweather so whale watching came to an end.  I forgot to mention but we are unschooling right now and it's working great. I'm getting a hang of this whole unschooling thing and am really enjoying it.  My new challenge is unschooling with a rhythm.  Oxymoron which I'm going to make work for us. 

[revolting]

I haven't been on this thread lately, because I've been feeling a bit of a fraud. We've been considering doing pre-K next year. My daughter will really want to go. And then she won't. And then she will. And then she won't. The whole thing drives me batty. I want her home. I've tried fishing out a clear reason as to why she wants to go to school, but she's four. "I think it would be fun," is the best reason I got. If I ask why she thinks it would be fun, she says she doesn't know. I suspect it has a lot to do with cultural pressure (most media for this age idealizes school) and the influence of my mother. At the same time, though, I've encouraged her to stay home. She probably feels pressure both ways. Even though I rather her be at home, if she really rather be in school I would send her to school. At this point, though, I can't figure out what she really wants. I've resolved to wait until we move this summer, and then see if she still says she wants go. But yeah, I'm still reading, but mostly lurking until we have more clarity about educational decisions.

[Tjej]

Revolting - She's 4.  She doesn't know what school is and she can't really know what she wants because she doesn't really understand the options.  You should really do what you want and help her to enjoy that choice.  Now if she is scared to go and you don't have to, that's another thing, IMO.  But if it's just about it'd be fun or not, well sure it probably would be fun and if you want her to do it then do it, but if not, don't.  FWIW I DO have my DD in a one morning a week program and we are homeschooling in the fall for K and I don't feel like a fraud on here. ;) Maybe I should?  It's fun for kids to be with other kids and make friends with other adults and one day a week has been a good amount for us.  I don't feel it negates our homelearning plans or current lifestyle.

For K in the fall we are joining a homeschooling group that meets once a week - I'm excited about that as well.  So is DD.  I talk about the different kinds of school and I have asked my DD questions about what she wants, but I also know that ultimately it is my decision and it will all be just fine either way!

Beezer - If I tried to get my DD to do something the "right" way in this life season, we'd have conflict too.  Well, when I do, we get conflict.  DD is all about her own reality and doing things in a different way.  I don't actually mind it, but I get the frustration you're having.  It's hard when you know they CAN do something well and they choose not to or to be silly.

Tjej

[CCJWGM]

Thank Tjej, it's good to know I'm not alone.  She actually is the reason I'm trying to embrace unschooling.  I know I won't be able to "teach" her a single gosh darn thing without conflict but I think she will thrive in unschooling.  I'm very schooled myself and right now I'm mainly de-schooling myself.  My new mantra is "be more like DH" who is the ultimate unschooling parent. 

Revolting, it's been my experience that children in the 4-5 range want to go to school.  Maybe it's the fun school bus or media or everyone asking them if they are in school yet.  I don't know why but as pp said, she is too young to make the choice or know what school is.  When my DD started wanting school I knew it was time to get her involved in some activities where she will make friends.  I just joined a great homeschool group to hype her on "homeschool" versus "school."  I emphasis that some children go to school and some people school at home and that every family is different.  I usually then talk more about other ways families are different to give another example.  Follow your heart right now.  And even if you do a pK program there is many a homeschooler who has done pK and homeschooled after that.  It's not unheard of.  I think often it's done for socialization and not academics. You aren't a fraud.  :)  We welcome you here. 

[Momma Aimee]

my oldest (kindy in the fall) goes to preschool once a week (as done DS2) for speech services and so on -- i view it as a 3 hours play date once a veek i do not go to -- they do art, they snack and he goes to ST 2x.  It is a play activity for him, there is no school in it. 

he has asked about why he doesn't go each day liek the rest of the class; I tell him parents make the school choices and Daddy and i feel you are best at home, there are a number of reasons (I some times list a couple, or not , they are really beyond him at this point -- he is thinking of the snacks and the gym time, not test scores and faith conflicts).  Go one to tell him, differnt kids eat differntly, differnt parents choose to have their kids sleep in differnnt places and differnt parents choose differnt school choices.

we've talked about in the fall he will no longer go to the school once a veek for ST.  Little Brother will but he (ds1) will be in kindy and his school will be all at home.  As far as he is concerned he is looseing a play date.  and really that is what it is.

I do not have any conflict with him going one day a week but us being a homeschool family -- it is not his education, it is his ST and some play time. 

we do not give him any 'feeling' that he gets to make that choice -- we are happy to listen to him, and answer his questions -- just like talking about taking medication or going to medical appt -- but in the end -- he is 5, he can choose his shirt or maybe his snack; but we tell him that "god made mommas and daddies to take care of you, some day you'll be a daddy and have to make these choices"  I personally -- just me -- feel that giving a child too much of a voice in importnat life choices puts too much pressure on them; they are kids, yk?  and i persoanlly feel that feel safer and more secure and can better be about the work of childhood if they are sure they don't have to be the adult or think abodu the bigger issues. 

 

Originally Posted by revolting 

I haven't been on this thread lately, because I've been feeling a bit of a fraud. We've been considering doing pre-K next year. My daughter will really want to go. And then she won't. And then she will. And then she won't. The whole thing drives me batty. I want her home. I've tried fishing out a clear reason as to why she wants to go to school, but she's four. "I think it would be fun," is the best reason I got. If I ask why she thinks it would be fun, she says she doesn't know. I suspect it has a lot to do with cultural pressure (most media for this age idealizes school) and the influence of my mother. At the same time, though, I've encouraged her to stay home. She probably feels pressure both ways. Even though I rather her be at home, if she really rather be in school I would send her to school. At this point, though, I can't figure out what she really wants. I've resolved to wait until we move this summer, and then see if she still says she wants go. But yeah, I'm still reading, but mostly lurking until we have more clarity about educational decisions.

[heartmommyak]

Which program?  A friend of mine told me the program she's using is going to start providing an allotment next year too.  I'm waiting to hear back from her.   I'm worried we're going to run into "missing the cut-off" w/ my dd.  She's a Sept. 15th bday.

Originally Posted by onyxravnos 
 

 AND I'm so thrilled i found the one and only AK state HS program that takes preschoolers without an older enrolling sibling which means a free 200 bucks to buy materials! Now i just need to use that money wisely so i can try to fit in everything i want!

[onyxravnos]

Chugach . Based out of anchorage. Chugach + homeschool will probably pull it up on google if not let me know and I'll send you a link. Not sure what the cut off date is as Lichs bday is feb so I know he's in the time frame.

Originally Posted by heartmommyak 

Which program?  A friend of mine told me the program she's using is going to start providing an allotment next year too.  I'm waiting to hear back from her.   I'm worried we're going to run into "missing the cut-off" w/ my dd.  She's a Sept. 15th bday.

[heartmommyak]

I found the website.  Thanks.  I guess my next step is figuring out about the cut-off.  I know it's two weeks before dd's birthday, but not sure if they make exceptions or not.

Originally Posted by onyxravnos 




Chugach . Based out of anchorage. Chugach + homeschool will probably pull it up on google if not let me know and I'll send you a link. Not sure what the cut off date is as Lichs bday is feb so I know he's in the time frame.

Originally Posted by heartmommyak 

Which program?  A friend of mine told me the program she's using is going to start providing an allotment next year too.  I'm waiting to hear back from her.   I'm worried we're going to run into "missing the cut-off" w/ my dd.  She's a Sept. 15th bday.