*~* August Preschool Thread *~* - Page 2

[nathansmom]

Originally Posted by mama kate

For the earth school stuff do you do the E version or the print - anyone have experience with both?

Em loves the workbooks too!

I get the printed verison because our printer doesn't work. Plus I like to have something in hand. She ships very quickly.

[mama kate]

Thanks Norah! Any favorites if I am just planning on picking a couple??

[nathansmom]

Originally Posted by mama kate

Thanks Norah! Any favorites if I am just planning on picking a couple??

We really loved the Going Buggy one. The summer harvest is okay but my child just isn't interested in it. I've given up on the summer harvest for this year and we are starting the Under the Sea next week. I've read through the Under the sea and it sounds like its more like the Going Buggy. My friend purchased the dinosaur one and loves it. Next up for us are the Halloween and Thanksgiving day ones.

[mama kate]

Cool!Thanks! I was thinking the buggy, under the sea, and the upcoming holiday ones. She is bug obsessed so hopefully she'll like it!

[rbeaufoy]

Hi there..

Jumping in here....

We're using the Oak Meadow K curric. with our 3+ year old son (I looked at the Preschool curric, but based on what he already knows, I figured we would get more mileage our of the K one) in a sort of casual way....and also the BFIAR program and books...also in a casual sort of way.

Other than that we do playgroup, playdates, and occasionally hit library story time too (we go the library often, just not always for story time). I also keep tons of "art" stuff around, and we try to make a big mess a few times a week!

We're pretty remote where we live, so our options are limited. We used to attend Kindermusik too, but the woman who taught it retired

Thanks for the book suggestion Lillian...I've reserved it at our library

R

[heket]

For those of you who have used an earth*school unit, what are your thoughts? I purchased one on fairies, but I find it to be more supplemental material.

I've also printed out the insect unit from Waldorf Curriculum and I really like the layout of it. I might use this site for our core and add in other items.

[prophetmother]

Help getting started please

Hi! New to this neck of the woods....Hi Angela...

My dd turned 2 in April and I'd like to begin some type of homeschool/ unschooling with her.

I'd like to work on getting more of a rhythm to the day/week/month/year and start a nature table for us. For now, a waldorf inspired curriculum with some additional items in a relaxed pace will mostly likely work best.

Yeah, that. I'm also looking for a rhythm to our day that inspires her and stimulates her. I work from home but that is very flexible. I would love to get involved in a preschool coop like the one a PP mentioned. Is there a network for that sort of thing? How do I find one? What do they cost? I've been to a few playgroups but I like the way the PP described hers...

We're in a preschool co-op that meets 3-4 days a month (roughly once a week, usually with the first week of the month off). This year's focus is community, last year's was nature. We're going to be visiting a police station, fire station, library, trash museum, post office, farm, and a few other places for our monthly field trips, and then reading some stories and doing some activities together around those field trips.

Right now our day usually goes like this, from 8am to 9pm:

get up, groom, get dressed, etc.
I clean around the house while she helps, plays randomly or sometimes watches tv :
play outside, come in and have free play, sing, dance
I work, internet (and stay on waaaay too long )
lunch, nap, snack, free play, tv, play outside, dinner, bath, bed
Insert a random activity I found online (we made an owl out of paper plates yesterday)

Can anyone give me some ideas for how to incorporate some of the things you mention into our day? How much time do you spend actually homeschooling? especially with a child as young as 2. Is it 15 min here, 20 there. I don't want a rigid schedule, but I think we could use some sort of guideline. Like, one week is about water, and ideas/activities for everyday. Specific examples welcome! And more links too please!

[mama kate]

for those using earth school units - how much in the way of supplies do you end up buying f or each unit? I'm about ready to buy about 8 units for the year and am wondering if I should buy less but they all sound so cool!!

[nathansmom]

Originally Posted by heket

For those of you who have used an earth*school unit, what are your thoughts? I purchased one on fairies, but I find it to be more supplemental material.

.

I don't know how to answer. For my kids (ages 4 and 2.5) its really about as much as I would want to do with them for their ages. There's lots of things to do in the ones that I've bought. I didn't buy the fairies one so I don't know how it compares to the ones I've used.

[nathansmom]

Originally Posted by mama kate

for those using earth school units - how much in the way of supplies do you end up buying f or each unit? I'm about ready to buy about 8 units for the year and am wondering if I should buy less but they all sound so cool!!

Each unit is different so its hard to say. I'm pming you the list I just made up for the Under the Sea unit. I think, though, that the Under the Sea has a little more than the Going Buggy.

[mama kate]

Cool - Thanks! Here are the ones I ended up getting - I may order the buggy one & under the sea & on the farm for later in the year/early spring/next summer.

Unbe"leafable" Leaves
Happy Harvest
Halloween is here
An Alphabet of Story books
A Rainbow of Colors
Numbers
Shapes

I'm thinking this will cover the basics for a bitbut give me some seasonal type stuff to do with her.

[nathansmom]

Those sound like fun Kate. I ordered the Halloween one yesterday. I'm interested in the Happy Harvest one and the Leaves but I think by the time we finish the Under the Sea it will be time to start Halloween. The others I'm ordering soon are the Thanksgiving one and the Holidays around the world.

[ktog29]

This is a great thread and I appreciate all the links!

We have Sonlight prek and will do a light version of that with ds2 who is 3.5. We'll do the stories and science and fun math but not the workbooks. I'd also like to incorporate some Waldorf-y rhythm to the day. I love homeschooling and can hardly wait for the year to begin (except that I'm going to miss ds1 when he heads off to 1st grade at our local Catholic school...it's this time of year that always makes me consider homeschooling beyond preschool/kindergarten!!!! )

[lizabird]

We plan to homeschool. DS is 3.5 yrs old and honestly, I haven't even really thought anything much about "school" yet. Just in the last few days it has been SOOOOO hot here we've stayed inside and I realize it would be really nice to have a regular bunch of ideas laying around to try for rainy/hot/indoor days. Usually we just wander around doing errands, going to museums, playgrounds, gardens, etc. We play with trains, read books, get messy, talk to the neighbors. I was just looking at the Oak Meadow curriculum for preschoolers and I really liked some of the ideas, thinking of getting one of their books just to give me some more good ideas of fun ways to learn.
SO this is my first post here, and hopefully (as time allows ) I would love to share more ideas!

[captivatedlife]

I don't really belong here with you guys, but I feel best here! I've been reading up on homeschooling and dh and I plan to homeschool our dd..... she's 7 months!

But I got a job in a preschool right now and I'm hoping to pick your brains,,, if you kick me out I'll just have to be a lurker.....

Let me stay:

[Khourtniey]

Originally Posted by prophetmother

Can anyone give me some ideas for how to incorporate some of the things you mention into our day? How much time do you spend actually homeschooling? especially with a child as young as 2. Is it 15 min here, 20 there. I don't want a rigid schedule, but I think we could use some sort of guideline. Like, one week is about water, and ideas/activities for everyday. Specific examples welcome! And more links too please!

We do 15 minutes here and there... We typically average about 1 hour per day... Our weekends are our "off" days, but ds wants to work on the weekends also.. But we also have a lot of "learning experiences" throughout the day... counting money, sorting shapes, cooking, etc

We are breaking things into months.. Focusing on one thing every month, if he has showed that he is advanced, then we will move on, but not leave behind the other stuff..

[Khourtniey]

Originally Posted by captivatedlife

I don't really belong here with you guys, but I feel best here! I've been reading up on homeschooling and dh and I plan to homeschool our dd..... she's 7 months!

But I got a job in a preschool right now and I'm hoping to pick your brains,,, if you kick me out I'll just have to be a lurker.....

Let me stay:

I dont mind you staying at all.. and I do not see why other people would I love hearing from facilitiy preschoolers as well as homers

[Khourtniey]

Is there an offical website for the Earth School curriculum? Or is the KandF website the only one?

[heket]

Originally Posted by Khourtniey

Is there an offical website for the Earth School curriculum? Or is the KandF website the only one?

That's the only one I know of. I don't think she has it affliliated with any of her other sites...

[Andiad]

Originally Posted by lizabird

We plan to homeschool. DS is 3.5 yrs old and honestly, I haven't even really thought anything much about "school" yet. Just in the last few days it has been SOOOOO hot here we've stayed inside and I realize it would be really nice to have a regular bunch of ideas laying around to try for rainy/hot/indoor days. Usually we just wander around doing errands, going to museums, playgrounds, gardens, etc. We play with trains, read books, get messy, talk to the neighbors. I was just looking at the Oak Meadow curriculum for preschoolers and I really liked some of the ideas, thinking of getting one of their books just to give me some more good ideas of fun ways to learn.
SO this is my first post here, and hopefully (as time allows ) I would love to share more ideas!

Can I play?? I have a 3.5yr. old as well that I will start HS'ng in Sep.
Right now I'm still figuring it all out.

Lizabird--I am also in NC, and yes 104 has been waaayyy to hot for me!! (or for anyone I suppose..) Where in NC are you?

I'm also looking into the Oak Meadow curriculum as well as Enki. Folks that have used these--what do you think??
The earth school units look really interesting as well.
Do any of you also have infants at home? If so, how has that worked for you with HS'ng. I also work PT out of the home...so I guess I'll have to figure that out as well....: