*When we have activities planned for the day we may move things around a bit or skip some of the activities for that day. Both of my girls are in a playgroups and once a week we go to story time at the library. We often have one day a week to run errands or do a fun activity.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
What our day looks like
*When we have activities planned for the day we may move things around a bit or skip some of the activities for that day. Both of my girls are in a playgroups and once a week we go to story time at the library. We often have one day a week to run errands or do a fun activity.
Posted by Becentsable blog at 8:00 PM 0 comments
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Letter 'A' ideas!
In case you didn't see the link to this blog on our sidebar...
Glimpse of Sonshine has a great post about making letter lapbooks with her preschooler for the letter 'A' this week!
I really like this idea and since my son is wild about "reading" things...this is probably a good way for us to learn the letters.
Share your ideas for learning the letters -- leave a comment or send us an e-mail to becentsable@gmail.com
Posted by Becentsable blog at 5:11 PM 1 comments
Labels: letter lessons
Monday, September 22, 2008
October Ideas
ACTIVITY DAY
apple picking at orchard
walk in the leaves
CIRCLE TIME
See The Apples Falling Down
And so I thank the Lord
For giving me the things I need
The sun and the rain and the apple seed
The Lords been good to me, Amen.
sensory center: fill bin or box with leaves, pinecones, and other fall things
coloring
apple sandwich (2 apples with peanut butter)
paint with apples: cut apples at different angles and let children brush on paint and use the apples as stamps. Talk about the different shapes made by each apple and the space where the seeds were.
Print this tree coloring page: have children color the image first. Children can decorate the tree with "apples" by fingertip painting using poster paint or washable ink pad, red round stickers or red paper cut-outs using a coin as a template. Have children add five or ten apples. Have them count them to practice numerals and number order
shape-circle like a pumpkin and the moon
ABC song-P is for pumpkin-hold up letter P click here
color-orange like a pumpkin-find orange things in the room
CENTER TIME
sensory center-fill bin with leaves, pine cones, and other fall things coloring
Orange play dough
blocks
selection of toys
COOKING WITH KIDS
pumpkin seeds
pumpkin pie
pumpkin muffins
ORANGE DAY
art time: cut out a big carrot for kids to paint on. Cut the end of a large carrot off and let kids dip in orange paint stamp their carrot
cooking with kids: pumpkin pancakes. Make orange colored pancakes and let the kids decorate a face with fruit cocktail
Posted by Becentsable blog at 10:31 AM 3 comments
Labels: October
Friday, September 19, 2008
Our "Schedule"
So, if you have EVER had children you know "schedule" is in quotes for a reason!!
We attempt to follow the schedule below. Chrissy's family follows a different schedule that works for them.
We have preschool time (focused activity) for 30-45 mins two days a week. My daughter is only 16 months old so I typically do this while she is napping so my son can have my undivided attention.
- During this time we do our craft project and talk about our letter and number
Circle Time and Center Time are interspersed as often as we get a chance since they are more entertaining and less "sit still and focus" things.
- Circle Time: We read stories (including our bible stories), sing songs and rhymes or pretend play within our theme. Chrissy posted about Circle Time here.
- Center Time: I haven't done this yet but the idea is that you select 3-5 toys for your child to play with that relate to the theme for the month and place them in the center of the room. These would be in a room without other distractions (TV, other toys, etc) for about 20-30 mins. Let the child play at will for the length of the activity.
Our only other scheduled time is for our "activity days". These are the planned outings for the month and are only 2 or 3x a month (not necessarily every week).
This schedule is new and subject to revisions as we go along since I have no idea what my kids will actually be able to handle.
Posted by Becentsable blog at 10:17 PM 2 comments
Labels: schedules
Circle Time
Circle Time is the area that most parents have the hardest time with! Here are a few tips and ideas to help get you started.
Some tips to remember:
- Start out slow-it will take a while for your kids to get what you want them to do
- Remember your time limit and don't go past it-this will depend on the age of your kids and attention level
- Have circle time in a room with little toys and distractions. I use one of my kids rooms and shut the door so the little one stays put
- Alternate activities to keep their attention
- Give little ones something to hold and play with that goes with your theme
What to include:
- Story time
- Songs
- Numbers/letters/colors
- Jesus time
- Calendar/season/weather
Check back later because I will post lots of ideas you can use for circle time for fall themes (our Oct. theme) Do you have a great circle time idea for fall? Leave a comment or email us at becentsable@gmail.com!
Posted by Becentsable blog at 8:40 PM 0 comments
Labels: circle time
Thursday, September 18, 2008
October
Theme: Fall or Harvest
This month we will be teaching the kids all about Fall, farming, pumpkins and the way the world around us changes!
Letter(s): F or H
We will be making large paper letters to place up on the wall and emphasizing the sounds the letters make. We will talk about the letter, with intent, each preschool day and as it seems appropriate the rest of the week.
Number: 2
Same as with the letter above and we'll also learn how to show two fingers and talk about it being MORE THAN one.
Color: Orange
Chrissy has a great day each month that's "COLOR" day at her house! Everything is about a single color for one full day! Their clothes, their food, any craft. It's COLOR IMMERSION!
Shape: Circle
Cut out circles and talk about what things around us are made up of or look like circles. My son (who just turned 3) is amazingly good and quick at this! He even sees the shapes in several dimensions which suprised me!
Bible Theme: Seasons and the World Around Us
I have seen several (hundred) sites with preschool level bible stories and lesson plans. My favorite so far is KidsSundaySchool.com they have a selection of FREE information and the majority of the site is pay for access. It's not a bad price but still - it's a price!
We'd love more bible resources for this age group...if you have them please pass them along so we can link them on the blog!
I also plan on reading some of the verses about food and the land
- Creation: specifically Gen 1:10-11.
- "No Rain, No Food" I Kings 16:29 through 17:16 (I have a children's book with a much condensed version of this story)
- "Seeds and Dirt" Matthew 13:3-23 - this is a good dual purpose story (I have a children's book with a much condensed version of this story)
Activities we are planning that should be basically free!
- apple picking (click here to find an orchard/pumpkin patch near you)
- pumpkin picking (a MUCH more educational and enjoyable way to get your pumpkins)
- working crops visit (a local farm would be more than happy to let you tour while they are harvesting! - check this link and this one for a farm near you and give them a call!)
Crafts we are hoping to complete
- pumpkin patch made up of CIRCLES!
- paper farm crops (seed garden) - this is a good one for spring planting as well. We use dry beans, sunflower seeds and corn for the crop rows
- Farm scene with cut outs to glue on!
Chrissy's Tip: Try to steer away from coloring pages. Most kids this age don't get anything out of coloring pages and you are wasting your paper!
As the month progresses we will post any great ideas we come up with or something that just didn't work out!
Please add to the exchange here...send us your ideas or leave a comment so we can start building a resource fpr anyone who wants to teach their children!
Posted by Becentsable blog at 9:14 PM 14 comments
Labels: Lesson Plans, October
Thursday, September 11, 2008
What are we doing here?
As you might have read on one of our other blogs, we have decided (for many reasons) not to enroll our three-year olds in preschool this year.
Instead, we will be instructing them at home. For many of you that may seem totally normal and for others, completely the opposite!
For many families, preschool is an expense that is just too great, class times do not work well with the family's work schedule or there is no preschool in the area that offers the type of education they are looking for.
Chrissy and I also believe that as parents, given the resources and support necessary, we are better equipped to teach our young children than anyone else!
This blog is part resource, part support, part progress report!
If at any time you have constructive criticism, suggestions or ideas to add, feel free to do so.
If you disagree with our education style or wish to unconstructively criticize our methods, please still feel free to do so...quietly and to yourself!
Posted by Becentsable blog at 3:47 PM 3 comments
Labels: about