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pre-k suggestions
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I have a friend with a pre-k dd. She looked a My father’s World and Abeka, but she says they’re already doing those things and didn’t want to purchase something unnecessarily. I suggest HWT, for learning the shapes of letters. I didn’t do anything other than phonics and reading at that age, and provided misc. stuff for my children to use to put together something, so I’m stumped on a packaged, CM style deal. Also, I was working 3 full days a week when my children were 4 and 5, my husband was a stay at home dad and didn’t have time for all the crafty things.
She’s also looking for a craft plan or book(s) to go with what they’re learning on any given day.
I think she would prefer something a little more laid out for her as she has a one yr. old crawling around and is not confident about hs’ling. I sent the link for “Education is…” “Reaching a Child’s heart” and Masterly Inactivity” from Sonya.
Thanks,
Rachel
We used Five in a Row during pre-k years. It’s a literature based program that gives suggestions for incorporating hisory, geography, art, science, math, etc. for each book that you read. There are many ideas listed for each book, so you can pick and choose what will work for your family. For example, we chose not to use the science options very often since we were doing a creation/nature study separately.
Also, Ruth Beechick’s The Three R’s offers great suggestions for the gentle learning of reading, language and arithmetic.
We used FIAR for several years when all our children were very small and loved it! It is biblically based and the authors are indeed christians.
Rachel
Haven’t used them yet, Rachel, but I’d like to use them with my youngest when he’s ready.
Blessings,
Heather
Does anyone follow Charlotte Mason’s suggestion of just letting the children spend most of their hours out of doors, focusing on nature and habit training until age 6?
I just finished reading Volume 1 again, the one written for education of children under age 9. It was invigorating in its simplicity, yet profound in its truth. I have a 9 month DGD (granddaughter) that I am caring for and plan to follow her suggestions this time around. I’m so looking forward to it. Ms. Mason hasn’t steered me wrong yet.
Just curious if anyone has followed her suggestions of waiting on formal studies until age 6 and how it turned out for you.
We ended up letting our youngest be out of doors most of the day out of convenience when we first began homeschooling. I was focusing on the older two and the youngest loved being outside. When she turned 5 (our 2nd year of homeschooling) I brought out the ‘official’ Kindergarten curriculum to teach her. It was such a struggle and felt so forced that we ended up abandoning the program and thankfully God led me to the Charlotte Mason method. We are so glad that we relaxed on this. She is actually enjoying her lessons now (most days 🙂 . And she is not “behind” on anything, which was one of my fears.
I wish I had spent more time on habit training with all of the children during the first 6 years. (Ours are 18, 11 and 8 now.) I’m seeing that it would have made a big difference in how smoothly our days could’ve been all along. But thankfully, God is the Restorer and He makes all things new!!
Blessings,
mj
We spent several hours almost every day outdoors when our children were all under 6. Our 4 yr old currently spends much of her time everyday in the backyard garden, it has simply become a habit for them to enjoy being outside in nature. It wasn’t always as long as 6 hours, but we tried our best. Along with this I also just read great books with them and gave them plenty of free play and creative/artistic time. When it came time to begin formal lessons they were so excited and picked things up very quickly. I only let them watch a movie once in a while and we do not have television, that helps greatly in keeping them “unspoiled”.
If you plan on spending lots of time outside with a little one, I highly recommend any of Sharon Lovejoy’s books on gardening with children. They are brimming with ideas for making even the smallest yard an outdoor wonderland for children (and adults, too)! It is much more enjoyable to spend hours outside when one is surrounded by interesting things to discover and watch grow, not just the same old lawn day after day. Just my two cents 😀 Enjoy these special years with your granddaughter!
Rachel
I love the idea of just letting the kids play outside all day until they’re six. But, I’ve found that our days can get monotonous. I don’t necessarily want a curriculum, but I’m not sure what to do with them! I also have no idea how to start on “habit training.” They are all pretty obedient boys, but there’s so much to teach them, I don’t know where to start.
Hi mrsselby,
Have you looked at Sonya’s “Laying Down the Rails, a Charlotte Mason Habits Handbook”?
http://simplycharlottemason.com/books/laying-down-rails-charlotte-mason-habits/
This is a great help and should give you a good idea of where to start with habit training.
Blessings,
Heather
Yes, that’s how I handled my two before 6. I’ve continually explained the simplicity of the CM method and offer my advice, but my friend, G-d Bless her, may feel the pressure of the world’s educational ways, plus I don’t know what kind of “prove it” pressure she feels at home either. Combined with her own “”beginners lack of confidence and the only exposure she has of homeschoolers are those that use the traditional ways. I’m the only one she knows that does anything other than the traditonal textbook method; but her heart isn’t thrilled w/the textbook way, either, but she would also like the security of a predesigned ‘schedule’ of some sort.
Once she discovers her confidence in this area, it will get better. I’m continuing to encourage that she has what it takes and can trust in CM ways.
So, for where she is at, I’m trying to introduce her to ‘curriculum’ that at least try to mirror CM, but packaged in a way so she can feel more secure.
Rachel
Thanks all! That sounds encouraging. I didn’t know about CM with my DS so he’s a little unsure of waiting. He asked again just yesterday when I would begin “teaching” little one. With all the pre-school’s today and parents comparing their accomplishments, I think he might be concerned with looking like a bad dad. I’ve heard many say school was so much easier, and the children advanced quicker, when they waited. I’m looking forward to the journey.
And Rachel, it’s wonderful that you are helping your friend. I have numerous of those myself. HS’ing is becoming quite large in my area. I, too, am asked frequently what I “did” with my younger ones. As long as there’s plenty of love & prayers, God’s grace will cover whatever we choose to do! I think our children are blessed to have mommy’s that care enough to ask these types of questions AND especially, to have mommy’s willing to give so much of themselves. My DS had one of the most anti-CM curriculum’s out there (LOL!) and he survived, turned out wonderfully and I couldn’t be prouder of him. Thanks God!
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