Contemplating Preschool Plan for Next Year

[warriormom]

My daughter will be 4 at the beginning of the school year next year. I would like to start her with something a little academic, but not overwhelming. She loves singing, acting and dancing. She loves to read, crafts and play with play doh. I want to give her a good head start. Experienced homeschoolers, is there anything I should avoid or look at? NOTE: Please do not give me the typical, let her play response. We are already having issues with behavior at church, and I need to add some structure to her day.

 

Here are my preschool/k4 plan options:

 

A. Classical Conversations (more for developing classroom skills,

social reasons...anything she learns is gravy)

My Father's World K working very slowly and less emphasis on

writing

Art & Spanish Class at a local art academy that is light and fun one

day a week

 

B. Classical Conversations

Carol's Affordable Homeschool Curriculum

Art & Spanish Class at a local art academy that is light and fun one

day a week

 

C. Classical Conversations

Rod and Staff Preschool Workbooks

Art & Spanish Class at a local art academy that is light and fun one

day a week

 

D. Classical Conversations

Five in a Row

Art & Spanish Class at a local art academy that is light and fun one

day a week

 

I would consider SL but it seems like it would stress me out and confuse me. I would like something that is open and go for the first year. Something that does not take longer than 1 hour (for main curriculum besides CC). Something that is gentle and fun but with structure.

 

Any other ideas? Something else to consider?

Edited February 28, 2012 by cabreban

[ByGrace3]

I have not heard of your option B, but A, C, or D are solid choices for a fun pre-k year. Will this be K-4 as in starting K the following year? I think as long as you work at your dd's pace and keep it light and fun, you will be fine. I am one who does organized pre-k, I like using curriculum, as long as you keep the priority of developing a love of learning. Spend lots of time reading and playing no matter what you choose. :)

[2_girls_mommy]

I would go with plan C. I loved the R&S ABC workbooks. My dd did them over preK and the first semester of K, then moved into slowly doing R&S phonics over the 2nd half of K. It worked out great.

[2_girls_mommy]

Oh, or plan D. I never used FIAR, but I read it from the library and did similar things over our K year. It would be great too, but are there any phonics or beginning letter recognition activities at all? I am not sure.

[Ewe Mama]

Just an FYI, the R&S workbooks have a lot of tracing and focus on letter and number formation. If you are wanting to keep it light on the writing, as you indicated in the plan using MFW K, this might me frustrating for you.

 

I personally like the MFW program as a K program. We go slowly with the writing, but all of my dc have thrived with it.

[NavyMommy]

I'm not familiar with your plan B option, but the other ones all look good. I hope you follow up with what you think of CC for a 4 year old. I'm debating it for my DD (who will also be 4) but haven't decided. I think the group environment would be so good for her though!

 

My DD also thrives on structure and routine, so I know where you're coming from ATM she's enrolled at our church's preschool and thrives there but she is the youngest in her class, they're starting some writing and phonics instruction and she loves it. Since she won't be back in a preschool when we move (next month) I've ordered several things to try out. If she hates it we'll shelve it and come back at a later date, but I want to give her the opportunity to continue since she likes it so much now. Here's what I've ordered:

 

Saxon Math K

Hooked on Phonics (not sure about this one, it was a total impulse buy from the FSOT section)

ZB Writing K (she LOVES to write, and I figure this way at the very least I can teach her the proper way to form letters, even if we just use a big whiteboard and not paper)

Before FIAR (might be to young for her, but I also have a 1.5 year old DS who I can use it with)

The Ordinary Parents Guide to Teaching Reading (again FSOT impulse, but I bet it will get used eventually)

 

The other thing I've seen that I'm drooling over now is AAR Pre-Reading 1. I am going to look over what I already have once it gets here and see what I think. (But if anyone has it for sale used I would be VERY interested ;) )

 

Another all together program I've used loosely with both kids this year is HOD Little Hands Toward Heaven. It's a lot of fun and even the little one can 'play school' with us. Plus aside from copying a few worksheets it's pretty open and go. Plus it hits lightly on every subject which I like, and she really enjoys the variety. I would say it takes about 30 minutes if you do everything on the page, but each box is about 5-10 minutes so if I'm short on time I just pick a few. Overall very happy with how it's structured and laid out, we will continue this probably at least through the summer, because the kids love it, they're always bringing me the book and asking to do school.

 

I also have Hands on Homeschooling for 2 year olds and might try to break that out next year (for the little guy), but it's very heavily craft oriented and seems to take a lot of prep work.

Edited February 28, 2012 by NavyMommy

[warriormom]

I'm not familiar with your plan B option, but the other ones all look good. I hope you follow up with what you think of CC for a 4 year old. I'm debating it for my DD (who will also be 4) but haven't decided. I think the group environment would be so good for her though!

 

My DD also thrives on structure and routine, so I know where you're coming from ATM she's enrolled at our church's preschool and thrives there but she is the youngest in her class, they're starting some writing and phonics instruction and she loves it. Since she won't be back in a preschool when we move (next month) I've ordered several things to try out. If she hates it we'll shelve it and come back at a later date, but I want to give her the opportunity to continue since she likes it so much now. Here's what I've ordered:

 

Saxon Math K

Hooked on Phonics (not sure about this one, it was a total impulse buy from the FSOT section)

ZB Writing K (she LOVES to write, and I figure this way at the very least I can teach her the proper way to form letters, even if we just use a big whiteboard and not paper)

Before FIAR (might be to young for her, but I also have a 1.5 year old DS who I can use it with)

The Ordinary Parents Guide to Teaching Reading (again FSOT impulse, but I bet it will get used eventually)

 

The other thing I've seen that I'm drooling over now is AAR Pre-Reading 1. I am going to look over what I already have once it gets here and see what I think. (But if anyone has it for sale used I would be VERY interested ;) )

 

Another all together program I've used loosely with both kids this year is HOD Little Hands Toward Heaven. It's a lot of fun and even the little one can 'play school' with us. Plus aside from copying a few worksheets it's pretty open and go. Plus it hits lightly on every subject which I like, and she really enjoys the variety. I would say it takes about 30 minutes if you do everything on the page, but each box is about 5-10 minutes so if I'm short on time I just pick a few. Overall very happy with how it's structured and laid out, we will continue this probably at least through the summer, because the kids love it, they're always bringing me the book and asking to do school.

 

I also have Hands on Homeschooling for 2 year olds and might try to break that out next year (for the little guy), but it's very heavily craft oriented and seems to take a lot of prep work.

 

That is why I like "Carol's Affordable Curriculum" http://www.carolscurriculum.com/. Lots of crafts and school curriculum with all the craft supplies and projects neatly organized. I am trying it out in March. I will let you all know.

Edited February 28, 2012 by cabreban

[lorisuewho]

I would do R&S ABC books and BEFORE Five in a Row.

[serendipitous journey]

You could add a hands-on math if you like that kind of thing. MUS Primer, at 2 or 3 times a week, is great for this age. Very open-and-go.

[warriormom]

I also looked at Right Start aor Saxon k. Saxon k seems like it will take an hour each lesson which is a big No for me at this age. Am I wrong? Please tell me! Right start is something I am not sure that I understand. if you have experience, can you please explain?

 

I am not sure whether r & s would be too dry and full of worksheets. Please tell me if I am wrong. I am not expecting that her fine motor skills will be developed enough for handwriting sheets. My daughter is not too interested in academics. She needs structure though. I am looking for a fun introduction like (Charlotte Mason) but that is open and go enough for me to get it done:001_smile: Yes, I am unorganized and need to be able to put a check in the box for the first year since I will be learning about this whole homeschool thing

Edited February 28, 2012 by cabreban

[lorisuewho]

I also looked at Right Start aor Saxon k. Saxon k seems like it will take an hour each lesson which is a big No for me at this age. Am I wrong? Please tell me! Right start is something I am not sure that I understand. if you have experience, can you please explain?

 

I am not sure whether r & s would be too dry and full of worksheets. Please tell me if I am wrong. I am not expecting that her fine motor skills will be developed enough for handwriting sheets. My daughter is not too interested in academics. She needs structure though. I am looking for a fun introduction like (Charlotte Mason) but that is open and go enough for me to get it done:001_smile: Yes, I am unorganized and need to be able to put a check in the box for the first year since I will be learning about this whole homeschool thing

 

I use Rightstart and I LOVE it, but I think it would be a bit much at the preschool age. Yes, R&S is just workbook.

 

How about Heart of Dakota's Little Hands to Heaven. It is very open and go with lots of fun activities. I loved doing this with my little ones. Or another great option that is very Charlotte Mason would be Wee Folk Art's program.

[Dustybug]

I used HOD's Little Hands to Heaven with my preschoolers and then you could add in math/more supplemental workbooks easily if needed.

[boscopup]

My daughter is not too interested in academics. She needs structure though.

 

Structure doesn't have to include academics. Teach her to do housework with you. That will provide structure AND expend some energy. ;)

 

If she's not interested in academics, I wouldn't bother with doing much at this point. I learned that with my oldest the hard way. :tongue_smilie:

[serendipitous journey]

I also looked at Right Start aor Saxon k. Saxon k seems like it will take an hour each lesson which is a big No for me at this age. Am I wrong? Please tell me! Right start is something I am not sure that I understand. if you have experience, can you please explain?

 

I am not sure whether r & s would be too dry and full of worksheets. Please tell me if I am wrong. I am not expecting that her fine motor skills will be developed enough for handwriting sheets. My daughter is not too interested in academics. She needs structure though. I am looking for a fun introduction like (Charlotte Mason) but that is open and go enough for me to get it done:001_smile: Yes, I am unorganized and need to be able to put a check in the box for the first year since I will be learning about this whole homeschool thing

 

It sounds like your plan B would cover it; Carol's is supposed to be great for that (though we haven't used it -- Button detested crafts). The only reason I mentioned MathUSee Primer was that, for children who thrive on schedules, sometimes math is esp. helpful in regulating them. But I wouldn't include it if it doesn't strike you as filling a need!

Edited February 28, 2012 by serendipitous journey

[warriormom]

I figure I should start a little schooling since I am planning on doing CC. I guess I will call this K-4 lite:001_smile: I am really leaning towards adding Carol's Affordable Curriculum or MFW K at a very slow pace. I will look into Wee Folks.

 

I would love to do a great Math program that is not too rigorous for the age since she will be on the young side. MUS looks even more advanced than I think for her.

 

I agree that chores need to be added. I am adding that to the schedule.:)

[boscopup]

MFW K is fun, though the phonics might be a bit much if she's not interested. I mostly use MFW K for the units - the activities are easy, the book lists are great. I use other phonics. FIAR probably would have been more cost effective, but oh well. I've been happy enough with MFW K (when we get to it :tongue_smilie:).

 

Check Homeschoolshare.net for some fun lapbooks. You could use them in a FIAR-style manner and just get related books on whatever topics are in the lapbooks.

[serendipitous journey]

I figure I should start a little schooling since I am planning on doing CC. I guess I will call this K-4 lite:001_smile: I am really leaning towards adding Carol's Affordable Curriculum or MFW K at a very slow pace. I will look into Wee Folks.

 

I would love to do a great Math program that is not too rigorous for the age since she will be on the young side. MUS looks even more advanced than I think for her.

 

I agree that chores need to be added. I am adding that to the schedule.:)

 

Primer isn't advanced at all, esp. if you don't have the child write -- we did it orally. You spend as long as you need on each lesson; the first chunk is just learning what "1" and "2" and so on mean. If you have the manipulatives it is very simple for the child, I think. But if you want another simple math, you could use Miquon Orange with the cuisenaire rods. This program is generally much more strongly rec'd on the boards than MUS, anyhow.

[NavyMommy]

I also looked at Right Start aor Saxon k. Saxon k seems like it will take an hour each lesson which is a big No for me at this age. Am I wrong? Please tell me! Right start is something I am not sure that I understand. if you have experience, can you please explain?

 

I haven't gotten my book yet, but from the sample lessons they have posted on their website the Saxon K doesn't look like it would take more than 10 minutes, maybe 15-20 if you had a child who needed a lot of repetition.

 

I will say though I'm not planning on doing the 'meeting book' sections. That seems to just be focused on calendar and we already have our calendar activity planned out (I need something I can include both kids in).

 

If you're still on the fence I would look again at Little Hands Towards Heaven. It's great, open and go, and doesn't 'feel' like you're doing schoolwork.

[warriormom]

I think what peaks my interest about MFW is the butterfly units, ant farm units etc.

[The Governess]

I users FIAR with my oldest when she was 4 and we loved it. When my youngest was 4, we did a few of the R&S preschool books. I liked them a lot. You could probably use both of these actually, since FIAR is mostly oral and there is nothing workbooky in the curriculum.

[sarahj]

I also looked at Right Start aor Saxon k. Saxon k seems like it will take an hour each lesson which is a big No for me at this age. Am I wrong? Please tell me!

 

We are using Saxon K and so far (we are around lesson 30) no lesson has taken more than 15 minutes. I'd guess most average about 10 minutes or so.

[...................]

C

 

Because you won't have much time for FiAR being out of the house 2 other days plus whatever playdates and trips come up (far more important at this age)

 

Also if she decides she doesn't want to do much "school" R&S is a very light commitment with a very big payoff. My dd was ready closer to 4.5 and then flew through them.

 

And if you overschedule her, she will be cranky and it's not healthy. At this age they need plenty of free time- preferably outdoors.

[lcelmer]

I'm hoping to start up with ds age 3 1/2 this summer, and I plan to use the Little Hands To Heaven, by HOD, add in the My Father's World 4yr old preschool pack, and then mix in lots of hand on, Montessori-ish type stuff.

 

Hopefully if I star tin summer, then we might have a routine down by fall, before TOG with my big kids starts up again.

 

 

Since I am doing cursive first with him, we are goign to have to tweak most things a bit. (He is just learning the letters by sound right now, both in cursive & print)

[warriormom]

So here are my thoughts so far:

 

MFW K ( 1.5 years to complete) or Carol's Affordable Curriculum

Miquon Math (cheap, fun, hands on and already using c rods with MFW)

Classical Conversations

Spanish & art at art academy

 

Add in OPGTR or Webster's speller when showing more interest in learning to read

Edited February 29, 2012 by cabreban

[stm4him]

I would say:

 

Saxon K

Building Thinking Skills Beginning

Pre-Scripts (CC is coming out with this to go with the memory work)

AAR Pre-Level 1

Linguistic Development Through Poetry Memorization (IEW)

CC

Memoria Press Preschool (coming out this spring and will probably have in it what you like about MFW)

Artistic Pursuits Preschool book (called The Way They See It)

Suzuki violin

AWANA

 

Also, I LOVE the R&S preschool books and am using them for the second time in a row but next year with my fourth child I may not b/c of PreScripts and Memoria Press Preschool workbooks. We'll see.......They're so cheap you can't really go wrong!

[warriormom]

Wee folks art preschool is amazing. Complex and I may only do 1 or 2 of the projects. Awesome!

Edited February 29, 2012 by cabreban

[fenni]

I would save MFW K for age 5. It is a great program, but especially with the updates I would save it. Carol's looks great! I've always wanted to try it. Little Hands to Heaven is wonderful! I have never been able to make myself like the Rod & Staff workbooks, but some kids do like them.

[warriormom]

I just wish there was such a thing as the perfect curriculum. Somehow LHTH does not look like something I would enjoy...or my daughter.

 

Anyone have experience with Christian Liberty Press Preschool or Horizons Preschool? Are they fun or boring? Strengths? Weaknesses?

Edited February 29, 2012 by cabreban

[lexi]

I also looked at Right Start aor Saxon k. Saxon k seems like it will take an hour each lesson which is a big No for me at this age. Am I wrong? Please tell me! Right start is something I am not sure that I understand. if you have experience, can you please explain?

 

I am not sure whether r & s would be too dry and full of worksheets. Please tell me if I am wrong. I am not expecting that her fine motor skills will be developed enough for handwriting sheets. My daughter is not too interested in academics. She needs structure though. I am looking for a fun introduction like (Charlotte Mason) but that is open and go enough for me to get it done:001_smile: Yes, I am unorganized and need to be able to put a check in the box for the first year since I will be learning about this whole homeschool thing

 

 

We are somewhat new to Right Start but loving Level A. It is helping my daughter tremendously. She can do mental math and she's understanding the concepts rather than just completing problems. I'm very happy with it and plan to continue and maybe supplement with Math Mammoth for extra practice and Life of Fred for fun. I blogged a little about Right Start and am planning a follow up blog post now that we're more than halfway through A. Maybe it will help you get a better idea. It takes us about 30 minutes a day and we sometimes complete only half a lesson in one day. Some days we only play games for practice. It just depends. I have found it very user friendly and open and go for me.

 

If you like things planned out you might really enjoy All About Reading. We are using the Pre Level and my son loves it. I'm moving him into Level 1 next year and starting my other daughter in Pre Level. It is so easy to use. Love it!

 

So with your plan I might do Right Start and AAR with the outside classes you listed. You could easily add in Before Five in a Row for project ideas/unit studies. They use some really great books. I also do read alouds from the Sonlight and Veritas Press catalogs.

[Tarreymere]

We've used FIAR in the past and it was pretty good and easy enough to do.

Saxon Math K doesn't take as long as it looks like it would take but honestly the scripted lesson plans made me loathe it. Ds didn't mind it at all. It seemed like there was a daily worksheet (one side) and a daily homework worksheet for that and we only did one of those since they were the same.

A Sonlight Core might look confusing but we just started our first core with Dd8 and I absolutely love it.

Ds used Miquon Orange. I'm not sure what he got out of it but it was fun. I won't be using it for him next year since like I said I'm not sure what he got out of it. Those cusinaire rods can be used as manipulatives in any math program (big sister did MM up until it was time for Saxon 54). I added in counting to one hundred each day and I had some countdown sheets through the year, for example to countdown to his birthday, that we used also.

Ds also used the R&S preschool workbooks. I loved them and thought they were really well done and beautiful but he hated them because he hates coloring. He also hates writing and drawing.

We tried ETC but while he did okay he wasn't retaining it and needed more time to 'play' with the whole idea of connecting sounds to letters. Same with R&S Learn to Read set.

We then went with AAR 1. I love it, he loves it, and while it takes us a while to get through a lesson the constant reinforcement really works and it isn't driving him nuts. He actually looks forward to it. We stick with one lesson for a couple weeks. He loves moving the tiles around to make words. I'm not sure about AAR Pre-level 1 because this is where we jumped into it at. I've used AAS with Dd8 and loved that so he will be doing AAS later on.

I found some must-read booklists for kids his age and found a lot of them at the library to do read alouds during the week. I also tried to find some books at the library to match his interests, like books on firemen and dinosaurs. He really liked that.

We never did much in the way of crafts, maybe one craft a week, and that seemed to work out fine and kept me sane. I really like the idea of being able to send them off somewhere for THAT. No science projects at this age either.

Anyway, yet another perspective from the trenches......:001_smile:

[warriormom]

I am now thinking about using OPGTR, but at a slow pace. I am going to attempt to make it fun with an assistant teacher, a puppet and using a white board.

 

For Math I think I might try Miquon or another cuisenaire activity book.

 

I am trying carols affordable curriculum this month for craft, calendar and other preschool topics.

[AnointedHsMom]

I haven't read through the other responses so forgive me if you've already talked about this. For beginning phonics you could do All About Reading Pre-1. It is so so fun and very open and go. Any of your choices are good but I have MFW K in front of me right now doing some planning and it's such a great curriculum for K5. I'm not saying you couldn't spread it out over 2 years either.

 

In hindsight here is what I wished I'd done with my youngest that is turning 6 in April when he was 4.

 

AAR Pre-1

HWT Get Ready for School

MUS Primer or really any early math would work. Just don't stress and have fun.

LOTS and LOTS of reading together on the couch! Great book lists can be found online if you need help with that.

 

For K I wish I'd started with MFW K (Bible, science,and awesome reading), HWT K, AAR 1 and MUS Alpha. Again lots and lots of books.

 

I'm still trying to recover our K year. These years slip by so fast and I just want to make our early years as fun as possible while I still can.

 

I hope what I've said doesn't go against what you wanted. I just wish I could skip back to 4 yo and do it again differently ;)

 

Hope it helps in some way!

[craftyerin]

 

AAR Pre-1

HWT Get Ready for School

MUS Primer or really any early math would work. Just don't stress and have fun.

LOTS and LOTS of reading together on the couch! Great book lists can be found online if you need help with that.

 

 

 

This is pretty much what we're doing for PK4. AAR pre-level, HTW pre-k, lots of reading and I'm still deciding on a pre-math.

[alanabrown15]

I would like to go with your option C which best suited for your daughter as per your description about your girl child, she is intelligent girl and interested in learning new things. Rod and Staff Preschool Workbooks are the best resources for starting homeschooling of you baby. These books have short lesson and gentle approach, so this will better suites your baby.