Monica_in_Switzerland Posted March 14, 2016 Share Posted March 14, 2016 This is so ridiculous. She is my third child, so really I should have this down by now! LOL She is asking for school, but not quite where her older sibs were at age 4, so I'm a bit stumped. She is not quite ready to blend, but knows all her letter sounds. She hasn't chosen between right and left, which makes writing frustrating, though she really wants to learn. I have her doing cross-the-midline exercises. For math, she can count to about 14, but is not yet getting the basics of cuisinaire rods. Basically, she seems most in line with a "typical" pre-schooler, and my two oldest were ready to blend and read and grasp cuisnaire rod addition and missing parts activities at 4. My questions: - How do grocery store/Kumon style workbooks compare to SM Early Bird books? I think one or the other might be good. While we're in the US (next week! Hooray!) I plan to pick up some of the cutting books from Kumon and other basic activity books for her. Maybe the handwritting books as well. What else is good? I am thinking FIAR, but will really need to dig to find the time in the day for a full FIAR program. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris in VA Posted March 14, 2016 Share Posted March 14, 2016 Well, could you do some Montessori-inspired trays and maybe some workboxes? I'd make it play based. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AggieMama Posted March 14, 2016 Share Posted March 14, 2016 I like to SM workbooks better. I think they are more thorough and have a better base. They give little activities to do with the child. I like Spectrum and Kumon from the bookstore. School Zone books, which I grew up on, I think are very simplistic. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kalusignan Posted March 14, 2016 Share Posted March 14, 2016 (edited) My little also insists on 'school'. I really like Preschool Math at Home. It's very gentle for that age, and you could transition to working with cuisinaire rods after or as she becomes ready. All About Reading - Pre-reading is also excellent. I've found that it's a good transition between knowing sounds and blending because it includes a lot of work on reading readiness skills like identifying beginning and ending sounds, rhyming, counting syllables, etc. I also like Memoria Press's enrichment program for littles - I would think the Jr. K or Kindergarten enrichment would be perfectly appropriate for a 4-year old. Other than that, we do a lot of play dough, wiki sticks, and HWOT Wet, Dry, Try iPad app for forming letters. ETA: I've found that MP enrichment is like a planned-out version of FIAR, which is way easier for me and actually gets done. Edited March 14, 2016 by kalusignan 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TX Pilgrim Posted March 14, 2016 Share Posted March 14, 2016 You can also play with numbers and the cuisinaire rods. Lots of FREE ideas and videos for that at educationunboxed. Let her play, she will get it in time. Cross the midline activities are a good idea. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomeAgain Posted March 14, 2016 Share Posted March 14, 2016 I liked Wee Folk Art better than FIAR. The books were more easily found at our library, it was a relaxed pace, and the kids all enjoyed it. Plus the crafts helped to build the fine motor skills we are working on. :) Aside from that, prepackaged stuff we liked included Wedgits Bambino Luk Night And Day Robot Turtles, Memory, Tenzi, and Candyland Aquadoodle Learning Resources kits Developing The Early Learner books SchoolRite stencils Most of our pre-k day was spent playing with blocks, playdough, gardening, reading good books, and doing art. We set up a routine of places to visit around town (Monday storytime, Tuesday park, Wednesday museum...) and created monthly themes to encompass the skills and topics introduced. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ExcitedMama Posted March 14, 2016 Share Posted March 14, 2016 Have you seen these? http://www.amazon.com/What-Your-Preschooler-Needs-Know/dp/1933486236 I think they are great. They have been a huge hit with both of my kids. It was DS favorite and now DD asks to do it everyday. We use them along with the Kumon books. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prairiewindmomma Posted March 14, 2016 Share Posted March 14, 2016 Kumon cutting Kumon cutting and pasting Developing the Early Learner Singapore Math early bird From a developmental standpoint, having had 2 kids in OT now, Developing the Early Learner is FANTASTIC and doesn't get nearly enough kudos for what it is. The visual discrimination work, L/R orientation, and other fundamentals for pre-writing and pre-reading are really nice. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monica_in_Switzerland Posted March 14, 2016 Author Share Posted March 14, 2016 Kumon cutting Kumon cutting and pasting Developing the Early Learner Singapore Math early bird From a developmental standpoint, having had 2 kids in OT now, Developing the Early Learner is FANTASTIC and doesn't get nearly enough kudos for what it is. The visual discrimination work, L/R orientation, and other fundamentals for pre-writing and pre-reading are really nice. Developing the Early Learner looks really interesting. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monica_in_Switzerland Posted March 14, 2016 Author Share Posted March 14, 2016 Thank you for all these great suggestions! I realize age 4 SHOULD be play-based, in fact that was my whole plan for her. lol. But she is really wanting to be BIG like ds and dd, so it would be great if she had some workbooks to do while we do stuff at the table. And it would be great if I carve out some one-on-one time for her for read-aloud. I already have the FIAR stuff, so I'll just see if I can do FIAR-minimalism somehow or another. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happypamama Posted March 14, 2016 Share Posted March 14, 2016 Google has found me tons of free preschool themed packs of cut and paste, counting, matching, etc. stuff, and my preschoolers love them. I've got a bunch on my Pinterest page. Getting in time for the picture books and preschool level readalouds is hard. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slache Posted March 14, 2016 Share Posted March 14, 2016 Educational game apps like geography and phonograms can be quite independent A sketchbook to "take notes" on lessons MEP Memory work Education Unboxed (C-Rods) Magic School Bus, Salsa, Signing Time 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 14, 2016 Share Posted March 14, 2016 www.starfall.com for letter sounds and beginning reading. FREE! CLE Kinder II- better than R&S workbooks, IMO. SM Essential Math A and B Lots of art supplies and blank paper. We alos love Home Art Studio. I think she could handle the Kinder one easily. I love the FREE printout page from Sound Foundations. I only used the basic abc page. I would call out a letter sound, child would find and trace it. I suggest laminating and using wipe-off markers. http://www.soundfoundations.co.uk/en_US/product/handwriting-tracing-sheets/ I would use the FIAR as a read aloud list only. It gets boring after a bit (too much talking, not enough doing), or it can take over your life. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5forMe Posted March 15, 2016 Share Posted March 15, 2016 Developing the Early Learner From a developmental standpoint, having had 2 kids in OT now, Developing the Early Learner is FANTASTIC and doesn't get nearly enough kudos for what it is. The visual discrimination work, L/R orientation, and other fundamentals for pre-writing and pre-reading are really nice. I agree with this! We love Wee Folk Art Homeschool book and craft suggestions. We LOVE LOVE LOVE Memoria Press Read Alouds for Enrichment and Science. MP uses wonderful children's books and then my favorite science series of books "Let's Read and Find Out" and Gail Gibbons books. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdventuresinHomeschooling Posted March 16, 2016 Share Posted March 16, 2016 We just bought several simple workbooks to teach letters and numbers. For K4 though, we do Saxon K math as it is workbook free and heavy on manipulatives, patterns, counting pennies to play store, etc. We no longer continue with Saxon, but we like Saxon K. Peace Hill Press has new preschool math activities too. Kumon is great. My son is the third child too and wants "school" meaning pages to do, but after he does a couple pages, activities are good with him. Math manipulatives and letter tiles are great, and he loves drawing and writing on the chalkboard. We have the SSRW preschool pages he is doing, but for the price, I think you can do other workbooks for the same success. We are going to start with SSRW All Aboard book though as it goes through each letter, and then we will do letter of the week activities until he is ready for blending. I highly recommend Hooked on Phonics app if you want something electronic. It was $50, but he has learned a lot of letter sounds independently with it. It's a well done app. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sub01 Posted March 17, 2016 Share Posted March 17, 2016 I LOVE Little Hands to Heaven by Heart of Dakota for preschool.(I bought it used). Can be done in 30 minutes or less if you want to skip some things here and there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sub01 Posted March 17, 2016 Share Posted March 17, 2016 (edited) Oops posted twice.. Edited March 17, 2016 by Sub01 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
desertflower Posted March 18, 2016 Share Posted March 18, 2016 My 3 1/2 yo asks for school too. She is doing some seat work. Books for handwriting and a couple of books from the critical thinking company (building thinking skills and Have you seen me (I think)). I also started All About Spelling with her. We just do 1 word at a time. I ask her to spell cat and I sound it out for her and then she'll grab the tiles. I think I'm going to check out AAR pre-reading. I too am enjoying the Preschool Math book from the WTM. Good luck and I hope you have a safe trip. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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