Homeschooling
Homeschool,  Kids,  Lifestyle,  Parenting

Our PreK homeschooling goals, tips, and ideas.

January 13, 2022 / Comments Off on Our PreK homeschooling goals, tips, and ideas.

My kids are not school age, and preschool programs are not mandatory, so I don’t need permission to keep my kids at home. But still can consider myself a homeschooler (as I chose to keep preschool-age children at home rather than sending them to pre-k or daycare).

Children grow up quickly, and we need to ensure that we allow them the opportunity to be kids for as long as possible. Preschool homeschooling gives my kids the ability to learn and play in the comfort of their own home – at their own pace.

Having time to be with my daughter and my son one on one has been very productive. Opposed to frustrated and bored in class as the teacher tries to teach 25 children at different levels. Without distractions, we can explore more deeply topics that interest them. For the things that give them a hard time, I’m able to slow down, explain and demonstrate more thoroughly until it “clicks” for them using the learning style that works best for them.

Bless the internet! I’ve googled several sources for what is needed to know by first grade. Now I am working on closing the assignments on the list a little at a time. 

Homeschooling – is a true commitment for parents. I spend a decent amount of time figuring out what we will do and setting up our mornings. But it’s incredibly fulfilling to watch them progress under your supervision and enjoy the process.

PRE-K HOMESCHOOLING IDEAS

WHAT WE CAN DO DURING THE DAY (EVERY DAY IS DIFFERENT)

  • Reading every day. It’s a great way to spend time together. Still, it also helps them learn essential literacy skills in communication, comprehension, vocabulary. We are aiming for 15-20 minutes every day.
  • We play. Sometimes it’s hard to be in two places simultaneously as my kids tear me apart. My daughter wants to play with dolls while my son is all about cars. But there are times that we use magnetics or lego, and oh boy, it’s so peaceful at those moments 🙂 Playing gives kids the opportunity to use their imagination, be creative, improve fine and gross motor skills, gain problem-solving skills.
  • Do household chores together. Children are very eager to act like grown-ups and help around the house at this young age. For example, my kids like mop the floors, vacuum, and cook together. Demonstrating them how to do things like folding t-shirts, cleaning up and putting away their toys, taking care of pets make them feel valued and appreciated, not to mention help them gain essential life skills.
  • Go outside explore. We learn about nature by going for a walk at our local parks, exploring science and art at museums, coming eye-to-eye with animals at the zoo, and so much more.
  • Use toys and technology to help them learn. Puzzles, board games, seed growing kits, kids microscope, kids globe, abacus. Even tablets and phones. My daughter learned her ABC just in three weeks using one of the “games” (it’s not really a game but was made to keep the child entertained while teaching them the alphabet). Plus, being computer literate will help children tremendously now and in the future.
  • Math
  • Language arts (phonics, reading, writing)
  • Art (drawing, coloring, arts & crafts)

My PreK homeschooling goals look something like this:

  • Academic skills: writing, reading, counting.
  • Nailing down their letters, sounds, and words. Visually identify all the letters and their sounds. 
  • Match words that rhyme using listening skills.
  • Count in order by 1s, 2s, 5s, 10s and recognize numbers.
  • Basic addition and subtraction.
  • Know the order of days of a week, times of a day. 
  • Identifying colors and shapes.
  • Show creativity and imagination
  • Identify Feelings & Control Emotions.
  • Active listening
  • Table manners

Also, each year I want them to have an assignment: to take a camera and snap 15 pictures of things that are important/special to them. Seeing in years what they chose is really sweet and funny. After they come back with their 15 pictures, we will print them and paste them into a book. This year I’ll help them spell a sentence they want to go with each page. I’m sure next year they will be able to do so themselves 🙂

Preschool Homeschooling Tips

  • Just have fun learning together. This is a wonderful time. While your homeschool routine should be very casual, providing that kids know to expect activities at certain times of the day is vital.
  • Your homeschool Pre-k curriculum can be as complicated or as simple as you want but give your kids a solid foundation in all core areas. Help prepare them to learn more advanced concepts in the years to come.
  • Set goals for your kid and create a homeschool schedule.
  • Include fun in your schedules, like hands-on activities and field trips.
  • For a kid of preschool age to homeschool for 1.5-2 hours at most. It’s up to you if you do it in the morning or afternoon or perhaps even break up your homeschool day into 15-20 minute increments.
  • Find what works best for your kid and make any necessary changes along the way.

 I hope this list gives you a solid jumping-off point for beginning your search for what is best for you and your family. 

Our plan is to take things year by year. But, for now, I really feel good about the way things are going, and I’m excited to see where things lead!

I find it comforting that all of us are doing the best we can to find the right choice for our families that match our lifestyles and beliefs AND that we can change the course we are on as we go.